Money or Education: What Are the Priorities for City Schools?

That ten million dollar carrot being dangled in front of school systems has proven to be too enticing to pass up. As long as schools reopen in some form of face-to-face instruction before the end of the first marking period, these school districts will receive the financial incentive. It goes without saying that almost every school district in the state has laid out a plan to cash in.

It is disturbing that Baltimore City Schools’ CEO, Sonja Santelises, decided to tell the employees of the system that she was implementing a budget and hiring freeze, while suggesting that the system will be reopened for live instruction in time to receive that ten million dollars.

This determination — to freeze spending — could not have come at a worse time.

Many people may not know this but many schools around the city have contractual custodians whose contracts have come to an end.

At these schools, the custodians on site are working to wax and polish floors, something that is typically completed during the summer. Once these floors are finished, the contracted custodians will no longer be within the schools.

Consider a school in the southern precinct of the city. That school has reported that it does not have a primary custodian and that the summer work is nearly completed.

While some teachers are reporting to work even though students are not in the building, nor is it mandatory, they have stated that trash is not being collected.

Furthermore, the secretarial staff is in charge of the opening (and closing) of the building and general maintenance.

The way the monetary freeze is worded is that when schools reopen for face-to-face instruction, money will not be made available to new hires (including these custodians) nor the resources needed to maintain a safe and healthy environment.

Without the spending of money, schools will quickly run out of hand sanitizer, soap, paper towels, and other objects needed to keep a clean environment.

Additionally, without a fully functional custodial staff, trash will overflow, desks will not be wiped down appropriately, and overall disinfecting will not take place.

While many school districts throughout the state are preparing to open safely, Santelises’ budget freeze will once again hinder children from inner city Baltimore.

The most vulnerable population in the state will once again receive the least, and as usual, this will be done partly because of politicians but mainly due to poor and corrupt leadership at the school district level.

This is the reality of opening up schools.

I agree that schools should reopen safely, but we cannot stand idly by as city schools is considering to reopen in a way that is not befitting American youth.

Of course, the liberal media, left leaning politicians, and Black Lives Matter organization remain mute on this topic.

I would love to see those same people, including Santelises herself, send their children to a school with other children without a custodian and necessary resources in place.

While safety of students and staff can take a back seat, they are sure prepared to take that ten million dollar pay day though.