Florida strips federal funding from schools as further punishment for masking

[Ohio Joe]

The state of Florida this week withheld nearly $700,000 in funding from two school districts as part of an escalating feud led by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over school mask requirements.

The state had previously financially penalized the Alachua and Broward school boards by docking their salaries for issuing school mask requirements, which DeSantis has worked to ban. In response to the financial penalties, the Biden administration last month awarded the counties federal funding to compensate for losses. Alachua County was awarded $147,719 and Broward County Public Schools received $420,957 in federal grants under the US Department of Education (USDOE) Project Safe grant.

But this week, the Florida Department of Education took things a step further. For this month's budgets, the Sunshine State docked the school boards' salaries and overall school funding in amounts equal to the federal grants, effectively canceling out the counties' federal aid.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/10/florida-strips-federal-funding-from-schools-as-further-punishment-for-masking/

Ummm... WTF? The extent the right has become petty as well as murderous is astounding.

[JCMach1]

1. Should halt all Federal education aid to Florida until they restore funds

Should also include colleges and universities in that.

[Crunchy Frog]

2. Yup.

Give him the game of one upsmanship that he wants.

[csziggy]

3. The Republicans in Florida have always been petty

Years ago here in Tallahassee we had a problem with cars speeding on Lake Bradford Road which was the shortest way from the Capitol to the airport. So the City of Tallahassee decided to put "calming strips" on the road that would slow the traffic - you know, traffic bumps.

But the legislators who did not want to observe the local speed limits, including a school zone along that road, took exception. A Republican led initiative passed legislation to withhold state highway finds from Leon County, the home county of Tallahassee, until the speed bumps were removed.

The fuckers did not care that they were endangering children by speeding through the school zone, or other citizens by speeding down that road. They just didn't want to be jostled while getting the fuck out of Tallahassee to raise money from oligarchs in their home districts.

THINGS THAT GO BUMP RATTLE SOME
Jim Toner, Sentinel ColumnistTHE ORLANDO SENTINEL

Now this is a tough one. Some legislators threatened to withhold state road funds from Leon County if it didn't flatten speed bumps on a popular route to the Tallahassee airport.

>>>>>>>>>>

Sen. Jim Horne, the powerful Republican budget chairman, rattled his teeth, I mean, his sword, at the Leon County Commission. The commission responded by howling tyrant and spreading tea leaves across the speed bumps, evoking the Boston Tea Party.

Now, I am reliably informed that the speed bumps on Lake Bradford Road make it seem as if you are rolling down a rocky hillside. And there is some question as to why they were thought necessary in the first place.

Still, the legislators may look like a bunch of belligerent bullies even though such people as John Gidusko and Doug Bishop would see them as wise solons.

More: https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2001-05-17-0105170328-story.html

[struggle4progress]

4. US files cease and desist action

BY ANA CEBALLOS
HERALD/TIMES TALLAHASSEE BUREAU
UPDATED OCTOBER 28, 2021 7:50 PM

... “The Florida Department of Education has unlawfully — and explicitly — reduced the amount of state aid provided to Florida school districts based on their receipt of federal funds” ...

The complaint says the state had cutback on state aid to districts “as part of a broader effort to deter those districts from implementing practices recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”

“But whatever its motivation, the reduction of state aid based on the receipt of the federal funds is a plain violation of section 8522 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965,” the complaint says.

Specifically, the section cited in the complaint bars a state from taking into consideration federal payments when determining the amount of aid a district should get ...

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article255364751.html#storylink=cpy