Will federal school money in ‘jobs bill’ for Montana actually get spent on schools?

The federal “jobs bill” passed this month by Congress allocates $30.7 million for Montana public schools — but it’s uncertain whether or how schools may get the money this year.

The Schweitzer administration will apply for the money by a Sept. 9 deadline, but “decisions are still being made” on how to spend it, said Sarah Elliott, spokeswoman for Gov. Brain Schweitzer.

Education officials said this week the money should be distributed to school districts this year, giving them the option of spending it now or carrying it forward into the 2010-2011 school year.

“It would let them use it as a tool to avoid layoffs and otherwise keep jobs that would be cut,” said Lance Melton, executive director of the Montana School Boards Association. “It’s not like school districts have been doing just fine. They’ve been quietly cutting their expenses.”

Madalyn Quinlan, chief of staff for state Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau, said Juneau prefers to distribute the money based on the number of teachers and other educational workers in each school district.

MIKE DENNISON Gazette State Bureau

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