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Stimulus bucks in focus
York education has several plans to use windfall
By Steve Moseley
YORK — If applied thoughtfully, stimulus dollars the York Public Schools didn’t ask for will be able to stimulate education just the same.
Superintendent Dr. Mike Lucas reported official numbers Monday for two ways in which American Recovery and Reinvestment Act monies have been approved for education in York.
Title 1, a federal program that delivers a second helping of reading and math to students in need of extra attention, was enhanced by $152,142 from the stimulus pot. York’s regular Title 1 allocation, which has nothing to do with the stimulus legislation, was $260,236. That makes the Title 1 program for 2009-2010 funded at $412,378.
Lucas said, in his opinion, “School districts have to look at not adding fixed costs” where the temporary ARRA funds are concerned. That’s because those dollars are only on the table this year and next. On top of that, given the vagaries of bureaucratic machinery, there’s no assurance next year’s dollars will materialize at all. In light of those realities, districts would be foolhardy to establish programs or positions they would have to maintain over time because they would exert pressure on budgets three years out and beyond after the stimulus money has gone away.
Plans for the Title 1 stimulus dollars, said Lucas, begin with a $77,000 bump in FTEs (full-time equivalent position). The temporary move will increase “two existing teachers’ Title 1 time,” said Lucas, but not beyond the anticipated two-year funding cycle. “That will allow our title people to have a few more adults the next two years.”
Another item on the Title 1 stimulus shopping list, he said, is $75,077 to acquire and adopt a new reading curriculum for grades K-5 at York Elementary. The Reading Street texts and other supporting materials are “based on individual reading instruction,” said Lucas. “It’s going to allow students to move forward from their present level” on a more individual basis as opposed to a whole-herd approach.
In addition to Title 1, the special education (SPED) program gets a stimulus boost of $307,794. With the normal grant for special ed added to those funds, the total available for SPED in 2009-2010 totals $624,033.
The board has elected to pay the entire balance due of $106,696 on a SPED bus in a lump. That idea is an especially nice fit for funds that won’t be available in the future.
Other projects on the wish list for SPED-specific ARRA dollars at York are an elevator or chair lift at the high school. The area most likely for such an installation, said Lucas, is the portion of the gym nearest the weight room. A new free-standing facility on the high school campus is being built using non-school, private donations. That project includes an expansive new weight room, thus freeing up space to make handicap access to that part of the building much better.
In its most recent board meeting an elevator was recommended, however no costs have been obtained for either option.
“If any (money) is left,” said Lucas, “ which it probably won’t be, we’d be looking at re-coding some existing teachers,” to gain short-term benefit from those dollars while still avoiding spending that would have to be sustained over time.
Rules require the money to be spent first, “then you get reimbursed,” said the district’s new superintendent. “That’s just the way it works” with federal funds.
Lucas began in his new job June 17. His predecessor, Terry Kenealy, stayed at his side five days, then departed for Iowa the day after the board’s June 22 meeting. Lucas comes to York after six years as superintendent and principal at Franklin Public Schools. He and his family are renting in York until their home in Franklin is sold.
Superintendent Dr. Mike Lucas reported official numbers Monday for two ways in which American Recovery and Reinvestment Act monies have been approved for education in York.
Title 1, a federal program that delivers a second helping of reading and math to students in need of extra attention, was enhanced by $152,142 from the stimulus pot. York’s regular Title 1 allocation, which has nothing to do with the stimulus legislation, was $260,236. That makes the Title 1 program for 2009-2010 funded at $412,378.
Lucas said, in his opinion, “School districts have to look at not adding fixed costs” where the temporary ARRA funds are concerned. That’s because those dollars are only on the table this year and next. On top of that, given the vagaries of bureaucratic machinery, there’s no assurance next year’s dollars will materialize at all. In light of those realities, districts would be foolhardy to establish programs or positions they would have to maintain over time because they would exert pressure on budgets three years out and beyond after the stimulus money has gone away.
Plans for the Title 1 stimulus dollars, said Lucas, begin with a $77,000 bump in FTEs (full-time equivalent position). The temporary move will increase “two existing teachers’ Title 1 time,” said Lucas, but not beyond the anticipated two-year funding cycle. “That will allow our title people to have a few more adults the next two years.”
Another item on the Title 1 stimulus shopping list, he said, is $75,077 to acquire and adopt a new reading curriculum for grades K-5 at York Elementary. The Reading Street texts and other supporting materials are “based on individual reading instruction,” said Lucas. “It’s going to allow students to move forward from their present level” on a more individual basis as opposed to a whole-herd approach.
In addition to Title 1, the special education (SPED) program gets a stimulus boost of $307,794. With the normal grant for special ed added to those funds, the total available for SPED in 2009-2010 totals $624,033.
The board has elected to pay the entire balance due of $106,696 on a SPED bus in a lump. That idea is an especially nice fit for funds that won’t be available in the future.
Other projects on the wish list for SPED-specific ARRA dollars at York are an elevator or chair lift at the high school. The area most likely for such an installation, said Lucas, is the portion of the gym nearest the weight room. A new free-standing facility on the high school campus is being built using non-school, private donations. That project includes an expansive new weight room, thus freeing up space to make handicap access to that part of the building much better.
In its most recent board meeting an elevator was recommended, however no costs have been obtained for either option.
“If any (money) is left,” said Lucas, “ which it probably won’t be, we’d be looking at re-coding some existing teachers,” to gain short-term benefit from those dollars while still avoiding spending that would have to be sustained over time.
Rules require the money to be spent first, “then you get reimbursed,” said the district’s new superintendent. “That’s just the way it works” with federal funds.
Lucas began in his new job June 17. His predecessor, Terry Kenealy, stayed at his side five days, then departed for Iowa the day after the board’s June 22 meeting. Lucas comes to York after six years as superintendent and principal at Franklin Public Schools. He and his family are renting in York until their home in Franklin is sold.
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