Schools in 14th Dist. might reap $62 mil from recovery package

Students in local schools with special education needs or who come from low-income backgrounds appear to be the big winners on the education side of this week's stimulus package.

Congressman Bill Foster met with school officials in West Aurora School District 129 Thursday to detail the expected impact of the stimulus on local classrooms. The school is just one of several in the 14th Congressional District expected to receive money through the stimulus. Congressional Research Estimates put the total benefit to schools in the district at about $62 million. That does not include any potential money for bricks and mortar that might still come to the schools through a new state stabilization fund. Illinois schools have the potential to draw from a pool of about $2.1 billion designated for the state for renovations, upgrades and new school buildings. Such money will be of particular appeal to school districts like St. Charles Unit District 303, which has visions of revamping or rebuilding every school in the district. However, schools must take the additional step of applying for those funds through the Illinois State Board of Education and winning approval of projects.

"This package helps keep jobs that would otherwise not survive," Foster said of the education money. "Our schools are no different from other parts of the economy. They are really hurting."

The special education and low-income money will infuse programs that already exist in local schools with more money, possibly allowing the hiring of new teachers or the retention of current instructors in districts in a cash crunch.

*Estimates of what some local school districts will receive through stimulus package:

Elgin Unit District 46 - $14 million ($9 million for special education; $4.8 million for economically disadvantaged students)

Dundee-Carpentersville Unit District 300 - $5.4 million ($4.2 million for special education; $1.2 million for economically disadvantaged students)

West Aurora School District 129 - $4.4 million ($3.1 million for special education; $1.3 million for economically disadvantaged students)

St. Charles Unit District 303 - $2.8 million (all for special education)

Batavia Unit District 101 - $1.4 million (all for special education)

Geneva Unit District 304 - $1.2 million (all for special education)

Crystal Lake High School District 155 - $1.1 million (all for special education)

Cary Unit District 26 - $834,000 (all for special education)

Kaneland Unit District 302 - $671,000 (all for special education)

Huntley Unit District 158 - $641,000 (all for special education)

Fox River Grove Elementary District 3 - $186,000 ($162,000 for special education; $24,000 for economically disadvantaged students)

*All numbers are estimates determined by the Congressional Research Service and provided by the U.S. House Committee on Education & Labor