Kristen McNeill, director of federal and state programs, reported at Tuesday’s school board meeting that Washoe County’s estimated share of the funding will be $12 million, which can be spent in a period of two years, portioned for each year as the district sees fit.
“We want to make sure we can hire the best teachers and we’re being aggressive in our plans,” McNeill said. “We’ll have documentation from principals that we’re going to be aligning to our strategic plan.”
School administrators have expressed an interest in restoring jobs that had been frozen in the past because of the severity of the district’s budget cuts. McNeill said the funding, which can be applied to all Washoe County schools, will give an opportunity for schools to keep particular programs staffed, including extended learning, afterschool tutoring, Saturday schools and early intervention for students.
To remain competitive as a district with the funding, the objective is to demonstrate fiscal responsibility as the district ties the dollars to its new strategic plan. Washoe County, though inviting all schools to apply for the funding, is targeting those schools that have 40 to 70 percent of its students receiving free and reduced lunches, McNeill said.
Morrison said a first draft of the grant application already has been sent out to principals and the local associations that partner with the district. McNeill said a second draft was sent out Tuesday night.
“We want to raise the level of expectation and the level of support,” Morrison said Tuesday. “Our thought is we would make available a little over half for this year and keep some in reserve for next year. … This takes care of our immediate needs and the intent was to put people back to work.”
Obama signed the bill into law on Aug. 10. On Aug. 13, Gov. Jim Gibbons submitted Nevada’s application to get $83 million for Nevada’s school districts to hire teachers for 2010-11 in anticipation of creating about 1,400 jobs, according to a statement from Gibbons’ office.
“With both declining revenues and declining enrollment, Nevada’s K-12 schools have been hard hit and our children are bearing the brunt of this economic downturn,” Gibbons said in the statement. “I am working to see if we can capitalize on this one-time opportunity and make it work for Nevada and make a real difference for our children.”
The federal government anticipated a two-week turnaround from its receipt of state applications to distribution of the EduJobs money.
The district is still seeking information about whether the funding would apply to charter schools.
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