News, Culture and NPR for Central & Northern Michigan
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
91.7FM Alpena and WCML-TV Channel 6 Alpena are off the air. Click here to learn more.

Budget deficits from coronavirus likely to hit some school districts harder than others

cayoup

Michigan school districts have had to make large scale technology purchases to meet the needs of students during the outbreak, and now some experts are worried this could leave school budgets in a deficit.

School officials say school districts are doing what they have to in order to meet student needs - but there is a lot of budget uncertainty moving forward. Officials with the state treasury predict Michigan could see revenue losses of up to $7 billion over the next two fiscal years.

Peter Spadafore is with Michigan Association of School Superintendents and Administrators. He said lawmakers at both the state and federal level will need to be understanding.

“This is going to have to be understood as we did what we had to do. Policymakers and appropriators should come to the table to make sure learning is not negatively impacted in the future.”

Spadafore was reluctant to estimate how much school districts have spent during the outbreak in order to meet the needs of students and faculty.

But, he said, the Association has asked school districts to start keeping track of these expenditures.

Brian Pearson is the Superintendent of Gaylord Community Schools. He said he understands the long term concerns - but so far Gaylord schools are doing ok.

“Financially it hasn’t dug us a hole. It didn’t put us in deficit spending. We’re not saving much money but it’s enough to offset it.”

Pearson said the school district has saved money on things like overtime, spring sports, and by running only a handful of busses as opposed to thirty.

Peter Spadafore, with the Michigan Association of School Superintendents and Administrators, said revenue will be down across school districts but expenditures from the crisis will vary from district to district.

“Some districts are having to spend dollars on wireless hotspots. But we also forget there are communities where the internet isn’t how things are getting done so they are spending dollars on distribution of packets, collection of packets, and personal protection equipment.”

Inevitably, Spadafore said poorer school districts will be harder hit by the crisis.

“This situation has definitely exposed the deep equity gap that exists across communities in our state. If something good comes from it I hope that it is equitable access to educational resources in the state.”