Area schools receive $1.7 million from CARES Act

Published 6:00 am Wednesday, May 13, 2020

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Superintendent of Public Instruction James Lane announced Friday, May 1, over $200 million in federal funding for Virginia public schools under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Recover and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

The commonwealth’s school divisions, including Buckingham County Public Schools (BCPS), Cumberland County Public Schools (CuCPS) and Prince Edward County Public Schools (PECPS) will receive 90% of the funding.

Amounts for each division, a Virginia Department of Education release states, are based on the formula used to allocate funding for schools under Title I of the Every Student Succeeds Act.

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Additionally, 10% of the state’s allocation will be reserved for statewide efforts to expand distance learning by increasing access to technology and through the development of resources for students, families and educators.

PECPS will receive $801,046.31 from the CARES Act.

“We are still in the planning stages for the CARES funding,” PECPS Superintendent Dr. Barbara Johnson said. “However, we know that we want to support our food services department in hopes of being able to continue to feed children throughout the summer.”

CUCPS will receive $390,636.42 from the act.

Incoming Cumberland Superintendent Dr. Chip Jones said current plans are to use the funds to support overall school operations during the 2020-2021 school year.

BCPS will receive $580,167.95.

BCPS Superintendent Dr. Daisy Hicks said school administrators will be meeting in the coming days to determine how the school division will use the funds.