Published: November 07, 2009 11:09 pm         

EPS finds some limitations using stimulus funds

In the midst of budget woes, overcrowding and aging facilities, Enid Public Schools has been able to make some first-class purchases, including more than $20,000 worth of laptop computers.

But why would the district make such expenditures when there are so many things that need to be done in Enid’s schools to address overcrowding and worn-down school buildings?

The answer is: They don’t have a choice.

Many recent expenditures have been made using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, better known as federal stimulus funds, and schools have specific guidelines on how those funds can be spent. The funds cannot be spent on building projects or facility repairs.

EPS has received approximately $1.3 million in federal stimulus money, and those funds are required by the federal government to only be spent in the categories of special education and Title I. That is, the money can only be spent to benefit special needs students and low-income students.

“Basically, the bottom line is, the Title I stimulus dollars can be spent in the same manner that regular Title I money can be spent,” said EPS Super-intendent Shawn Hime. “The special education stimulus dollars can be spent in the same manner that regular special education money can be spent.”

Public school funding is divided into many specific categories, and the money in each category or fund can have stiff regulations on how it can be spent.

In general, most federal funding for public schools is specified for special education and Title I. That is most likely why the stimulus money came to the schools for those categories, Hime said.

“That money can’t be spent on buildings, it can’t be spent to offset teacher salaries that we already have,” Hime said. “Every purchase has to be approv-ed.”

Rather than just giving the money to the schools and letting them decide the best way to spend it, the stimulus money was more easily regulated by the government when it was specified for special education and Title I.

“I think that was just the mechanism that the federal government had to pay the schools,” Hime said. “Almost all federal money (for education) is targeted for those two programs.”

The federal government appropriated the stimulus money quickly, and schools can only spend the money in certain departments. But, schools can take time and make sure they are spending their portion of the stimulus carefully, Hime said.

“They tried to send money out quickly so it would have an immediate impact. Our philosophy is more about spending wisely,” Hime said. “We want to spend it in a way that will make the biggest impact on students.”

Schools may only spend the stimulus money on one-time expenditures, not to create programs or long-term job positions. Hime said much time has been spent in planning with teachers and principals in the district concerning the best way to use these one-time purchases.

“The federal government requires us to spend this money on what are called supplemental services,” Hime said.

That is, the money cannot be spent on regularly needed education items.

“It has to be above and beyond the regular educational experience,” Hime said.

If any jobs were created or saved, they were not tied into stimulus dollars specified for schools to spend on special education or Title I.

“In Oklahoma, the significant area wHere jobs would be saved by stimulus money would be the stabilization money that came down from the state,” Hime said.

Through the stimulus Oklahoma received a state stabilization fund, and $167 million of that money was given to education state-wide.

“Based on our state economy, the state determined how to appropriate that money,” Hime said. “Without that, education would have received an 8 percent cut in addition to (the other cuts in the budget that occurred).”

From the funds received for special education and Title I, EPS was able to create several temporary positions that will be eliminated after two years.

“They are definitely set up to be just two-year positions,” Hime said.

The district already has obligated about $500,000 of its $1.3 million allotment and is continuing to focus on making one-time purchases that can have long-lasting effect.

“One big focus is looking at technology in special education and being able to replace aging technology equipment,” Hime said. “We’re spending it where that impact will continue.”

Next fiscal year the district will have another $1.3 million of stimulus funds to spend, but won’t get the money up front like it did the first $1.3 million.

“The second $1.3 million is actually on a reimbursement basis,” Hime said.

The school will need to have each expenditure approved, make the purchase and then wait for reimbursement from the government.

As the district continues to spend the stimulus money officials will make each purchase available for public viewing.

“We are committed to transparency and accountability,” said Amber Graham Fitzgerald, director of school and community relations.

A link has been placed on the district’s Web site in order for the public to have full access to knowing where every stimulus dollar is going in the district.

The district’s Web site can be found by visiting www.enidpublicschools.org.