DRACUT — The Richardson Middle School will open in September just as it always has. That’s despite the U.S. Department of Education slashing $648,702 in funding for the heating, ventilation and air conditioning project at the school.
Superintendent of Schools Steven Stone told The Sun, “The state is prepared to support us.” In a letter to school systems across the state, “It made clear there is a waiver process to pursue to recover the funds,” Stone said. Meanwhile, the state will cover the costs.
On March 28, the U.S. Education Department threw many school systems throughout the country into a frenzy when it abruptly announced the deadline to spend remaining COVID relief funds had already passed, and that it was revoking all the extensions it had granted.
Dracut, Fitchburg and Lawrence were among the communities impacted. The three are represented in Congress by U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, who blasted the Trump administration’s decision to terminate the program, cutting $106 million in federal funding for Massachusetts school districts.
The cuts are “irresponsible and shortsighted,” according to Trahan.
“Our kids deserve better, and I’ll continue fighting to make sure our school districts get the federal investments they need to provide the best education possible,” she said.
The termination notice sent to school departments was effective on the day it was received, March 28.
The Richardson School work was carefully timed so it would happen over the course of the summer. The HVAC work had to be done during the summer for the safety of students and staff, according to Stone.
Much of the design and prep work is already done and paid for, the superintendent said.
The projects in Lawrence and Fitchburg also involve HVAC systems, but are more costly. Lawrence lost $1.3 million that was slated to complete school HVAC projects throughout the city, while Fitchburg lost nearly $6.6 million meant to purchase and install new HVAC systems at two schools.
The federal funding cuts are being felt in school districts across the state. Springfield and New Bedford experienced the steepest losses, at about $47.4 million and $15.6 million, respectively.
In an effort led by U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, Massachusetts’ entire congressional delegation and Gov. Maura Healey sent a letter Thursday to U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon, saying the Trump administration’s decision to “clawback” $106 million in COVID-19-era funding for K-12 schools is “harmful and incredibly frustrating to students, families, educators, and school district leaders.”
In the letter, they said they were “alarmed at this abrupt termination” of congressionally authorized and appropriated funding for education in the state.
The lawmakers said the withdrawal of the money “will force schools back to the drawing board, requiring them to fight these cuts, rework their budgets, and scale back or eliminate projects intended to help students, educators, and communities.”
“Massachusetts gives students the best education in the country. We urge you to reverse course and allow leaders in the Commonwealth to deliver for students and communities without continued chaos and disruption,” the group said in the letter.
Boston Herald reporter Chris Van Buskirk contributed to this report.
