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.

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