The president beseeching citizens to pitch in at schools is an unusual move, but reflects the tumult of the last few years, as the pandemic drove school staffing shortages and students fell behind academically.

"Let's take on mental health," he said during the State of the Union address, "especially among our children, whose lives and education have been turned upside down."

Alachua County School Board voted 3-2 to terminate the contract of Carlee Simon. A key vote for termination was that of board member Mildred Russell, who was appointed in August by the Republican governor.

There are varied reasons why some of this funding remains unused. Tutoring and enrichment programs, for instance, require finding staff to work extra hours in a moment when educators feel overworked.