Webb ponders effect of stimulus

By Harold Gwin | January 28, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

Youngstown City Schools superintendent Dr. Wendy Webb

One official said potential cuts in state funding could offset a stimulus gain.

YOUNGSTOWN — City school officials don’t know if money earmarked for the district in President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus package will help the district get out of fiscal emergency.

Much depends on what restrictions the federal government will place on the stimulus aid, said Superintendent Wendy Webb.

At this point, schools have been told how much money is earmarked for them, but not what ties may be attached to those funds, she said Tuesday.

Youngstown knows it is supposed to get nearly $17.7 million over a two-year period, with $5.8 million earmarked for federal Title I programs, $4.1 million for special-education programs and $7.8 million for construction. All of the construction money would come in the first year.

The stimulus bill is expected to be voted on this afternoon in the full House of Representatives. The aid set aside for schools is meant to help districts suffering from major shortfalls because of the recent economic crisis.

Webb said she would like to see some funds allocated to help with transportation costs. If the government allows, some of the money could be used to cover current Title 1 teacher salaries, which would provide some relief to the district’s ailing general fund, she said. The general fund is showing a deficit of about $8.7 million by the end of this fiscal year June 30.

All of Youngstown’s elementary and middle schools are funded with Title 1 money, which can be used for teacher salaries, costs of academic intervention programs, staff professional development and more.

The special-needs children require a lot of assistance, and the federal money in that category could require the reduction of class sizes to help provide more direct assistance to those pupils, which might require extra staff, Webb said.

“We’ll have to see,” she said when asked if the stimulus money will help with the district’s deficit.

William Johnson, district treasurer, said the good news of impending federal stimulus aid may be offset by bad financial news coming out of the state.

Gov. Ted Strickland has warned that spending is very tight, and school districts have been told they can expect a cut in their foundation (state subsidy) funds next year, perhaps as much as 10 percent, Johnson said.

For Youngstown, that would mean a loss of nearly $8 million next fiscal year, he said.

“We will utilize the [stimulus] money,” Webb said, noting that though the district is nearing the end of a 13-building, $187-million school rebuilding program, there are other possible construction projects that could tap the $7.8 million earmarked for that purpose.

Obama’s bill must still pass Congress intact for all of that money to arrive here, and board member Lock P. Beachum Sr. asked those attending Tuesday’s school board meeting to contact their federal representatives and senators to urge them to support the legislation.

gwin@vindy.com