Questions Abound On Schools’ Use Of Stimulus Package Funds

Van Zandt County school district superintendents know their districts are to receive money from the federal economic stimulus package, signed on Feb. 17 by President Barack Obama.

How and for what that money can be spent is still a mystery for now.

"I’ve talked with other superintendents, but right now it is hard to say what the federal government will allow us to do with it," Martins Mill ISD Superintendent Todd Schneider said.

To this point, Schneider said, he has only heard about different scenarios regarding the funds and he added that nothing was certain "until we get an opportunity to receive the money and see exactly how we can supplement programs or be directed to spend it."

According to Austin-based consulting firm Strategic Partnerships Inc., the seven districts in Van Zandt County are to receive $3.446 million total.

In a press release, the company issued an estimated breakdown of those funds as follows: Canton ISD, $475,000; Edgewood ISD $281,000; Fruitvale ISD $198,000; Grand Saline ISD $562,000; Martins Mill ISD, $172,000; Van ISD $791,000; and Wills Point ISD, $967,000.

"That is a little bit higher than I was initially told," Wills Point ISD Superintendent Joe Oliver said about the figure for his district. Like Schneider and other administrators, Oliver said he has plenty of questions about just how that money can be used.

If the money turns out to be strictly for Title I programs, it opens up other questions, Oliver said.

"You have to be careful. If we spend ‘x’ number of dollars, will we then have to show maintenance of effort? How that takes place or if it will come into play is a big question," he said.

"We are a Title I school and do spend a lot on our federally funded programs, but with federal programs and special education, you are limited on what you can spend funds for," Oliver added.

Edgewood ISD Superintendent Jack Shellnut said statements made by President Obama about the funds for schools have sounded "contradictory" to the normal restrictions and guidelines attached to Title I programs.

"I have heard President Obama say the funding is to help districts from laying off employees, which indicates to me it is not going to supplement funds, but to help local districts with local funds…those statements he’s making are contradicting statements as the law is written, but maybe they (Congress) have rewritten this package that way. I don’t know at this point," Shellnut said.

"If it’s only to supplement (federal programs), we haven’t really gained anything," Shellnut said. "We will know we can spend more money in those areas, but it doesn’t help with state and local funds. Until there is a definite plan laid out for those funds, we are going to plan like we always do and wait until we know for certain."

Schneider added, "Typically with the federal government, it is sometimes hard to know what hoops you have to jump through to get it (funding). My biggest concern is how best to use it, because it is two years’ worth of money being given this year…How do you make it efficient for five years?"

One area that could be bolstered by the funding is technology improvements for schools, something they are constantly striving to achieve.

"That is something we certainly want to move forward on, improving our technological efficiency and bringing us up to date. That is a definite area to look at," Oliver said.

Martins Mill ISD recently passed a taxpayer-funded bond issue with part of that money going toward technological improvements. Schneider said it would be good for students if the district was allowed to use some of the stimulus package funding to compliment those improvements.

"I hope the package accomplishes what they’re setting out to accomplish," he said. "I hope the federal government has the students’ best interest in it."