School board defers stimulus item

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. -The wait is on.

After more than an hour and a half of discussion Wednesday night, the Prince William County School Board elected to bring back the issue of stimulus funding at a yet-to-be determined date.

The decision to postpone action regarding the federal Education Jobs Funds was largely due to what the board considered insufficient data on both the funding formula and amount of money the county would receive from the state of Virginia.

Some board members also expressed hesitation to take action in light of the recent Board of County Supervisors’ resolution to not address stimulus money until the fiscal 2012 budget process. During a special meeting last week, supervisors criticized the perceived lack of communication from the schools regarding their decision to prepare for the hiring of 180 new teachers this year with potential stimulus money.

Even some board members stated their dissatisfaction with Superintendent Steven L. Walts’ decision to publicize the intent to hire new teachers before a formal presentation was made. Walts reacted to the board members’ comments by saying, “We did what we thought was appropriate in order to begin to get ready in the event these funds become available and both boards choose to utilize them.”

During Wednesday’s meeting, several board members said they would like to be able to use part of the funds — which could be as much as $15 million — in this fiscal year. That could potentially allow the schools to hire a small portion of the 180 teachers initially considered by Walts.

Optimistically, the earliest the schools could put teachers into classrooms would likely be Nov. 1, said schools Associate Superintendent for Finance & Support Services Dave Cline. According to Cline, the federal money can be used either this fiscal year or next, and will be sustainable in future years due to expected student population growth and the opening of three new schools next fall.

The state is in the process of applying for the funds, which will be distributed in a yet-to-be-determined fashion. However, Cline stated Wednesday he expects the number to be approximately the same, regardless of which funding formula the state uses. The deadline for the application is next Thursday.

While the school board was unanimous in its decision to re-visit the issue, several members publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the supervisors’ resolution. During the special meeting in August, school board chairman-at-large Milton C. Johns asked the supervisors not to make a decision until a representative from the schools could give them a presentation.

On Wednesday, he re-iterated that stance.

“It was almost irrational for them to pass a resolution before they’ve been briefed,” said Johns, who called the action “rash.”

School board member Denita S. Ramirez-Woodbridge said she supports the hiring of new teachers with this money and said the decision to use these funds is not political but for the children.

Staff writer Kipp Hanley can be reached at 703-530-3904.