Published Sunday, February 22, 2009 12:16 AM
B-CS schools await stimulus aid
By JANET PHELPS
janet.phelps@theeagle.com
Bryan and College Station schools could receive millions of dollars from the $787 billion economic stimulus package signed by President Barack Obama last week.
No one knows exactly how much money the districts will receive or when.
U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards said initial estimates from the Congressional Budget Office showed that Bryan schools would get about $6.8 million, while College Station schools would receive $2.4 million.
Local school officials said that the money would help but that it's not a long-term solution to school finance issues.
Bryan schools Chief Financial Officer Amy Drozd said the district had eliminated several teaching and staff positions through attrition over the past year because of financial difficulties.
"The problem with bringing positions back with this money is that this is temporary money. What do we do when the funds are over?" she said. "This is not an annual allotment for the next 10 years."
College Station schools Superintendent Eddie Coulson said the timeline for the money would create a difficult situation when it came to deciding how to spend it.
"We don't want to put something in place and have an ongoing expense if the money will not be ongoing," he said. "It's one of the questions we have, and it's one of the questions a lot of people have."
The money has been approved for use over two years through the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) and Title 1, federal programs that provide funding for special-needs and low-income students, respectively.
The Texas Education Agency is responsible for informing schools about how much money they will get and how it must be spent, but a spokeswoman for the Austin agency said last week that she didn't know when the information would be announced.
Once the amount is made public, Drozd said, a staff committee will likely meet to decide how to use the money most effectively.
"Most of this [money] is going to be instructional, so it's really going to come down to: To have the most effect on students, how do we spend it?" she said.
She said the district's special-needs services could use the help. That department has lost several teaching positions over the past year because of budget cuts, she said.
And in low-income campuses, which qualify for Title 1 funds, Drozd said, the money will have a visible impact.
"What happens is usually your higher at-risk campuses require more services to get [students] on level [with the rest of the district]. So any time we can get more money on those particular campuses, it's helpful," she said.
Coulson said the money would be spent based on the district's identified priorities within the two programs. That could mean adding programs, staff positions, staff development or resources for teachers, he said.
"Like we would with anything, we will look at what we've deemed as our priorities in terms of what our needs are, then look at what the parameters are and align those. Once we've aligned those, we will move forward."
Both Drozd and Coulson said they would use the money in whatever way would most directly benefit students. Bryan schools' budget this year is $125.3 million, while College Station schools' is $97.7 million.
Edwards said he estimated that the stimulus money would create or save 8,400 jobs in the 17th Congressional District.
"A number of those jobs will be in the Brazos Valley," the Waco Democrat said.
Ultimately, Edwards said, he didn't know how the money would affect school districts but was hoping for the best.
"At worst, I hope it allows them to keep people employed who might otherwise have been fired," he said. "At best, I hope it will allow them to increase the number of teachers and staff and, most importantly, fund their highest-priority needs."
Comments
[comment]
10 comment(s) found!
Posted by:
On:
Monday, February 23, 2009 6:27 AM
Comment Title: To Local Taxpayer
You make some excellent points. We are "stuck" with taking the money. That is not all bad. And, we will always continue to send money as will our children and their children in the future.
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Posted by:
Bryan ISD Taxpayer On:
Sunday, February 22, 2009 10:47 PM
Comment Title: RE: Bryan Resident's Comments
Very pleased to see someone is interested in bringing new and innovative ideas to BISD. I'm sure you have noticed the immature and pointless denigrations of both The City of Bryan and BISD lately. Your comment about "wasted" on Bryan ISD made me think you were one of these people. Simply griping about the current leadership is really childish and actions really do speak louder than words. There are so many good ole' boys on the board, could/would you give us a clue as to your recommendations for improvement to the system or what would differentiate you from the same old same old (them) ?
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Posted by:
Bryan Resident On:
Sunday, February 22, 2009 9:25 PM
Comment Title: re:Mirabeau B. Lamar
Mirabeau, can you just get over it. George and Phil are not in political positions anymore. Lets discuss rationally and with a little less emotion(hatred) the subject at hand. The real issue is what are the strings that come attached with this money. Many of the previous comments are so right-on. My personal opinion is, don't take the money, until we know for sure what "hoops" we have to jump through to get it. If they are "hoops" we can live with, then take it. The parents and teachers should have a hugh say in how the money is spent. They are more aware of the needs of the students and which programs already in use could be benefited by this money. Thanks for the advice, perhaps I will run for a trustee position. I will definately look into it. We certainly need new leadership her in Bryan!
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Posted by:
Mirabeau B. Lamar On:
Sunday, February 22, 2009 6:17 PM
Comment Title:
Hey, we can give all the stimulus money back and run things the GOP way! Cut taxes and spending! In this economy! great idea! Let's get Texan Phil Gramm to help! And George! Think of the great economy we will have! The great education we wil give our kids (only the insured ones, that is)! Ain't Texas grand!
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, February 22, 2009 3:53 PM
Comment Title:
What is the problem with underspending local funds in one area for a couple of years. Spend the Fed funds in that required area and return to norm when the Fed money is gone. After all, we are only spending our own money.
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Posted by:
Local Taxpayer On:
Sunday, February 22, 2009 3:33 PM
Comment Title:
Take the money. Local taxpayers are sending these dollars to Washington. Our descendants will continue sending money for this to Washington. I have yet to see an ISD that cannot use a short term influx of funds. Eat a little T-Bone for a couple of years and then drop back to chopped sirloin. As A" mom in CS" said, seek the input of parents and teachers. The "Bryan Resident" foreseeing wastefulness should run for one of the Trustee positions in the upcoming election. Even if defeated he or she would be able to put forth ideas and become part of the solution to the problem he or she perceives.
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Posted by:
A mom in CS On:
Sunday, February 22, 2009 2:49 PM
Comment Title: Money
We want to know where the money is really going to go. (Eagle, please do a future follow-up.) Adding staff positions shouldn't even be considered with short-term funds. Put it into training and resources for teachers, paraprofessionals, and their classrooms. Coulson - please try asking the parents and special education teachers for their input. They have a lot of good ideas but don't usually get a chance to share them when it counts. I can't speak for BISD but I'm pretty sure the parents and teachers there feel the same way.
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, February 22, 2009 12:39 PM
Comment Title: Bryan resident
Amen to previous comments. We don't want the federal governments stinking money. There will be strings attached, and we have no idea what they are. The problem is the bill contains wording that permits the state legislatures to over-ride the govenor, if he refuses to accept the money. I wish someone with some kahoni's would stand up and say that is unconstitutional. Don't know about C.S., but here in Bryan the money would just be wasted anyway!
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, February 22, 2009 9:59 AM
Comment Title:
We are too rich and too Republican. We don't want it or need it. Let Texas stand as a nation on it own!
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, February 22, 2009 6:27 AM
Comment Title: The problem with bailouts
is summed up very well in this story. Stopgap solutions do not really solve anything. It is akin to giving painkillers to a patient who needs surgery. The patient will feel better for a while, but the surgery is still needed.
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