Schools Crunch Calculus of Stimulus

Wall Street Journal ^ | MARCH 3, 2009 | ANNE MARIE CHAKER

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Schools struggling with some of their worst budget crises in generations are taking stock of President Obama's stimulus package -- hoping the money will restore funding for things like textbooks, teacher salaries and tuition.

The $100 billion in funding dedicated to education touches programs for almost every age group, from early-childhood programs to financial aid for college students. While the money, part of the $787 billion stimulus package, may not result in a full turnaround, districts say, it will help stop some of the bleeding.

Michael Klein

"It's going to mean a softer landing for us," says Jack O'Connell, state superintendent of public instruction in California. That state is facing an $11.6 billion cutback in public-education funding, affecting the remainder of this school year as well as next. In some cases, Mr. O'Connell says, "instead of a superintendent having to decide between textbooks or a math teacher, we'll be able to do both. Or, it will mean a longer bus ride for kids, instead of eliminating transportation."

When addressing education in the stimulus package, the president last week told a joint session of Congress, "We have provided the resources necessary to prevent painful cuts and teacher layoffs that would set back our children's progress."

In addition to the stimulus plan, President Obama last week issued a budget proposal for fiscal 2010 that adds large increases in education funding that speak to longer-term administration priorities. Among the many education initiatives, this plan would ensure that Pell Grants for higher education keep pace with inflation and would have the federal government take over most student-lending programs. Still, the overall budget plan is sure to be altered as Congress deliberates the specifics.

[ari-freedom]

“Among the many education initiatives, this plan would ensure that Pell Grants for higher education keep pace with inflation”

look forward to even higher tuition

[jeffc]

My wife works for a certain school district here in Florida, and they are bleeding teachers out the yazoo, but not a word about any admin staff, which everyone (but they) think we already have too many of.
No, the teachers must go, but the admin staffs stay, even though may make almost twice, and in alot of cases more than twice, what a teacher makes.
Funny too, as they are increasing class size over the legal limit, in direct violation of Florida law. It'll be interesting to see what happens in the next school year, come September.

Maybe they're doing it to get the attention of the state and federal authorities to put more money into the system, but why don't they just take pay cuts, or let some admin staff go? Too painful for them, as they work directly with those people, and no one wants to fire someone you work closely with; better to fire someone who is just a name to you . . . .