Montgomery County allocates $15 million to school districts for coronavirus relief

NORRISTOWN – Area school districts will soon feel some economic relief amid the ongoing stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic as the Montgomery County Commissioners unanimously authorized $15 million in education grant funding.

“I can personally attest to how hard our school superintendents and elected school boards are working to make decisions to balance the educational needs of our students with the health and safety of our students, teachers, staff and their families,” said commissioners’ Chairwoman Valerie Arkoosh. “They make these decisions as we all do during a continually evolving pandemic in which necessary resources remain scarce or unobtainable.”

Arkoosh underscored the importance of assigning these funds to school districts during these trying times.

“It is my hope that this additional funding, which can be used for unbudgeted COVID-related expenses dating back to March 27, 2020 will provide a small measure of relief and certainty for our schools,” she said.

The federal government enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, a $2.2 trillion stimulus package on March 27 to provide assistance to thousands facing economic obstacles as a result of the public health crisis.

As Montgomery County issued an emergency disaster declaration that same month, financial allocations at the local level apply to school districts, as mandated by the U.S. Treasury Department. They’re considered to be “eligible expenditures” that have been “adversely impacted by the virus,” according to the resolution.

Montgomery County officials used a funding formula from Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The federal legislation “provides financial assistance to local educational agencies for children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards,” according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

The $15 million grant was distributed to each of the county’s 22 school districts, as well as a percentage for the Montgomery County portion of Boyertown Area School District, which is located in both Montgomery and Berks counties.

While Norristown Area School District secured the largest percentage, 22 percent of the total funding, which translates to $3,254,525.53, Jenkintown School District was awarded the smallest percentage, .7 percent of the funds, which comes to $109,075.68.

Additionally, Montgomery County school districts received the following funding amounts:

• Colonial: $592,725, which translates to 4 percent of the funds
• Methacton: $319,525, 2.2 percent
• North Penn: $1,625,619, 11 percent
• Perkiomen Valley: $375,350, 2.5 percent
• Pottsgrove: $623,727, 4.2 percent
• Pottstown: $1,790,922, 12.1 percent
• Souderton Area: $597,744, 4 percent
• Spring-Ford Area: $413,503, 2.8 percent
• Upper Perkiomen: $394,625, 2.7 percent
• Wissahickon: $425,826, 2.9 percent

Earlier this summer as school districts began discussions surrounding the 2020-21 academic year, Cheltenham School District’s Superintendent Wagner Marseille did not appear optimistic about receiving substantial funding at the federal level.

Marseille estimated it would cost an average of $1.8 million to carry out state and federal guidelines.

“There absolutely is not enough federal dollars with the tall ask that is being placed on the shoulders of school systems,” he said during the June 11 virtual meeting.

While Commissioner Joe Gale endorsed the allocations, he stressed the funding should be used specifically to “reopen school in the fall, whether that’s virtual or in-person schooling, that the funding should be used towards that effort.”

Arkoosh acknowledged the financial burdens that local school districts have had to shoulder. The conditions of the funding are based on federal guidelines, according to a Montgomery County spokesperson.

“Each of our districts has been working to absorb as they prepare for the 2020-21 school year on top of the cost incurred in the response to the virus this spring,” she said.

Ken Lawrence Jr., vice chairman of commissioners, agreed, recognizing the difficulties that local education officials face as the first day of school quickly approaches.

“Our school districts are struggling as they figure out whether they’re going virtual or hybrid or in person,” Lawrence said. “So I’m glad the county’s able to provide this funding to help all of our school districts help our children, protect children and protect teachers.”