Thursday, August 26, 2010

Update on federal funds

update on Education Jobs federal funds and Race to the Top taken out of order, at the mayor's request
signed August 10 by the President
WPS does get backfilled funds on Ch.70 (cut by Legislature...not a full 4%), as well as the full $25 per pupil=$1,911,816
(one wonders what the state is going to use the stimulus funds they took back for?)
recommendation of the superintendent that we set aside the $1.9 million for FY12
Race to the Top: one of ten states award round 2 of RTTT
Massachusetts had the highest score of all states in both rounds
total of $250 million for the state; 50% for districts (via Title 1 funding formula)
the week of Sept.7, the state is beginning conversations about applying for the funds
Monfredo asks if there are any contracted teachers laid off: admin anticipates calling back all of them (without having to spend this money)
O'Connell supports the admin's recommendation that we use the funds for FY12
if it appears that FY12 will not be as bad as forecast, ask that we consider using funds this year, as needed
on RTTT, "the devil is in the details": prof development, recruitment of teachers, programs with other districts
issues that may well be sensitive
O'Brien comments that at some point we need a scorecard of how much money (and where it's gone) we've gotten from the federal gov't, and he requests a report on what we've gotten and limitations on what the money can be used for
Foley asks that they use a small font, and adds that saved jobs would be a good addition. "this would be a very, very different school district were it not" for the federal money

No comments: