By Wendy Gragg

Tribune-Herald staff writer

The 19 school districts in McLennan County may be splitting more than $28 million in economic stimulus money over the next two years. While local districts welcome the funds, officials aren’t sure how the money will be used.

The $28 million is part of the economic recovery package’s $3.8 billion in education funding for Texas. Of that, $1.8 billion will be used to increase Pell Grant awards for more than 500,000 college students statewide. An additional $1.3 billion will fund public school classroom and school construction projects.

“I can think of few better ways to help our present economy get back on its feet and make an investment in a healthier future than to improve the quality of our schools and classrooms and universities,” said U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco.

Local school districts will be awarded a portion of the construction funding based on a formula. The Waco Independent School District is to receive $18 million over the next two years for construction work and enhancement of Title I and U.S. Individuals With Disabilities Education Act programs, which serve children in poverty and children with special needs.

Sheryl Davis, Waco ISD assistant superintendent for business and support services, is cautiously optimistic about the money the district is supposed to receive. WISD should get $18.8 million, more than $13 million the first year and $5.5 million the next. Davis said the money may help offset the impact to taxpayers’ pockets for upgrading facilities.

Connally Independent School District may see an additional $1.7 million over the next two years. Dorothy Marstaller, Connally ISD assistant superintendent of business and support, said it’s a little early to tell what the district will be allowed to use the money for. It would help, she said, if the district could use it to renovate high school science labs to keep up with science instruction standards.

Charles Langlotz, director of finance for La Vega Independent School District, is expecting his district to receive about $2 million.

“I don’t know what kind of strings they’re going to put on it,” he said.

La Vega ISD held an unsuccessful bond election in 2008, which meant projects such as the $18 million new intermediate school, the new administration building and $3 million of renovations at the high school would have to be put on hold. Langlotz said the stimulus money won’t be enough to tackle any of those projects.

“If we could use it on some repair and upkeep, we could probably spend it,” he said.

Edwards did not know how soon the school districts would receive the funding but said some of those funds would be available at the start of the 2009 fiscal year Oct. 1.

“Since they’re saying ‘stimulus,’ I’d like to think they’d want to move on that rather quickly,” Marstaller said.

Staff writer Regina Dennis contributed to this story.

wgragg@wacotrib.com

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