Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for January 27, 2009 SHOW US THE MONEY

An Act of God Day?

Is it beginning to look a lot like Christmas?

WARNING, WARNING, WARNING...

Nothing is "official". As the story below indicates, this is "in the works". However...

The first link provided below cuts to the nitty, gritty...a possible injection of new federal dollars into Cairo School District Number One. The PROPOSAL would mean an additional $2 million over the next two years! THAT would be in addition to the $2.5 million resting comfortably in the First National Bank on 8th Street!

This information is provided because school district officials (everywhere, not just Cairo) are inclined NOT to share such "public knowledge"...not wishing to whet the appetites of ever-greedy employees. I mean, they don't want to do anything that might possibly impede their employees' ability to qualify for food stamps! (MEOW!)

Maybe, just maybe, today's ice storm (and probable cancellation of tonight negotiations session) was a "sign" from on high...

That good things come to those who wait!

Since CSD #1 officials acknowledge difficulty in recruiting new teachers (and CAT would add a concern over retaining current teachers), maybe, just maybe, this news provides the golden opportunity to cast aside "gimmicks" and focus instead on "making a significant difference".

Here is the link for the Illinois portion of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Again...their "disclaimer"...

Estimated allocations to LEAs for education under House Appropriations Committee Draft 2009 Stimulus Bill, the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009"

Notice: These are estimated grants only. These estimates are provided solely to assist in making comparisons of the relative impact of alternative formulas and funding levels as part of the legislative process. They are not intended to predict specific amounts LEAs will receive. In addition to other limitations, much of the data that may be used to calculate final grants are not yet available.

If you are interested in other states, click here.

Below is the original article that brought this matter to my attention...

Feds' stimulus could send millions to schools here

By James O'Toole, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The economic recovery legislation to be voted on in Congress this week would provide billions in new money for local education, including scores of millions of dollars for school districts throughout Western Pennsylvania.

Pittsburgh Public Schools would be by far the largest beneficiary in the region under the measure being considered in the House. The city schools would receive a total of more than $55 million over the next two years, according to a Congressional Research Service analysis released by U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire, D-McCandless.

Examples of other proposed federal funding increases include Fox Chapel Area School District, $1,991,100; Mt. Lebanon, $1,427,100; North Allegheny, $2,151,900; North Hills, $1,972,900; Shaler Area, $2,625,800; Wilkinsburg, $3,526,600; Aliquippa, $2,775,000; and Ambridge, $2,049,800.

A full list of proposed outlays for school districts across the state can be found on the Web at http://edlabor.house.gov/documents/111/pdf/publications/PENNSYLVANIA2009Stimulus.pdf.

The total of the funding for local education programs represents roughly 5 percent of the planned outlays in the $825 billion House legislation. That's in addition to separate allocations for higher education in the massive legislative package. Even assuming final passage by the Democratic Congress, however, the final numbers for school districts and other recipients of the emergency aid could vary widely from these estimates once the House version is reconciled with Senate action on the stimulus measure.

Mr. Altmire voted against the initial rescue bill in October, but he said he strongly favors the new House bill, which could be voted on as early as tomorrow.

"In my mind, [the October measure], especially the first [$350 billion] was just a giveaway," Mr. Altmire said. "This is helping people, stimulating the economy, in a way that is transparent and traceable."

The school district dollars are spread across three broad areas: programs aimed at improving disadvantaged students' achievement in math and science, aid for special education and construction funding. Pittsburgh, for example, would receive a one-time grant of $23.9 million for construction this year, an additional $9.6 million for disadvantaged students in each of the next two years, and $5.5 million for special education in 2009 and $6.3 million beyond currently projected levels in 2010.

The proposed federal spending is to be allocated according to existing funding formulas, which take into account factors such as the number of students in poverty in a given district. While most of the Western Pennsylvania districts would receive significant sums, they all pale next to the proposed allocation for the state's largest school district, Philadelphia, which is targeted for more than $500 million in new funding in the House bill.