Eagle Pass Independent School District to Receive $69.6 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 interview with the Eagle Pass Business Journal on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, announced that the local public school district is estimated to receive a total of $69.6 Million in federal funds from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) through the American Rescue Plan approved by Congress in three installments of $4.6 Million, $19 Million, and $46 Million.
Superintendent Mijares noted that the EPISD has already received the first installment of $4.6 Million and is expected to receive another installment of $46 Million any moment, and a third installment of $19 Million in the near future.
Mijares stated the infusion of federal funds from TEA through Congress comes at a very opportune time as the EPISD is commencing its 2021-2022 fiscal budget process.
Mijares added that the EPISD sustained significant costs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic during the past 14 months. For instance, Mijares stated the local public school district incurred up to $800,000 to $900,000 healthcare insurance costs since the district is self-insured. In addition, the EPISD also sustained significant expenses concerning salaries and wages of administrators, teachers, and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as other unforeseen educational expenses related to the pandemic.
Mijares stated that the EPISD is awaiting instructions from TEA on how the local public school district may use these federal funds approved by Congress. The American Rescue Plan was approved by Democrats in Congress while all Republicans voted against it.
The State of Texas received a total of $18 Billion in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan approved by Congress, but Governor Greg Abbott and state leaders have released only $11.2 Billion while holding on to $6.8 Billion. Educational advocates and Democratic lawmakers have criticized Governor Abbott and Republican state leaders from withholding $6.8 Billion of federal funds earmarked by Congress for Texas public school districts.
Editor’s Note: Selene Calderon contributed to this article.
