School districts make plans for stimulus funds

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah school districts plan to reduce class sizes and restore teacher preparation days with their share of $101 million in federal stimulus money on its way to Utah.

The U.S. Department of Education announced that Utah, one of the first states to submit an application, will receive the money, which must be spent on compensation.

The House Republican Caucus on Wednesday received a report of school district responses to a letter sent by House Speaker David Clark, R-Santa Clara, and Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville.

The leaders had urged superintendents to exercise caution when planning to use the money, because it only comes one time. School districts will be required to report to the U.S. Department of Education on how the money is eventually spent.

Utah is dealing with a $51 million shortfall in education funding, said Executive Appropriations Committee chairman Ron Bigelow, R-West Valley City. It appears Utah can use the stimulus money to plug that hole in the budget and distribute the rest to school districts and charter schools.

Most of Utah's 41 school districts responded to the leaders with their ideas for spending their respective estimated distributions.

Alpine School District plans to hire 26 teachers over two years to reduce class sizes and hire other staff.

Cache School District plans to hire new teachers to restore staffing ratios to the prior year and to restore professional development days.

Granite District plans to provide training days for employees and a possible one-time bonus.

Davis could hire additional teachers on a one-year contract to reduce class sizes and restore two days cut from the year's school calendar.

Similar plans are in place among other districts, as well.

Clark told House Republicans that he expects a special session of the Legislature to be called to officially accept the $101 million, as per state law.

He said the governor could call a session in November during the Legislature's interim so the state will have a better picture of its revenue. The money is supposed to be spent during the current school year.

"I don't feel the economy is getting dramatically worse," Clark said. "But it's not getting better."

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