Traverse City Record-Eagle

Grand Traverse County

November 28, 2009

Federal money aids area school districts

BY LINDSAY VANHULLE

TRAVERSE CITY -- The stimulus package helped boost local public school districts: They received dollars earmarked for programs for low-income and special education students, as well as a share of more discretionary funds.

Traverse City Area Public Schools, for one, last year spent about $3.8 million in what are called stabilization funds to offset a state funding cut at the end of last year, with an estimated allocation of $2.9 million this year.

Districts have fewer restrictions on using these funds, unlike the more stringent guidelines concerning special education or income-based funding.

Those dollars will pay the salaries of some building principals this year, district finance manager Sandy Low said.

TCAPS also was allocated roughly $725,800 in Title I funding for two years, most of which will be spent this fiscal year on literacy and before- and after-school tutoring programs.

Administrators expect to receive more than $25,000 in technology funds this year, along with a roughly $107,000 competitive grant for services for homeless students.

A prevention specialist and a regional training coordinator could be added with the homeless funding, along with expanded clerical staff and transportation services, Low said.

The positions likely will be temporary unless they can be retained with future grants, she said.

The Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District received $6.2 million in special education funding to distribute among its member districts. TCAPS' share includes about $1.4 million this year and $433,500 next year, Soma said.

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