Charlottesville, Albemarle schools to lose a combined $1 million in federal funding

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - Due to major federal funding cuts, schools in Charlottesville could be facing some tough budget decisions.

Albemarle County Public Schoos and Charlottesville City Schools are about to lose a combined $1 million dollars in federal financial support.

“I think it should concern everybody,” says Bev Wann, a Charlottesville resident.

Wann’s son went to Charlottesville schools and she’s worried about the kids there now.

“It’s easy to think, well maybe we don’t need this money, but we do. These are human beings, they are a part of our community, they’re a part of all children’s education,” says Wann.

Charlottesville could lose $417,00.00. In Albemarle County, it’s about $660,00.00.

“For next month we’re hoping to limit any direct impact,” said Craig Dommer, Executive Director of Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction with Albemarle County Public Schools. “We had started building some contingency plans throughout the spring through our grant writing process to make sure that we would be able to cover any short-term short falls from the federal government.”

Dommer says this all has to do with title programs for English learners, migrant students, and teacher development.

Money now on pause by the federal government.

“I think one important thing to note is that it’s not all the funding for those programs, it is still just a small part of funding for a lot of those programs, it’s perhaps a larger problem if the funding doesn’t come through for next budget year and the budget years that follow,” says Dommer.

Charlottesville Superintendent Dr. Royal Gurley sent a statement to parents and the community about all of this.

In it he hopes the federal government will restore the much-needed funding so schools can continue providing critical support to students and families.

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