AUSTIN, TX — Governor of Texas Greg Abbott announced at the end of April that the state would release $ 11.2 billion in federal funding to public schools to help pay pandemic costs and deal with student learning losses. ..
A teacher at Austin ISD states that the 2020-2021 school year is one of the most stressful and difficult years in both her professional and personal life.
Bianca San Miguel is an eighth grade science teacher at Austin ISD, and she and her fellow educators did their best to adapt to pandemic education, but with the help of the federal government, the school district has more teachers. I hope to be able to provide support.
“We have been doing our best to support our students while supporting each other,” says San Miguel.
She got a medical facility to teach from home in the fall semester. She says she effectively taught the students while waiting for the accommodation request to be approved, but she says the district was docked throughout the day of illness.
Now she has nothing left, so whenever she takes off, she comes out of her salary. About a month ago she was diagnosed with cancer.
“These are two tumors that are currently too large for surgery, so we are giving chemotherapy first,” says San Miguel. Literally it costs me money. The check pays the bill, supports my family, and feeds my family. “
She hopes that some relief may be on the way. The state is sending $ 11.2 billion in federal aid to public schools to help pay for pandemics. Austin ISD has earned about $ 150 million.
Part of it covers the costs the district has incurred over the past year to provide students with technologies such as computers and hotspots. Most of the money will go to launch new programs to help students catch up academically.
Austin ISD coach Stephanie Elizarde said:
San Miguel hopes that additional funding will allow the district to provide more support to teachers.
“Money doesn’t solve all problems, but it definitely makes a difference in their more flexible abilities,” she said. .. ”
Austin ISD plans to hear from the community before deciding how to spend money.
Meanwhile, San Miguel says she continues to focus on the most important people in her life.
“I’m going to do what I’ve been doing since the beginning of the year. I’ll focus on the students and try to keep them as safe as possible. Try to survive the year,” he said.
