Feds distribute $898,913 to local schools
Dwight Morrow High School, the secondary school of the Englewood school system, the district obtaining the largest share of the $898,913 allocated to the school districts within The Press Journal area. Photo by Ilana Kantey
Not in time to have a smooth transitional impact on the current school year, 2010-2011, the U.S. Congress has crafted a federal aid program to ease payroll cutbacks on the local level in school districts across the country, which will provide $898,913 to The Press Journal area districts.
More than half of this money will go to Englewood and Teaneck — $353,723 and $252,486, respectively.
Tenafly Schools’ Superintendent Lynn Trager said, “Because it came as late as it did, we can’t use it this year….Our classes and sections are in place. We’ll apply it next year, which will be a bad budget year. The 4 percent cap this year will drop to 2 percent. We’re hoping to save a position next year—we don’t know what type. I wish it had come earlier.” Last year Tenafly eliminated 65 positions, including secretaries, custodians, administrators, teachers and aides.
Norwood Business Administrator Joanette Femia said, “It was recommended by the state that the funds be used for the 2011-2012 budget. We haven’t received any direction as to what the rules are about how we get or spend the money. The board is looking to use it for next year.”
In a letter to superintendents and Board of Education members, Acting Education Commissioner Rochelle R. Hendricks noted that Governor Christie had applied for and received $268 million in federal funds to be distributed to all districts in the state.
“We must work together to make sure this money is used to improve the quality of education and that it helps put our districts on a path to financial sustainability,” Commissioner Hendricks wrote.
“The U.S. Department of Education requires the Education Jobs funds be spent by September 2012. With your staff and budget set for the 2010-2011school year, I urge you to be mindful of how and when these funds are spent. While record levels of total federal, state and local funding have been made to schools in recent years, the next budget cycle promises to be challenging. Therefore, please consider reserving this one-time funding for the 2011-2012 school year if possible,” she continued.
“Similarly, I encourage your district to avoid spending decisions that would significantly grow future-year obligations that could prove to be unsustainable. In other words, these one-time funds should not only preserve critical jobs, they should provide your district with the breathing room needed to plan for educationally sound, balanced budgets in the austere days to come. It is unwise to assume that there will be additional streams of federal jobs money in planning for the future.
“The U.S. Department of Education allows these funds to be used for non-classroom costs, such as cafeteria workers, bus drivers and coaches, but it is my hope that this unexpected revenue will be directed to those areas most likely to help our students excel academically, namely classroom activities. I am confident that meeting these needs of your students is your number one priority.”
Commissioner Hendricks also noted that “spending will be carefully monitored to ensure that accurate reports can be filed with the U.S. Department of Education, detailing how these funds were used to retain, rehire or hire new teachers or support personnel.”
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