Uncertainty Leads Guilford County Schools To Cut $21M From Budget Proposal

Almost $21 million has been removed from the Guilford County Schools proposed budget for the 2020-21 school year, as uncertainty over the COVID-19 pandemic raises many questions for school officials.

The school district is expected to get about that amount in federal emergency relief funds and has included it in recent budget recommendations.

Angie Henry is the district's chief of operations and finances. She tells the News & Record that while the funding may still be on the table, questions remain about how it might be applied, leading the administration to leave the money out of the budget request.

Superintendent Sharon Contreras outlined spending priorities last week, but Henry says there are several variables that might affect budget planning.

For example, there are still questions about what might happen if the state adjusts school funding. At a virtual meeting Monday, Contreras said a revised plan for grading students was overruled by new state policies, and she wants to avoid a similar situation with the budget. 

School board members will hold their next virtual meeting Thursday evening and are welcoming public comments by email. 

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