Franklin — Two positions that had been eliminated in the Franklin Public School Districts have been restored using money from a federal jobs bill.
One elementary guidance teacher and one library media specialist were back in time for the start of school Wednesday, Superintendent Steve Patz said. The district had eliminated two of each of those positions in the 2010-11 budget.
Officials made the decision to bring back the guidance and library media positions now because of the "immediate impact" it would have on students, he said. By doing so, the district is committing to funding those positions for the next two years.
As for the rest of the money
The restoration of those jobs is only the first part of allocating the $1.2 million the district recently received from the federal Education Jobs Fund.
Franklin has until September 2012 to spend its entire allocation. In the coming days, administrators will devise a plan on how to spend the money, and, when they do, they will focus on long-term needs, Patz said.
The state received $179 million in federal money designed to save teacher jobs, according to a Journal Sentinel report. Franklin Public Schools' allocation was on the high end, Patz said.
The state distributed the money using the same formula for divvying up aid to school districts.
"It was a nice shot in the arm," Patz said.
At the same time, School Board members and district officials cautioned that it was a one-time allocation and said they need to be cautious when deciding how to spend it.
Some of Franklin's neighbors said they have not yet decided what to do with the funds.
More info needed
Greendale received about $600,000, Superintendent William Hughes said, but is waiting for further details from the state Department of Public Instruction on procedures and requirements to utilize the funds.
"With a tentatively balanced budget for 2010-2011, the Greendale administration will be thoughtful in developing a plan for (School Board) consideration on how best use these funds going forward, rather than spending the funds quickly this fall," he said.
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