CHARLESTON, WV (WOAY)- Governor Justice has issued a statement today about the ongoing negotiations between his office and the Federal Department of Education concerning $465 million that the state owes the Department of Education.
For background, the money initially came from covid funding and went to individual counties and not the state itself. However, the state did not grow the education budget proportionally to the rest of the state’s budget.
In the statement Justice said quote… “Let me be very clear on this issue: there is no $465 million ‘clawback’ on the table, and there is no allegation that my office, the Legislature, or our education system misspent or mishandled any COVID-19 funds.”
The statement continued quote…”Our negotiations with the federal Department of Education are focused solely on COVID-19 funds sent directly from the Federal government to county school boards and higher education institutions and the rules that were enacted after the money was spent.”
This is a developing story, and we will continue to follow it.
