Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno is blasting the Trump Administration's decision to terminate over 100-million-dollars in federal funding meant for Massachusetts schools.
Springfield Public Schools was set to be the biggest beneficiary of the funds, receiving more than 47-million for what Sarno called "one-time capital improvement projects" meant to benefit students and staff.
The mayor said the money was already promised to SPS, and cutting off access to the funding is wrong.
"I am proud that under my administration nearly $1 billion has been invested into building new schools, which replaced old schools that were built in the 1890’s, and the renovation of existing schools, the most in the State.
The decision to cut off money already promised to our school district to benefit our students is wrong. Superintendent Dinnall and I will work with Governor Maura Healey and her Administration, and Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell to explore all of our options as we continue to fight for the residents and students of our Springfield. These continued enhanced public health and safety improvements are coming off the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic in order to get students and staff back into our classrooms,” Sarno said.
SPS Superintendent Dr. Dinnall said, “While we are deeply disappointed by the potential reduction in federal funding, we will continue working with the state Department of Early and Secondary Education (DESE) to secure the funds as originally agreed upon by all parties - a commitment reaffirmed by the federal government as recently as February 2025, when they stated that Massachusetts had until March 2026 to spend the funds.
Sarno added that he and Superintendent Dr. Sonia Dinnall are discussing options with Governor Maura Healey's office.
(Photo by CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images)
Photo: CHRIS DELMAS / AFP / Getty Images