The New York Daily News reported that the Trump administration has changed rules for spending federal funds on emergency spaces, which means that subways and public schools will no longer receive funds for cleaning during the pandemic.
Transit systems, schools and other public facilities in New York could soon become a whole lot dirtier because of a policy change enacted by the Trump administration that’ll strip millions of dollars in critical coronavirus aid for the state, the Daily News has learned.
It’s a gut-punch no one saw coming, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) railed Thursday.
Since the outset of the pandemic, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has helped New York and other states cover the costs of coronavirus-fighting efforts — from disinfecting schools and government buildings to stocking up on personal protective equipment for public employees.
But FEMA snuck in a rules change this week to say “the operation of schools and other public facilities” are no longer considered “emergency protective measures eligible for reimbursement,” declaring, “These are not immediate actions necessary to protect public health and safety.”
Presumably, this change will affect schools across the nation that rely on FEMA for extra cleaning.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Here’s a bold claim from the ed reform echo chamber:
“Choosing a good-citizen school
SEPTEMBER 4, 2020 BY JOANNE 1 COMMENT
Thirty years ago, Milwaukee launched a private-school voucher program for low-income students. In 1998, when religious schools were allowed to participate, enrollment expanded.
Overall, test scores for voucher students resemble their public school counterparts. But there’s a critical difference: Voucher students are more likely to complete high school, enroll in college and earn a degree.
They’re also more likely to become law-abiding citizens, concludes a study, published in the Journal of Private Enterprise.”
Private school students are actually “better citizens” than those icky public school students who attend “government schools”. That’s the claim from the ed reform think tank.
Ed reform has gone from being an anti-public school movement to an anti-public school STUDENT movement. Not only do our students attend the unfashionable and ideologically unacceptable public schools, they also are likely to be criminals.
So glad we’re employing these folks to set policy for public schools.
That FEMA rule change is thoroughly buried from full view at the FEMA website, and I have not found a single report that cites the official rule change.
Many unsuspecting state and local officials, including school district personnel, were depending on that money. All need to have a clear path to the official rule change.
I would like to see it, though not a public official.
Chiara Now there’s a double-whammy: First Trump and his pandemic funding fiasco, then from your note below:
“Private school students are actually ‘better citizens’ than those icky public school students who attend ‘government schools’. That’s the claim from the ed reform think tank.”
Look, Alice, . . . there’s the Chessy Cat in the tree . . . . CBK
That’s how the echo chamber works- ed reform funded think tank or university department conducts study to “prove” that private school or charter school students are better students, pushes out study to rest of echo chamber, then the entire echo chamber quotes study, completely uncritically. It then becomes “true” and they set policy around it, including policy that affects every public school student.
At no point in this process are public schools included or public school students considered. They’re used exclusively to promote charters and vouchers. Our students exist only to the extent that they can be used to promote ed reform’s ideological goals. They are the “control” and that’s all they are.
Sickening.
Trump works for Putin. This becomes clearer with each passing day.
“Our database includes 18 charter management organizations (CMOs) that are part of the Charter School Growth Fund portfolio and comprise 10 or more schools. These are large, high-profile, nonprofit organizations that serve large numbers of kids and are generally well regarded for their ability to lift student achievement and close opportunity gaps.”
“Our data base” doesn’t include any in-depth analysis of public schools, because we’re not actually in the “public education” business- we’re in the “promote charters and vouchers” business.
They could not make it more clear that public schools and public school students are disfavored in this “movement”. It permeates everything they do.
This is my favorite part of the DeVos pandemic policy:
“I know many of you are now more attuned to what your child needs to learn and to thrive. So, some of you — with the time, means and resources — are getting creative. You’ve formed learning “pods,” hired tutors or made the decision to homeschool. You’ve converted a corner, a room or the basement into a makeshift one-room schoolhouse. Some of you are fortunate enough to be able to access a different school that is open, and you’re trying to enroll your children there and are stretching to pay for it.”
She’d like to congratulate us all for patching together something approximating “a school” without any help at all from her or her thousands of employees.
Good job! We managed to overcome the adverse conditions created by the Trump Administration, and prevail in spite of their complete refusal to do any work at all.
If you;re wondering why you’re paying these people, you’re not alone. I have no idea.
Even in the pre-covid era, there was no way to keep buses, trains, schools (especially classrooms, gyms, locker rooms and bathrooms) totally clean and germ free. I think, there’s too many germs, viruses and dirt out there. Also, there’s no way, a custodian can clean every nook and cranny of those entities. ☹️
and imagine who will be blamed for not doing the impossible job
Considering that that dump-head want to do this (see below) rather than spend $$$$$ on our public schools says it all and more.
trump does not work for the American people, nor does he uphold Our Constitution. He’s unfit to serve.
trump thinks he is still on TV firing everyone. He’s a big, fat joke of a person and sick. America is now the joke of the world.
https://truthout.org/articles/trump-breaks-with-us-history-of-global-cooperation-in-eradicating-diseases/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=44c05895-75a0-4b38-8766-fd6bb2c22aeb
Trump Breaks With US History of Global Cooperation in Eradicating Diseases
“Trump’s decision to sit this partnership out means that the United States is alienating, yet again, its allies around the world with its go-it-alone priorities. And it means that the U.S. is now committed to using vaccines as a diplomatic weapon, holding out the prospect that it will selectively share U.S. vaccines with certain countries, presumably in exchange for economic and military concessions, while withholding its medical discoveries and technological know-how from other countries.
“This is the same extortionist approach to government that has defined Trump’s entire foreign policy. Take, for example, his demands that South Korea and Japan pony up protection money in exchange for ongoing U.S. military guarantees. Or his efforts to block international aid to desperately poor countries in Central America unless they accepted asylum seekers deported from the United States.”
oops … “wants” not want.”Sorry.
But they will send extra money to private schools….special.
HOW can not cleaning schools and public transport, etc. NOT going to, “affect public health?” FEMA’s announcement makes no sense.
I don’t know which way to read this news.
Does it mean, “states, you’re on your own.”
Or does it mean, “no, we didn’t mean reopening schools safely is a national priority.”
Either way, it’s not news.
Someone shoud inform DeSantis his ’emergency’ status for reopening schools is now on shaky ground.
Make America great again. Get rid of the pale representation of a person in the White House.
Get out the vote. Get out the vote. Get out the vote.
Yes, yes, yes, and quit fixating on polls and commercials.
GregB Apparently, everyone is waiting for the “other shoe to drop” from the Trump camp as we get closer to the election. In my view, there’s reason to worry.
This just in from the Washington Post: “USPS chief DeJoy’s rise in GOP was fueled by donations from his company’s workers who were later reimbursed, former employees say.” CBK