(09/01/10) The federal government is pumping a lot of money into New York schools, but if one local school is any indication, financial worries persist.
Last week, the Empire State won a $696 million "Race To The Top" education grant. This is "big picture" money. It will go to improving teaching and testing, not day-to-day operations or salaries.
Two weeks ago, the state got $608 million from Washington. These funds can only be used by public schools to hire or re-hire teachers. But as Martha Foley reports, Canton Central School will hire only one full time teacher with its extra half a million dollars. The rest is a hedge against troubles next year.
The federal government is pumping a lot of money into New York schools, but many districts are still worried about their finances.
Sen. Charles Schumer says New York has officially qualified to receive all $607 million in federal funds intended to stave off thousands of teacher layoffs statewide.
Most schools open next week — Schumer urged the state to get the funds to school districts immediately.
It's in addition to last week's nearly $700-million federal "Race To The Top" education grant. "Race to the Top" is big picture money. It will go to improving teaching and testing, not day-to-day operations or salaries.
The $607 million made official yesterday can only be used by public schools to hire or re-hire teachers.
Bill Gregory is superintendent of Canton Central School District, which cut 11 teaching positions in its budget passed last May. The district expects a $538,000 share.
"We're looking specifically at an elementary position this year. We had planned not to replace a retiring elementary teacher. The funds will enable us to do that."
That's one full-time teacher and Gregory says a part-time technology instructor will be re-hired as well.
He estimates this will leave the district with more than $430,000 dollars from the federal stimulus package. Gregory says it's money the district needs to save in this sluggish economy so it can pay teacher salaries next year.
"Positions that normally would have been potentially cut this next school year – talking about the 11-12 school year – will be able to be retained as a result of that additional money."
School starts in one week. Gregory says now is not the time to hire new teachers. He says it's too disruptive to students, class schedules and the district office, which was flooded with job seekers after announcing an open position a few weeks ago:
"We had over 100 applications for this one position, the vast majority who were serving teachers. So that just gives you a sense of the challenge we're facing from an economic perspective and from an educational perspective."
Later this month, state lawmakers are expected to meet in special session to approve the amount of federal stimulus money going to school districts across New York.
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