Brick Township Board of Education/Schools (Photo: Daniel Nee)
The Brick Township public school district has spent the majority of the money it received under the CARES Act, the measure passed by congress in March which provided coronavirus relief funding and a stimulus package.
Brick received $548,947, which must be spent by December. James Edwards, the district’s business administrator, said that so far the school system has spent all but $127,000.
“It almost acts like a reimbursement,” Edwards explained. “It frees up the money for things we had originally budgeted for.”
Under the conditions of the CARES Act, the district must spend the funds on items specifically related to the coronavirus pandemic that it otherwise would not have purchased. Edwards said the district split its aid into several categories: facilities, transportation, technology and food service.
According to documentation provided by the district, $209,363 of the money was available to be spent on all students while $339,584 had to be dedicated expenses related to the education of students from low-income families.