EDITORIAL: Current needs in Alabama's education system Share Updated: 8:44 AM CDT Jul 16, 2021 By Susana Schuler Share Updated: 8:44 AM CDT Jul 16, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript This is a W. VTM 13 editorial with president and general manager Susanna Schuler as school starts in four short weeks, districts are finalizing plans on how to best spend billions in covid stimulus funding. Alabama is receiving 3.136 billion. That is the largest single infusion of funds spent on education in our state. Over the next three years, we must challenge our education leaders to put that money where it directly benefits student learning retention and graduation. The federal funding does require at least 20% of what's given to districts be spent on addressing learning loss, our education needs as a state or significant. So we must use this opportunity to pull up Alabama from being rated among the lowest in the nation for educational achievement. That means while investing in buildings is important to learning without distractions or discomfort. The need right now is on recruiting, retaining and employing more teachers on more individual attention for struggling students, more after school and summer programs to sustain that learning more focus on mental health, as well as creating solutions now that can be sustained when the stimulus money runs out in three years. Let's spend wisely so our future workforce can wisely meet their future needs. This has been a W V TM 13 editorial. If you'd like to reply, please send an email to editorial at W VtM dot com.