A federal bill is expected to give south Florida's school districts $115 million.
On Tuesday, August 10, 2010, Congress approved a $26 billion stimulus package, of which $10 billion is to be used to rehire teachers who were laid of because of budgets constraints. President Barack Obama signed the bill into law the same day.
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan seemed pleased with the legislation.
Under the new law, Florida will receive $555 million for education jobs.
For the Miami-Dade district, the bill could mean an infusion of $60 million.
The money can not be used for administative costs,, capital projects or to build reserves.
Before the stimulus package Miami-Dade was able to balance its budget without laying off any teachers, but was unable to rehire 800 of the 1200 temporary teachers working under temporary contracts. The legislation should permit all of the temporary teachers to be rehired.
Miami-Dade Superindendent Alberto Carvalho expressed concern that the school districts will not be able to count on these dollars in future years.
Well if only the Florida Republican Congress can fund education, then the federal government would not have to.
But maybe, what the Florida Republican Congress is doing, by not sufficiently funding education is intentional.
Frederick Bryant
August 13, 2010
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