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The Department of Education released a report on Nov. 2 detailing education jobs created and saved by American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. The report states Maine saved 98 jobs in education through stimulus funds and created eight more since the beginning of 2009.
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan held a conference call with reporters Nov. 2 to discuss the report and its implications.
“The numbers in today’s report come directly from states,” Duncan said.
States are required to report to the federal Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board about how they spend their stimulus funding. Maine reported it augmented its higher education budget with nearly $18 million of stimulus money in fiscal year 2009. Maine’s higher education budget topped off at nearly $253 million for 2009 — including stimulus money — according to the report.
The jobs retained include 97 teachers and one guidance counselor. The eight jobs created are all educational technician positions.
“With this first payment to schools, in partnership with the federal government, we are helping relieve the fiscal burden for school districts at a challenging time,” said Governor John Baldacci in a June press release.
The report states the federal government awarded Maine just over $106 million in stimulus funds to help the state augment its education budget.
“We will be able to see its effects for years to come,” Duncan said.
Duncan said the federal government has awarded $35.4 billion in state stabilization funding nationwide so far and expects to spend another $34.2 billion before Sept. 30. He said the government does not distribute stimulus funds based on need, but rather on the merit of each state’s application. In response to whether states should be concerned once the stimulus money dries up, Duncan said, “We should absolutely be concerned.”
Duncan said every school leader “has to be thinking about this in the long haul and plan accordingly.”
Deputy Secretary of Education Tony Miller, also speaking to reporters, said the report bases the jobs created and saved on states’ best estimates of salaries, not necessarily individual jobs. Duncan said the report does not foreshadow job cuts in the future.
“We have to continue to put resources where they’re needed,” said Duncan, who added states and schools need to find where they’re most dramatically affecting students’ lives and use funds accordingly.
Maine spent none of the stimulus money on educational technology or homeless youth programs, according to the report. The state’s second biggest job savings area was in Individuals With Disabilities Act programs — the report states Maine retained six disability service jobs with stimulus money and created 12.
Maine expects its fiscal year 2010 higher education budget to include $11.14 million of stimulus funds, according to the report.
“When a district invests in a new boiler or energy efficiency improvements, they are generating savings in future years,” stated Maine Education Commissioner Susan Gendron in a press release. “And when they invest in professional development, training, laptops and educational planning, they are making wise, limited-duration decisions that will pay educational dividends for years to come.”
Duncan said the report helps keep the government and Department of Education transparent.
Bangor Daily News