Official cites stimulus possibilities
St. Mary board OKs track funds
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CENTERVILLE — The St. Mary Parish School Board heard a report from Superintendent Donald Aguillard pertaining to the opportunity for the school district to benefit from the more than $50 billion that has been allocated for education in the federal stimulus bill.
Aguillard said Thursday night he had received information about the bill and several ways it could benefit St. Mary schools, including money allocated to prevent teacher layoffs and cutbacks.
“There is money coming to Louisiana for (education) stabilization,” Aguillard said, adding he did not know exactly how much. “Included (in the stimulus package) is also $10 billion for school construction and improvement, but there is still an ongoing debate as to whether the money will be distributed to states for distribution or it will come directly from the federal government to the school districts.”
Aguillard added that nationally there was also $13 billion allocated to Title 1 funds and other special programs on top of teacher and structure monies allocated to improve education.
He said he was also working with the state to find ideas to generate federal funds to support public education.
“The biggest issue in the bill is school modernization,” he said.
“But it is still a very fluid issue and the state (and federal government) will continue to pass information on to us as plans are finalized.”
In other business, the board agreed to pay $162,285 to apply latex surfaces to the athletic tracks at Berwick and West St. Mary high schools.
Engineer Reid Miller, of Franklin-based Miller Engineers and Associates Inc., said bids were opened Jan. 21 with Vibra-Whirl Sports Ltd. winning the project.
The West St. Mary track will cost $74,950 while the cost of the Berwick High project is $86,335.
Both projects are expected to take 28 days and work will begin at Berwick first because the West St. Mary track is still under construction.
Aguillard said Thursday night he had received information about the bill and several ways it could benefit St. Mary schools, including money allocated to prevent teacher layoffs and cutbacks.
“There is money coming to Louisiana for (education) stabilization,” Aguillard said, adding he did not know exactly how much. “Included (in the stimulus package) is also $10 billion for school construction and improvement, but there is still an ongoing debate as to whether the money will be distributed to states for distribution or it will come directly from the federal government to the school districts.”
Aguillard added that nationally there was also $13 billion allocated to Title 1 funds and other special programs on top of teacher and structure monies allocated to improve education.
He said he was also working with the state to find ideas to generate federal funds to support public education.
“The biggest issue in the bill is school modernization,” he said.
“But it is still a very fluid issue and the state (and federal government) will continue to pass information on to us as plans are finalized.”
In other business, the board agreed to pay $162,285 to apply latex surfaces to the athletic tracks at Berwick and West St. Mary high schools.
Engineer Reid Miller, of Franklin-based Miller Engineers and Associates Inc., said bids were opened Jan. 21 with Vibra-Whirl Sports Ltd. winning the project.
The West St. Mary track will cost $74,950 while the cost of the Berwick High project is $86,335.
Both projects are expected to take 28 days and work will begin at Berwick first because the West St. Mary track is still under construction.
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