COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Major budget problems for the State of Michigan will likely mean deep cuts in aid to school districts across the state.
Coldwater Community Schools Superintendent Terry Ann Whelan told her Board of Education last night that after the state’s Revenue Estimating Conference last Friday, there is discussion of cutting per-pupil aid to district’s between $650 to $700, retroactive to this school year. For Coldwater, that could mean a loss of over $1.9 million.
A similar cut in state aid is expected for the 2020-2021 school year, but State Senator Mike Shirkey, who is also the Senate Majority Leader, says public safety and education will be his top funding priorities in next year’s budget.
The Coldwater school district is eligible for up to $560,000 in grant money from the federal CARES Act, passed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
While there are 12 different areas the money can be used for, including reimbursement for postage and printing for student’s homework packets, as well as additional cleaning and sanitation for buildings, Whelan hopes they will use the majority of the money for upgrading technology to assist remote learning for students.
