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State's stimulus will not increase school funding
Thelma Grimes/San Pero Valley News-Sun
David Woodall, superintendent of the Benson School District, said the state stimulus aid that will create a $250 million windfall will not increase funds to schools.
Knowing the federal funds were coming, the state paid K-12 schools using the state's general funds before June 30, which is when the 2008-09 fiscal year ended. The state treasury department planned to reimburse the general fund once the check came from Washington. However, the U.S. Department of Education said that's illegal and the money has to go directly toward schools.
Woodall said while that sounds like school districts will be getting more money instead of facing 6 to 8 percent budget cuts, it's not so.
Woodall said one option already being discussed is for the state to reduce future state aid payments and tell school districts to use the double payment of federal stimulus funds to make up the difference.
That means school districts across the state will continue to struggle. While Benson avoided layoffs, they are looking at cuts in soft capital and other areas affecting growth and will not be able to fill many positions vacated at the end of the 2008-09 school year.
Woodall has said because state numbers are not definite, the district will likely have to amend the budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year four or five times.
Arizona lawmakers barely got an education budget approved so districts could pass their budgets by the July 15 deadline.
However, school officials statewide have plenty of concerns as they start the new school year.
Calvin Baker, of the Arizona School Administrator's Association and superintendent of the Vail School District, said while they are happy the legislature and Governor Jan Brewer came together to approve a budget, there are still plenty of unanswered questions.
There is still a $3 billion deficit, and Baker said there is nothing stopping them from taking more from K-12 education.
The budget already approved eliminates building renewal money for doing major repairs on building, reduces soft capital needed for textbooks and improvements by 75 percent.
Baker said in Vail that means a cut of $1.7 million. In Benson, a smaller district, that means about $200,000.
Another problem is the state will continue to freeze acquiring new school sites. This means growing districts, like Benson and Vail, will not be able to purchase land and build new schools as needed.
While Benson is able to maintain, Vail is struggling with the freeze, needing new primary and high schools.
Baker said the bottom line is it means tough and uncertain times for schools in the coming year, as the state is also cutting 301 funding by 30 percent, decreasing the amount spent on teacher salaries and incentives.
Administrators and lawmakers agree that federal stimulus funds will be helpful in the coming year but won't prevent cuts.
David Woodall, superintendent of the Benson School District, said the state stimulus aid that will create a $250 million windfall will not increase funds to schools.
Knowing the federal funds were coming, the state paid K-12 schools using the state's general funds before June 30, which is when the 2008-09 fiscal year ended. The state treasury department planned to reimburse the general fund once the check came from Washington. However, the U.S. Department of Education said that's illegal and the money has to go directly toward schools.
Woodall said while that sounds like school districts will be getting more money instead of facing 6 to 8 percent budget cuts, it's not so.
Woodall said one option already being discussed is for the state to reduce future state aid payments and tell school districts to use the double payment of federal stimulus funds to make up the difference.
That means school districts across the state will continue to struggle. While Benson avoided layoffs, they are looking at cuts in soft capital and other areas affecting growth and will not be able to fill many positions vacated at the end of the 2008-09 school year.
Woodall has said because state numbers are not definite, the district will likely have to amend the budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year four or five times.
Arizona lawmakers barely got an education budget approved so districts could pass their budgets by the July 15 deadline.
However, school officials statewide have plenty of concerns as they start the new school year.
Calvin Baker, of the Arizona School Administrator's Association and superintendent of the Vail School District, said while they are happy the legislature and Governor Jan Brewer came together to approve a budget, there are still plenty of unanswered questions.
There is still a $3 billion deficit, and Baker said there is nothing stopping them from taking more from K-12 education.
The budget already approved eliminates building renewal money for doing major repairs on building, reduces soft capital needed for textbooks and improvements by 75 percent.
Baker said in Vail that means a cut of $1.7 million. In Benson, a smaller district, that means about $200,000.
Another problem is the state will continue to freeze acquiring new school sites. This means growing districts, like Benson and Vail, will not be able to purchase land and build new schools as needed.
While Benson is able to maintain, Vail is struggling with the freeze, needing new primary and high schools.
Baker said the bottom line is it means tough and uncertain times for schools in the coming year, as the state is also cutting 301 funding by 30 percent, decreasing the amount spent on teacher salaries and incentives.
Administrators and lawmakers agree that federal stimulus funds will be helpful in the coming year but won't prevent cuts.
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