Federal stimulus money intended to save and create jobs might not be getting the results congressional leaders had hoped for.
On Tuesday, the Georgia Board of Education approved more than $21 million for Richmond County schools and about $5 million to Columbia County schools, its first allocations.
They are the school systems' shares of $351 million in additional Title I funds and $314 million in additional Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funds, which enable school systems to target low-income and special needs students, respectively.
The money gives Richmond County almost $6.5 million in IDEA funding and about $14.7 million for Title I and gives Columbia County nearly $4 million for IDEA and about $1.15 million for Title I.
"Is the question 'Are you glad you're getting it?' The answer is certainly 'Yes,' " Richmond County controller Gene Spires.
But most of the money likely won't go toward paying salaries, Mr. Spires added.
"I don't know if we'll necessarily try to employ people," he said, stating concerns about the money not being available for salaries after two years. "What is bad about this funding is that it's temporary."
The money can only be used for IDEA and Title I, and cannot be used to make up for a predicted $24.5 million shortfall in the school district's general fund.
Columbia County Superintendent Charles Nagle said the stimulus money leaves many questions, which he hopes to get answered during a conference call with the state today.
With the stimulus funds the Columbia County school system might receive, Mr. Nagle said he likely would hire six to eight new employees to work in Title 1 schools and 10 to 12 special-needs teachers.
However, Mr. Nagle said he worries that once the stimulus funds run out, the school system would be stuck paying those salaries.
"We've just got to find out what all the strings are," he said.
More stimulus money is expected on top of the IDEA and Title I money approved Tuesday, according to the Georgia Department of Education. More than $22 million in technology grants will be awarded, and about $900 million is available for the governor to spend on K-12 education.
Staff writer Donnie Fetter contributed to this story.
Reach Greg Gelpi at (706) 828-3851 or greg.gelpi@augustachronicle.com.
ALLOCATIONS
| Richmond | Columbia | |
| IDEA | $6,475,527 | $3,914,943 |
| IDEA | $215,660 | $130,383 |
| Pre-K | ||
| Title I | $14,748,460 | $1,157,744 |
| Total | $21,439,647 | $5,203,070 |
Source: Georgia Department of Education
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As a non-government business, I would love to have some stimulus money to get my business going. I could expand my store ( involves hiring contractors/laborers). Hire more employees. Increase my advertising. You know... put the money to work rather than have it disappear into an ecomonic 'black hole'. Money is a tool and when used properly it can create comfort and security for a LONG time.
The OBVIOUS problem with the "stimulus" money is that it's a flash in the pan and the only lasting affect will be the lingering debt incurred by having it. The "increased employment", almost exclusively government jobs, is going to mirror the "100,000 new police" of the Clinton era. The jobs disappear the second the "stimulus" disappears. This horrible attempt at social engineering is guaranteed to fail this time, just as it has every other time it was foisted off on the taxpayer. The misinformed and uninformed voter continues to be the scourge of America. SOCIALISM HAS NEVER WORKED!
Money with strings on how it can be spent may not create new jobs but rest assured the Obama administration will claim it does. When school systems are having to reduce staff and then be able to try and use the stimulus funds for positions will have a net effect still minus the positions they cannot fill. It will depend on the individual's certification area as to whether or not they can fill any available position. What a ridiculous situation for systems to have to face.
yep..tep...yep,,,,tried to tell ya'll......nobody was paying attention .....except Mark Sanford................
so this will translate into more costly "programs" instead of the money being spent to hire more teachers to reduce class size, purchase school supplies or repair the crmbling school. it's time money should be spent on the moderate income children or those who are achieving, there are enuff programs for "low income children" the main reason low income children are under achievers is the lack of parental involvment and no amount of money can reverse a parent(s) refusal to get involved with their child's education.
If capitalism works so fine, why are we in such a financial mess NOW. This situation has not just happened in the last 100 days!!!
How about children who qualify under IDEA but have been repeatedly pushed asided by RCBOE for services? I am a parent of one such child. He is NOT a behavior problem and I AM involved before anyone says anything. I want what is provided for under the law- it is just basic stuff, not an extra teacher or program. With all the resourses used in the farce the the board has used over the last 2 years he could have been on a better path right now. I hold our board and its archaic practices accountable. Show us the change Dr Bedden, you know what IDEA is personaly.
dear bell, i don't have a problem w/funds going towards children who are developmentally disabled, most, if not all want to learn they may need more attention or "teacher time" in order to grasp the subject matter. this is what some of the funds are meant for, this i am sure can be accomplished by hiring more teachers in order to give the additional attention thay may be needed, my problem is with the second part, where funds should be made available to children in low income brackets, if a child wants to learn and there is sincere, honest and a dedicated effort on the part of parents to get involved, the level of income becomes secondary. this is based the school having adaquate levels of textbooks, supplies and most of all teachers, to reduce class size. instead rich cnty boe is more concerned about programs that mainly benefit children based on income but who may not want to learn as opposed to children/parents who will do anything to insure an adaquate education for thier child. perfect example is laney high school they are the worse school in the state but i am sure because of the socieo-economic makeup of the students will benefit more than some of the better high schools
I wonder what kind of junk the RCBOE Title 1 department (Ms. Stalllings, director) will buy now? They were in a six figure hole last year. I wonder what mess this new money will bring to the county. New "programs" to disappear within 2 years, paid salaries for "consultants," not to mention useless materials that teachers will not be able to upgrade, get all the pieces for, or utilize for very long, therefore taking up space in schools when they are obsolete. It happens all the time. I can only imagine what "training" everyone will be dragged into this time, only to have it change shortly. I guess Saturday school (babysitting) and after school programs (babysitting) will resume? So will the "food" and "materials" that come with it? The parents of the low-income children are not necessarily the ones who need it--what about the "middle" groups who get left out of everything? Those kids who try, with working yet involved parents, and need a little extra help to get into college. Quit dumping money into mudholes and be realistic. I can tell you that they wouldn't DARE allow the schools to decide, independently, what they think their students NEED. It'll be force fed.
Kristinaj907-You get it.Hope other people will also.Title1 was the biggest waste of taxpayers money.
I do see your point, jisomjr. I had not heard of Title I till we moved here and it is the "quiet" bane of my exsistance. We are involved and help him with everything it seems. When you are on the other end of the spectrum, you WILL told your child is fine. God forbid the Special Ed Services and Ms Harkrider part with any services. It takes an act of Congress. It is better to be low-income in this situation.
how stupid and pathetic...it is a proven FACT that no matter how much money you throw at public education the results continue to worsen... (check the REAL statistics for the last 40 years) The system is so morally decayed, corrupt and administered by useful idiots that this money is going right down a sink hole. Not until parents are held accountable for caring for their children & providing an environment for them to be loved and conducive to learning coupled with removing the federal government & the socialist unions from the classroom will any creditability EVER return to the public school system. These are not opinions just cold hard facts that make most Americans (at least most in 2009) squirm and retaliate with more socialist propaganda....Be part of a REAL solution...support a private school in your area and/or join with other parents/grand parents and form new ones...keep your assets away from the bureaucrats and put them to use where children can and DO GET NOT ONLY A GOOD BUT AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION in all facets necessary for them to become productive citizens of this once great and maybe again GREAT COUNTRY.
OH, but LCC0265 you would then take away the power from the very people you speak of.