Federal Funds going to local schools as shortfall looms

AUSTIN – On May 9, the Texas Education Agency announced the allotment of the $830,820,460 in Federal Education Jobs Funds that the State received from the federal government after Congressman Lloyd Doggett’s barring amendment was stripped from the budget last month.
Crosby ISD has spend many hours trimming their budget by not spending on buses, new technology, cutting drastically back on cell phones, doing away with the tax office, terminating all not highly qualified educators, and ending the local Alternative Placement Education. Some 8 total educators will not be back next year at Crosby ISD and even more staff. After Crosby ISD did this adroit job of trimming the fat then we learn that some extra money for keeping teachers could be on the way if appllied for in the right manner.
The school districts wholly or partially located in House District 127 (Rep. Dan Huberty’s District) are receiving a total of $21,175,038 of the funds.
The money was distributed to local districts from highest to lowest as follows:


Humble ISD – $5,521,694
Galena Park ISD – $3,706,275
Goose C. C. ISD – $3,520,507
Deer Park ISD – $2,039,276
New Caney ISD – $1,663,590
Channelview ISD – $1,483,001
Sheldon ISD – $1,122,021
Crosby ISD – $814,504
Dayton ISD – $791,228
Huffman ISD – $512,942
Local Education Agencies (LEA’s) were offered an opportunity to apply for the funds based on weighted average daily attendance (WADA) through TEA. According to the Texas Education Agency, the Ed Jobs Fund grant money runs from August 2010 to September 2012, and can only be used, “for compensation and benefits and other expenses, such as support services, necessary to retain existing school-level employees, to recall or rehire former school-level employees, and to hire new school-level employees, in order to provide early childhood, elementary, or secondary educational and related services.”
Upon hearing of the release of funds, Huberty said, “I am very pleased to see these federal dollars finally make it into the hands of the districts who will be the best stewards of this money. We as legislators made sure the funds were distributed in an equitable manner and given to help our districts when they need it most. While we still have a lot of work to do, I know that our Superintendents will use this money to preserve the jobs of our teachers, making sure our children continue to receive a quality education.”
Crosby ISD Superintendent Keith Moore said, “We are very greatful for Mr. Huberty’s efforts and we certainly do need the funding. Right now we have begun to cut back about $3.1 Million, we hope the amount of shortfall will be closer to the Senate’s bill of about $4.2 Billion than the House’s but no one can say for sure.”
“It appears that the education jobs money will flow to the districts but that is not 100% certain. There is still lots of negotiating going on as far as school finance. They are getting close it appears but no one is certain which direction it will go. We just don’t know what is going to happen with the budget but we are greatful for Mr. Huberty’s efforts.”
Freshman State Representative Dan Huberty, R., District 127, has been appointed to the Education Committee and the State Affairs Committee in Austin.