Eagle Pass Independent School District to Receive Up to $19 Million from American Rescue Plan
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2021
Eagle Pass Independent School District (EPISD) Superintendent Samuel Mijares in an exclusive interview with the Eagle Pass Business Journal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, announced that the local public school district is estimated to receive up to $19 million in federal funds from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) through the American Rescue Plan approved by Congress in December 2021.
Superintendent Mijares stated that TEA has not yet advised public school districts such as EPISD on what specific uses and costs will be covered from these federal funds approved by Congress as part of the COVID-19 pandemic relief package. EPISD is awaiting instructions from TEA as well as receipt of the estimated $19 Million federal funds.
Mijares noted that the EPISD has incurred monthly expenses and costs throughout the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including wages and salaries of teachers, staff, and administrators despite going to virtual learning during most of the school year. EPISD hopes to receive these $19 Million in federal funds and instructions from TEA very soon. These funds are important as EPISD is commencing its budgetary process for the 2021-2022 academic year.
Texas state leaders such as Governor Greg Abbott received $18 Billion in federal funds from Congress to use for public schools, but Governor Abbott and state leaders retained the $18 Billion since December 2020 and just recently agreed to release only $11.2 Billion of the $18 Billion to its public schools—drawing criticism from education leaders and Democratic lawmakers.
Congressman Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, criticized Governor Abbott and state Republican leaders for withholding these federal COVID-19 funds dedicated to help Texas students recover from learning loss and cover pandemic-related education expenses. “State Republicans are hardly justified in patting themselves on the back for ending a blockade that should never have occurred. After four months, Governor Abbott is still obstructing distribution of the remaining $5.5 Billion, which Congress approved in December. Even today, he has failed to offer any justification for his delay and attempt to divert these funds from our schools. Our children’s future is not a place to cut corners and misuse federal aid to education for non-educational purposes,” said Congressman Doggett.
Superintendent Mijares noted that EPISD sustained about $1 Million per month in costs and expenses related to COVID-19 that were not originally budgeted, but that EPISD had to “self-fund” during the pandemic. EPISD is awaiting receipt of its $19 Million in federal funds and instructions from TEA on how to use these federal funds.
