Federal government reverses course, releases millions in previously frozen education funds to Idaho schools
Idaho’s Twin Falls The federal government has rescinded its decision to block education funding, releasing $5.5 billion nationwide, including roughly $27 million for schools in Idaho, following weeks of uncertainty.
The funding reversal, which occurs only weeks before the start of the new school year, helps districts that were compelled to postpone recruiting and personnel reassignment when the funds were first halted.
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“We are quite appreciative that we received the funds. We are really appreciative of our ability to continue serving our students’ needs. The discrepancy is problematic, though,” stated Peggy Hoy, a board member of the Idaho Education Association.
Listen to the effects Twin Falls schools are seeing as a result of the intermittent budget freeze:
Recruiting teachers in Idaho is already challenging, and the last-minute funding freeze didn’t boost morale, according to Hoy, a 34-year veteran of the Twin Falls School District.
“I think they look at that what happened with the federal freeze as an attack on public education,” Hoy stated.
After the federal government frozen around $7 billion nationally earlier this month, school districts all over Idaho rushed to rework their budgets. Administrators were forced to halt hiring and reassign employees because the Twin Falls School District had $1.5 million frozen.
Twin Falls School District’s Eva Craner explained the effects of the uncertainty.
“It really kind of throws you for a loop and feels a little like we’re not stable, which is hard for staff members who were for about a month unsure of this career that they had chosen, whether that was gonna be available to them at all in the future,” Craner stated.
It could have been worse, Craner said, despite the difficulties.
“We’re now filling the positions that needed to be filled in order to go forward a little bit more. “HR is a little crazy about a three-week pause, but it’s not the end of the world,” she said.
The circumstances have inspired instructors like Hoy to become more politically involved.
“That is why I think educators right now are so willing to be reaching out to their legislators both at the state and at the national level because they’re seeing that their profession is being attacked,” Hoy stated.
By next week, the funds is anticipated to reach districts in Idaho and across the country.
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