Industry News
Small School Districts Considering Merger
January 11, 2010
A recently completed feasibility study recommended that St. Johnsville Central School District enter into a merger study with Oppenheim-Ephratah Central School District. And Oppenheim-Ephratah Superintendent Dan Russom warned more than 20 residents at a meeting last week that a merger may be the only way for their district to continue to meet educational goals of […]
Grant Great, But District Must Find $100 Million
January 11, 2010
The Hillsborough County school district is getting $100 million in a private grant over the next seven years to overhaul education. But the money comes with a catch: The district must come up with $100 million from other sources to finish the job. Where to get the money in a sparse economy remains a question, […]
Capital Project Proposed in Saranac Central School District
January 11, 2010
Saranac school officials are asking taxpayers to approve a nearly $18 million capital-improvement project. They stress aid will cover the majority of costs, and what little is left for taxpayers will largely be made up through long-term savings related to energy and technology upgrades. "We are hoping the community sees the wisdom of our planning," […]
State May Pull Plug on Coordinated School Health Programs
January 11, 2010
Hawkins County native Connie Givens devoted her professional life to children’s health issues, and her crowning achievement was the establishment of the Coordinated School Health (CSH) program which now exists in 136 Tennessee school systems. She was the first and only CSH executive director for the Tennessee Department of Education from the program’s inception in […]
Districts Cope With Late Payments
January 11, 2010
With the recent announcement that Kansas is delaying $200 million in aid payments to public schools, many Kansas school districts are once again violating cash management laws to pay their own bills. "It scares me to death," said Mike Mathes, Seaman Unified School District 345 superintendent. "We just barely get by. I just hope this […]
Educators: Governor Already Breaking Promise Not to Cut School Funding
January 11, 2010
While Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger pledged to maintain education spending in California as part of this week’s State of the State add ress, many educators say a closer look at the latest budget proposal shows otherwise. Education administrators and lobbyists say they found additional cuts totaling $2.4 billion. Kevin Gordon, a lobbyist with School Innovations and […]
Partnership Could Mean Federal Funds for Schools
January 11, 2010
The Vigo County School Board on Monday will discuss whether the district should sign a Race to the Top partnership agreement with the state that could, potentially, make it eligible for competitive, federal stimulus funding. However, the agreement, due to the state on Tuesday, comes with some controversial terms. “There are components that cause concern […]
Race to the Race: Legislature Must Strengthen Charter Schools
January 11, 2010
The Legislature has nine days to enact historic school reforms to qualify for up to $700 million in education funding under President Obama’s Race to the Top program. New York must meet the deadline with legislation that aces federal eligibility standards. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Senate Democratic chief John Sampson and Senate Republican Minority leader […]
School Districts to Reopen Lawsuit
January 11, 2010
Schools for Fair Funding again is trying to obtain more funding for various districts throughout the state of Kansas. "Although other districts are involved in pursuing this litigation, Ark City schools are not," USD 470 Superintendent of Schools Ron Ballard said on Thursday. USD 470 was aligned with the original group that filed the litigation […]
Vt. Gov: Reform School Funding, Trim Tax Increases
January 8, 2010
Gov. Jim Douglas devoted nearly half of his final State of the State address Thursday to reforming and spending less on Vermont’s public schools, saying the cost had doubled in the past decade and, without changes, would grow by another 26 percent within three years. "Containing costs is the only way to halt the climb […]