Local schools will use stimulus

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

By Matthew Irwin

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-With the federal government set to begin doling out more than $97 billion in stimulus money in coming weeks, Teton County District #1 is looking forward to using its first installment, around $900,000, to meet reform requirements and boost programs for low performers, according to district officials.
“It’s very timely for us,” school superintendent Pamela Shea said, “a wonderful opportunity to infuse one-time programming, such as data collection and professional development that we’ve been wanting to do.”

Wyoming, on Sunday, was the centerpiece of a New York Times front-pager questioning formulas that give more to wealthy states.

 “Awash in oil and gas money,” Wyoming, which does not have a budget deficit, will see an average of about $1,684 per student, $400 more per student than Utah, a state with a $1.3 billion, school-jobs-threatening budget deficit, according to the report.

In the Cowboy State’s richest county, however, its not certain how much money schools will get over the two-year payout. 

In the first installment, Teton County will take only about $400 per student, or $900,000 total, according to Shea. Additional money will come in the fall, as well as the opportunity to win competitive grants for technology and other programs, but Shea does not know how much. The Wyoming Department of Education will distribute the funds for the U.S. Education Department.

At least a third of that money will come from $25 billion the federal government labeled for at-risk students, including poor and disabled students. The rest is part of a $50 billion federal fiscal stabilization fund.

Existing parameters for stabilization dollars include standards to prepare students for college and careers, a pre-kindergarten-to-college career data system, improvements in teacher effectiveness, and support systems for the lowest performing schools.

“It’s very formula driven,” Shea said.

Congressional Democrats fear that these formulas don’t siphon money to where it’s most needed, but they doubt the ability of both houses to agree on new formulas for timely disbursement, according to The New York Times.
Current indicators show that Teton County has a significant need for stimulus dollars to fund its programs, Shea said.

Teton County’s school district monitors need for new and expanded programs – especially for at-risk populations – by the number of students in free and reduced-cost lunch programs.

“We need to track this group,” Shea said, “because it tends to underperform.”
Like superintendents cited in the Times piece, however, Shea is wary of moving toward a “funding cliff” – that is, of creating jobs without long-term funding.
“We need to spend quickly, save and create jobs, and be careful to meet reforms,” she said. PJH
PERMALINK:
Local schools will use stimulus | Planet JH News Article: Jackson Hole High School

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