Gov. Evers announces $110 million of federal coronavirus relief funds will go to Wisconsin schools
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Governor Tony Evers made a stop at North Division High School Thursday morning, Dec. 2, to announce that he is designating $110 million of federal coronavirus relief funds to schools across Wisconsin.
The stop in Milwaukee was the first of four the governor and State Superintendent Jill Underly will make at schools across the state Thursday.
The 2021-23 biennial budget met the state's commitment for two-thirds funding for the first time in two decades and invested an additional $408 million in general school aid.
Gov. Evers had promised to invest $100 million in new, additional funding into Wisconsin's schools when he signed the 2021-2023 biennial budget earlier this year.
“Our kids and schools have faced unprecedented challenges during the coronavirus pandemic—from distance learning to reducing class sizes, to spending money that had been budgeted for pencils on PPE,” said Gov. Evers. “This $110 million investment is an opportunity for schools to invest directly into programming to help students both in and out of the classroom, allowing schools to hire additional educators and staff, provide more educational and extracurricular opportunities, invest in mental health supports, buy art supplies or computers, or keep the lights on—whatever they need and, most importantly, whatever our kids need. I've always said what's best for our kids is what's best for our state, and these funds will go a long way toward helping ensure our kids get the services and resources they need to rebound and recover.”
The investment announced Thursday will provide new funding for schools distributed on a per-pupil basis for an additional $133.72 in per-pupil aid.
"It's not nearly enough to meet all of the needs that our school districts have for operational expenses, but it's a band-aid that they can use in the most flexible way possible," Underly said.
Milwaukee Public Schools will receive about $9.6 million. Superintendent Dr. Keith Posley already has ideas for spending their one-time allotment.
"The list goes on," Posley said. "The list is numerous around the things that we need to do for our young people."
The funding will only make a dent in his list, but Posley said it will help MPS hire more teachers and staff, buy supplies and technology, and make improvements to classrooms and buildings.