AUBURN, Ala. (WTVM) – During the COVID-19 pandemic, school boards nationwide received billions of dollars in federal funding. This financial support was allocated to cover the costs of cleaning supplies, e-learning resources, and the renovation and expansion of school facilities
However, the State of Alabama has just over a month to spend a jaw-dropping amount of money left over before it is lost.
“It was very difficult for districts to spend all of that money. It was more money than they could have ever imagined,” said Tracie West, member of the Alabama State Board of Education, representing District 2.
In 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act introduced the third round of funding for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) program, allocating a total of two billion dollars to school districts in Alabama. According to West, the state board utilized 98 percent of these funds.
“I’m not going to spend it all just because I have it,” West said. “We’re a very conservative state and I would never want money to be spent needlessly by our school districts”
Several individuals, who preferred not to speak on camera, questioned how a school district could fail to find ways to improve a school when funding seems to be the primary issue.
West mentioned that regulations and time constraints are also significant factors.
“The project had to be complete and all materials delivered,” West added. “The money could not be drawn down for future projects and that’s why the timeline is so hard. There are only so many vendors that can do the work.”
According to Alabama State Department of Education Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey, the state board of education still has roughly 200 million dollars left to spend before the end of September.
West says the number is changing daily due to money being used for statewide projects. She also says check and balances are in place to make sure the money is spent properly.
“I would much rather not spend money frivolously or not discover money was spent fraudulently for projects that never took place,” said West.
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