Schools get federal money

Officials are being cautious with funds from a $10 billion federal Ed Jobs program signed into law by the president in August. Because state funding for education may be cut after the first of the year.

Georgia is getting $322.3 million in federal funds aimed at saving or creating education jobs for the 2010-2011 school year. Madison County’s cut of that is $982,000.

Interim Madison County school superintendent Allen McCannon said schools have been told by state officials that they can expect a two-percent cut in education funding over the next fiscal year. That would mean a reduction of $500,000 in funding for Madison County.

Of course, a new governor will take office in January. And McCannon said school officials hope whoever is elected will hold off on cuts.

“What I’m hoping is that whoever is elected won’t hit us quick,” said McCannon. “And if we could keep that $982,000 for next year’s budget. I do want to stress that that money will be used to save jobs.”

McCannon said the school board would be looking seriously at Reduction in Force (RIF) measures without the federal money. He said the system may have to look at RIF, but the money relieves some of that burden.

“I am very pleased about this jobs money,” said McCannon. “Without it, RIF would be really big on our radar.”

Madison County assistant superintendent of schools Bonnie Knight said the federal money gives Madison County a little breathing room for 2011-2012, which is expected to be a very difficult year for funding most school systems.

“We’re applying it (the federal money) to payroll over the next couple of months, like the state has directed school districts to do,” said Knight. “But we’re offsetting what we would have spent locally and reserving that local money for next year.”