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Lenoir County Public Schools are set to receive over $300,000 of supplemental funding for assistance with COVID-19 related issues. The funding comes from $38.5 million from the 2019-2020 Summer Camp Reading funds, and an additional $2.97 million from money left over in the same fund from the prior year. $5.48 million is from the Statewide carry forward reserve, and a little over $3 million is from the State Emergency Disaster Reserve.

Lenoir County Public Schools will receive $335,449 based upon a funding formula that is weighted 50% on the number of students (ADM) and 50% on low wealth classification. The funding can be used for school nutrition (includes food purchases, cafeteria workers, drivers, nutritional admin/support) cleaning and sanitizing schools and buses (includes custodial pay, materials, and supplies) protective equipment, and remote learning (instructional software, telecommunication expenses, EC materials, devices, etc).

“Representative Humphrey and I have been very concerned because our school systems needed a way to pay hourly workers like hour cafeteria workers, bus drivers and custodians,” stated Sen. Jim Perry. “Most people don’t realize there are Constitutional and statutory restrictions regarding how and when state dollars can be used. This is a great way to offer some immediate assistance prior to receipt of our state’s portion of CARES Act funding. We have got to figure out something for small businesses and others.”

“We are living through an unprecedented event,” stated Rep. Chris Humphrey. “We are spending hours on the telephone, and in video conferences trying to establish the proper frameworks to help our people. We need more data on COVID19. The impact of the virus on our economy and our people is very concerning. Senator Perry and I are thankful this is going to help some members of our community, but we feel like we need the ability to make about 300 announcements like this per day. We have so many people that need help, through no fault of their own.”

School systems should begin receiving funding later this week, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Sen. Perry continued, “We are only two weeks into these restrictions, and it already feels like two years. There are a great deal of unknowns about this virus - but there is something we do know: Our people need to be allowed to get back to work in some manner as soon as safely possible. We need to be given a chance to fight our way out of this economic nightmare.”