|
Last modified: Friday, May 15, 2009 3:19 PM CDT
Wahpeton schools expect $1.68 million from stimulus
by Erin C. Hevern • Daily News
Wahpeton School District officials are exploring ways they can efficiently spend the more than $1.68 million in federal stimulus funding they're expecting to receive for improving district education and its facilities.
Superintendent Mike Connell discussed with the school board Wednesday a list created of potential projects and asked them to be prepared to make decisions at the June meeting.
"It's one-time money, you have two years to spend it," he said.
The district is anticipating just more than $1 million in stabilization based funding, which can be utilized for equipment, supplies and buildings and grounds.
"But not salaries, new positions, personnel or anything like that," Connell said.
Potential projects could include cafeteria tables, high school health books, computers for teachers, computer labs and buses. Buildings and grounds projects could include sealing parking lots, maintenance on sidewalks, security systems, landscaping play ground installation, a lawn mower or high school gym paint supplies.
For Title I education, the American Recovery and Investment Act will distribute to the district $257,000. However, the money is distributed after an application is submitted for request for payment from the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction. The funding would be in addition to the approximately $300,000 appropriated annually for reading and math.
Connell suggested to the board using the funding for staff development, classroom computers, mobile labs and SMART boards.
"We are having a lot of teachers request this technology and we really need to make a determination whether in fact it's going to make a difference in how much kids learn or not," Connell said.
Connell and other administrative staff planned to hear a presentation Thursday on an Eno Board, an interactive whiteboard.
Additional Title I funding in the amount of $352,000 is expected to be distributed through the Americans with Disabilities Education Act to aid the district in purchasing items, miscellaneous materials, visual equipment and temporary teaching assistants.
"I don't think it's wise for us to receive this much extra money and not get any feedback from our staff, our employees on what to use it for," Connell said.
Connell plans to start meeting with staff at Central Elementary next week for suggestions on how to utilize the federal dollars. He anticipates there will be items added to the project list.
|
