Valley schools should receive $21 million with $10 million of it coming by the end of April.

Valley schools should receive $21 million with $10 million of it coming by the end of April.

Staff Report

Area schools are receiving $21 million in federal stimulus money. What they will be able to do with it, though, is still very much up in the air.

Uncertainty on the amount that each school will receive and what can be done with the funds has yet to be resolved, officials said Wednesday.

“I’m just as confused as everybody else right now,” said Chuck Swindler, superintendent of the Western Reserve School District. “I’ve been told three different numbers by three different people.”

Area schools will share more than $21 million in federal stimulus money to aid Title I program funding. These programs address remedial reading and mathematics for educationally at-risk students.

The money will arrive in two installments with the first, more than $10 million, coming in 30 to 45 days.

The funding from the stimulus package is to “bolster” current Title I programs and not to start new ones, said Brad Bauman, spokesman for U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th.

The state will dole out the federal stimulus funds to school districts that qualify for Title 1 funding, Bauman said.

Though the schools know the money is coming, what it can be used for remains in question. Additional input is needed from the federal level, said Scott Blake, a spokesman with the Ohio Department of Education.

“We’re still awaiting the guidelines from the [federal government],” Blake said. “[The department] wants to have the funds out relatively soon, but we’re still waiting on the final pieces of the puzzle to figure out exactly what the formula input is for distributing the funds.”

Bauman said the amount of money given to each school district is based on a funding formula developed by the federal government

There is some confusion as to who is in charge of setting the guidelines.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Avon, said the guidelines will come “fairly shortly” from the governor’s office.

“It’s mostly up to the state,” he said.

A spokeswoman for Gov. Ted Strickland said the office was researching the issue, but couldn’t give an answer Wednesday.

Dr. Robert Zorn, Poland’s superintendent, said he’s still waiting to hear from someone as to what is allowed.

“I called the state department of education today and they told me they’re waiting for more information from the feds,” Zorn said. “They expect it to be another week before they get the guidelines from the feds and then another week before we get the guidelines.”

Until then, school districts are cautiously optimistic about what can and cannot be funded.

Swindler said he’d like to use some of the money to continue funding for a kindergarten program the school implemented this year, moving from two classes to three smaller ones. The program was started with grant money that only funded half of the cost.

Swindler said the stimulus money would alleviate some of the financial strain on the general fund.

Thomas Yazvac, Springfield Local School District assistant superintendent, elementary school principal and grants coordinator, said the district has a team of teachers, parents and administrators that helps determine how Title I money is spent.

“We’ll decide what grade levels most need additional interventions in math and reading by looking at achievement scores and other assessment data. The program now focuses on reading,” he said.

Salem Superintendent Lou Rammuno said he had been told to expect funds for math and reading intervention, and funding for programs for the handicapped.

Thomas Robey, superintendent of Campbell Schools, said his district would like to use the stimulus money to maintain its literacy and math coaches and its school resource police officers, all of which he thinks will be allowed under the federal guidelines.

Austintown Schools Superintendent Doug Heuer said he hopes the money will be used for professional development of teachers.

Girard Schools Superintendent Joseph Jeswald said guidelines are going to dictate how his district spends the funds

“The money always comes with conditions, and they are always explicit on how you can and cannot use it,” he said. “There are a lot of questions right now.”

Liberty Schools Superintendent Mark Lucas said officials have discussed using stimulus money for enrichment programs such as tutoring, one-on-one instruction and possibly field trips, but that could change depending on the guidelines.

Howland Superintendent John Sheets said he suspects that Howland’s allotment will be used the same way that previous Title I money has been used: to provide remedial help to students who lag behind in math and reading. Title I money has also been used to purchase supplies such as books and computer software for remedial help.

Other schools are more skeptical of making plans for the funds.

“I never spend money until I get it. At this point, I don’t know when or how it is coming,” said Rocco Nero, superintendent of Lowellville schools.

Wendy Carothers, coordinator of special programs for Boardman schools, said the school district is waiting for more information about the requirements and restrictions before deciding how to use it.

Sebring Schools Superintendent Howard Friend said no plans would be made “until we actually see how we’re allowed to use our dollars.”

Regardless of where the money goes, many superintendents said getting the money was reason enough to be excited.

Heuer said, “Even though some of it may be a temporary fix, it’s still going to help children, and that’s a plus.”

Friend added: “Any money is welcome, and it’ll sure be put to good use because the bottom line is it is going to be used to improve instruction for our kids. We’re very happy to get it.”

Superintendents from Columbiana, East Palestine, Lordstown, Mathews, Niles, Struthers, Warren and Weathersfield school districts could not be reached to comment.