GRAHAM COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — As students head back to the classroom, they are returning to school districts facing a major funding loss.
In September, the federal COVID dollars, known as ESSER funds, will run out. This is leaving some school systems struggling to get by.
In Graham County, Robert Moody has only been superintendent for a few months.
Still, he is very familiar with the district, since he attended Graham County schools himself.
Moody tells News 13 that it is a low-wealth district with less than 30% taxable land.
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He says that means it is a small tax base and the school system is limited to what the local government gives.
It’s going to get tougher each year to keep going and keep afloat,” said Moody. “We literally run this school month to month with expenditures.
Moody says the school system has 200 full time employees with 70 additional part time staff and is the biggest employer in the county.
Right now, it’s just tough, just like, living on a wing and a prayer from month to month and it’s hard to do that,” he said.
Since 2020, Graham County received $4,739,557 is COVID ESSER funds.
It is money that has now been spent.
“I don’t sleep much. I don’t get much rest because if I’m not here, I’m at home thinking about: ‘Okay, what can I do next to better our school?'” said Moody. “I just don’t see how in the near future we can keep sustaining what we’re doing.”
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He said the money was used to make upgrades to aging buildings and add new technology and learning materials, as well as new positions to help with students’ mental health needs.
“So when this money came, yes it helped. It helped with our food services. It helped with our mental health services. It helped bring our equipment up in some of our buildings so we could give them the best education when they come here, so that was good.”
Now that it is gone, Moody is worried.
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He says the schools system has already made cuts in central office, dried up the entire fund balance and spent countless hours writing grants.
Moody admits that he stresses about running out of money every day.
Just two counties away, Superintendent Dana Ayers says Jackson’s schools will be okay when the ESSER money runs out.
“We are in a – I wouldn’t say a great place, because we are never in a great place with all the vast needs our students have – but we are in a safe place right now,” she said.
Ayers says their district tried to be smart about spending the $11 million in ESSER funds they were given.
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She says instead of adding recurring costs of teacher salaries, they bought new textbooks, learning materials and other resources, and made building upgrades during the pandemic.
At the end of the year, the principals at each school would reassess whether they could do without those positions, so we tried to whittle it away over time,” said Ayers.
Ayers tells News 13 the County Commissioners have stepped up to add the needed dollars and cents to keep their programs intact.
“I don’t think they will feel it tremendously when you look at the staffing in the school,” said Ayers.
Back in Graham – despite the uncertainty – the classrooms are ready, and so is the desire to help students no matter what.
“Kids are going to be here, we’ll be ready and do whatever it takes for them to succeed in our school system and I don’t want parents to worry. We will do the worrying. We will get it done, figure out some way to do it.” Moody.
