Granite School District Addresses DOGE Allegations on COVID Relief Fund Misuse

by

Granite School District is pushing back against recent allegations regarding the misuse of COVID-relief funds, specifically claims that the district spent $86,000 on accommodations at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas during an educational conference.

The allegations surfaced as part of an initiative led by Elon Musk through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which aims to scrutinize government expenditures. According to DOGE, numerous schools reportedly spent nearly $200 billion in COVID-relief funds without sufficient oversight or measurable benefits for students.

A post by DOGE on X listed various examples of alleged misuse, including $393,000 for renting a Major League Baseball stadium, $60,000 for swimming pool passes, and the purchase of an ice cream truck. It further claimed that these expenditures were made without proper documentation. In response to concerns about spending, DOGE announced that the U.S. Department of Education will now require all funding recipients to submit receipts before receiving reimbursements, meaning states must initially cover the costs before requesting federal reimbursement.

Granite School District Defends Its Spending

Woman Dies in Logan Home Fire—Authorities Investigating Cause

In a statement issued on Friday, Granite School District denied any wrongdoing, emphasizing that the funds were used appropriately for professional development. The district explained that the expenses in question were allocated for 123 educators attending a three-day conference organized by Solution Tree, a respected provider of professional learning programs for teachers nationwide.

Granite School District outlined several key justifications for its spending:

  • The district conducted a thorough needs assessment and received approval from the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) before using the funds.
  • Hotel accommodations were booked at a government rate of $220 per night per attendee.
  • Las Vegas was the most cost-effective and accessible location at the time, being just a few hours from Salt Lake City.
  • Organizing an equivalent in-house training event would have been significantly more expensive than sending educators to the conference.
  • The conference provided valuable insights and resources, leading to positive feedback from attendees. As a result, Solution Tree agreed to host the event in Salt Lake City in 2024, making it more accessible to local educators.

The district also criticized the way the allegations were reported, pointing out inaccuracies in a Fox News national story. Officials stated that no one from Fox News contacted them for verification before publishing the claims. Additionally, the district emphasized that no formal investigation has been launched by any state or federal agency regarding the expenditure.

Utah House Passes Bill Banning Planned Parenthood Educators in Schools

Granite School District serves multiple communities across central Salt Lake County, including West Valley City, Millcreek, Taylorsville, South Salt Lake, Holladay, Kearns, Magna, and parts of West Jordan, Murray, and Cottonwood Heights. The district remains committed to transparency and asserts that all expenditures were made in compliance with federal and state guidelines.

In closing, district officials reaffirmed their commitment to providing high-quality professional development opportunities, stating that investments like these lead to improved educational outcomes for students.

keelee-mccain
Latest posts by keelee-mccain (see all)

Leave a Comment