Frederick County and The City of Frederick are partnering to provide more than $3 million in relief to Frederick County Public Schools to help cover costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds will be used for food distributions, costs associated with virtual and in-person learning, and safety measures such as personal protective equipment and enhanced air filters.
“Supporting the educational needs of our children is essential if we are to deliver on the promise of public education,” County Executive Jan Gardner said. “Our community’s bright future depends on making sure all students have access to reliable technology, nutritious food, and – once it is safe to return to the classroom – a healthy environment for learning.”
According to a County press release:
“City residents account for more than a quarter of all FCPS students,” Mayor Michael O’Connor said. “We owe it to our young residents to support them and their families during these challenging times.”
There are over 43,000 students enrolled in Frederick County Public Schools. Nearly 12,000 live in the City of Frederick, with the remaining 31,000 residing outside the city. Funding for the grant comes from the County’s $45 million federal Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) award. Frederick County contributed $2,585,522 directly. The County previously allocated CRF funding to each municipality. Mayor O’Connor is making a request of the Board of Aldermen on December 3, 2020, to designate $444,638 of its allocation toward the FCPS relief.
