ALBUQUERQUE, NM (AP) – New Mexico’s largest school district plans to use federal pandemic funding to prevent layoffs.
A proposal released Monday by the Albuquerque Public Schools would provide $ 50 million in pandemic aid to offset a loss of state funds related to the decline in enrollments.
Superintendent Scott Elder said on a videoconference that the district has lost around 5,000 students and around $ 50 million in government funding.
“One of the big things about the federal money was allowing districts each year to stabilize without having to make massive layoffs,” Elder said.
If this stabilization were adopted in the final budget, that stabilization would represent 25% of the nearly $ 200 million the district will receive in the next and largest round of federal aid funds for schools.
Around 15% of the proposed budget is for chronically absent students.
The district also suggested buying more student laptops, improving ventilation, and paying up to $ 5,250 in student loans for district employees.
School funding in New Mexico is based on last year’s school enrollment numbers. Enrollment has decreased by about 1% every year for the past decade due to population change. It fell another 4% over the past year as some families opted for home schooling rather than distance learning through public schools.
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Attanasio is a corps member of the Associated Press / Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a not-for-profit national utility that places journalists on local newsrooms to cover undercover issues. Follow Attanasio on Twitter.
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