To The Editor:
We would like to sincerely thank Senator Bernie Sanders and his staff for their help in getting the U.S. Department of Education to reimburse the Harwood Unified Union School District (HUUSD) for the approximately $500,000 we were owed by the federal department of education. These COVID-era funds, which were authorized by Congress, were spent by the school district on various programs that improved the quality of education we offer our students. Yet the new administration refused to reimburse us and school districts across the country for these expenses, and instead employed delaying tactics for months. Thanks to Senator Sanders' months-long work, the department of education has just agreed to reimburse U.S. school districts $2.5 billion dollars in authorized payments, including our $500,000. We are deeply grateful for Senators Sanders’ efforts, which ends the costly and time-consuming lawsuit filed by many states to get these funds we’re rightfully owed.
Imagine you’re a trying to provide good service on a tight budget (like our school district), say as a house painter. And say a client agrees that you’ve done a fine job painting their house, but says that they won’t pay you because they have to cut their household budget. You know this is illegal, but they’re counting on it being too expensive for you to sue them. That’s exactly what this administration tried to do to school districts across the country. Senator Sanders called them out on their bad faith action, and we thank all Vermonters who elected a senator who stands up for our rights.
Ashley Woods, Warren, HUUSD chair
Cindy Senning, Duxbury, HUUSD vice chair
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