The DNJ reports that $13.9 million of federal stimulus funds will go to Rutherford County and Murfreesboro City school systems. The stimulus funds come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that Rutherford County Republicans took to the streets by the hundreds to protest on April 15.
Tea Parties across the state protested federal stimulus spending provided by the ARRA that also enhanced needed health care benefits for our county’s veterans and extends unemployment benefits for our county’s unemployed. Rutherford County Republican Rep. Joe Carr (R-48) is currently sponsoring a bill to reject ARRA funded extensions to unemployment benefits.
You can learn more about what the ARRA federal stimulus is funding here in Tennessee.
Title I schools are given that designation based on the number of low-income children enrolled.
City Schools will receive roughly $820,000, and County Schools will get $2.7 million to serve low-income students. The funds will be split in half and distributed in two allocations over the next year.
School districts must apply for the funds and the state department will post on its Web site how each district uses the funds.
Possible uses include summer school, year-long teaching training for Title I schools or parent training.
Earlier this month, funds for students with disabilities were released. City Schools was allotted $1.9 million and Rutherford County Schools received $8.7 million. A portion of the funds will go toward serving pre-K students.
City Schools plans to invest much of the funds allotted for students with disabilities in teacher training.
The district may purchase assisted teaching devices and expand its Extended School Program’s summer program and include a segment for parents, said Gary Anderson, finance and administrative services director.
