Milton Public Schools Receives Unexpected Funding for New Positions

Just months after the Milton Public Schools were forced to eliminate 17 non-teaching positions due to budget constants, an increase of $327,683 of funding from the federal Education Jobs Funds bill will allow the district to address staffing needs.

Governor Deval Patrick announced the state would be receiving $204 million from the bill earlier this week. The bill allocates at least $25 per students to every school district. Patrick said the funds, which are designated for salary and benefits, will keep classroom sizes manageable across the Commonwealth and "take the edge off" for districts struggling with cuts.

"This is the highest level of education funding in history, which means $327,000 more for Milton than they were expecting," Patrick said.

The funds, which were distributed using the Commonwealth's Chapter 70 formula, will ensure that every district will meet foundation level funding for this year. 

"This is largely good news anytime you get stimulus money, even if it has restrictions," said Milton Public Schools Business Administrator Matt Gillis, referring to the fact the money must be used for salary and can't be used for supplies or services like other federal stimulus grants the district has received.

The Department of Education and Secondary Education also informed school officials that the funding could be carried over into Fiscal Year 2012.

The question of what to do with the new funds is now before the administration and School Committee, which has a meeting scheduled for September 8. The decision may not be as easy as to just reinstated positions like the Pierce Middle School assistant principal or High School guidance director that were cut in April.

"With enrollment changing each year, our priorities change," Gillis said.

In July, Milton received $107,000 of federal stimulus aid. At that time, a need had emerged for reading teachers at the elementary level. The funding allowed the district to hire one fulltime English reading teacher and a fulltime French Immersion reading teacher. The new instructors will be shared between the four elementary schools.

Gillis said as they consider enrollment for this year, another teaching position may be needed. Generally, one teacher would be budgeted at $54,000 said Gillis.

Gillis expects the Administrative Leadership team to have a recommendation for the School Committee within the next few weeks. The application of the new funds may be set back a few months as the DESE doesn't expect the cash payments to roll in until November.

"Before we spend all of it, we like to know we have some of it," Gillis said of the funding.

The announcement of the Education Jobs Funds comes just one day after the Commonwealth was notified it would receive $250 million from the federal Race to the Top program. Milton is not eligible for the funds Patrick said will help close achievement gaps. Milton Education Association President Margaret Gibbons did not sign documentation because the union does not support the initiative. Milton was one of 118 of 393 school systems to bow out of the program.