THE REVIEW INVESTIGATES– How Was Covid Money Distributed?

Covid-19 proved to be detrimental, both mentally and physically. Businesses around the world struggled with the after-effects of being out of work so long, more specifically with the financial aspect. 

To combat the country’s hardships, Congress granted money through bills to different institutions and employers. It is no secret that public education was one of the most impacted sections, so in support of getting schools back on track after online learning, K-12 institutions were allocated around $189.2 billion between three different acts. FutureEd states that the CARES Act (The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act) signed in March 2020 granted $13.2 billion, the Covid Relief Package in December 2020 granted $54 billion, and the American Rescue Plan granted $122 billion in March 2021.

Most of the money went directly to school districts for them to divide it further among their respective schools based on previous funding they were already receiving. The Congressional “allowed for a broad range of uses for the dollars,” some of which included providing resources to fight Covid-19 in schools, purchasing hardware and software to carry out hybrid learning, providing mental health services, supporting after school and summer learning programs, and repairing school facilities.

In regard to Rangeview’s Covid money, the school received around $200,000 in two separate stints, one in 2020 and one in 2021, according to Mrs. Strouse. While the money had no spending date, Principal Grosz did have to construct a plan for all of it by September of this year. 

Mrs. Rahn says Rangeview specifically, used the money for supplies in the classrooms as well as professional development for teachers, mental health services, and adding a sixth class to teachers’ schedules who would normally teach five. Some also went towards the school’s clubs and extra pay for teachers who covered classes or stepped in as a hall monitor during their planning periods.

“I feel incredibly lucky to have benefited from the Covid funds, and it has really benefited our program,” says English teacher Mr. Sobolewski.

The current state of the school has raised eyebrows and sparked controversy among the Rangeview community. While the allotted Covid money has led to advancements, questions still loom: was it used effectively? What should it have been put towards? And arguably the biggest question of all, should it have been put towards teachers’ salaries as the number of teachers here and across the state diminishes?