The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

February 19, 2009

School stimulus funds still a ‘wild card’

By Tanner Kent

On a white board near his office, St. Peter Supt. Jeff Olson has a telling phrase written underneath a note about President Obama’s $787 billion economic stimulus package.

It says “wild card.”

And for area school officials still grappling with the complexities of a bill thousands of pages large, that phrase seems to be accurate.

“Our standpoint is that we have to go with the information that is solid right now,” Olson said. “But the good news is that it does appear schools will get some additional funding.”

Just how much, however, remains unclear.

The $787 billion stimulus plan includes about $100 billion for the nation’s schools. Minnesota is in line for about $9 billion with $670 million slated for education.

Current estimates show the Mankato Area School District will receive more than $2 million over the next two years. School districts similar in size to, say, Maple River, St. Peter and Waseca will receive in the neighborhood of $500,000. Smaller districts the size of St. Clair and Nicollet will receive about $100,000.



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