Published: July 03, 2008 09:29 am      

Schools receive funds — but not enough

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — As promised, local schools are now receiving the last two state aid payments, but other funding is expected to be cut for the upcoming school year, according to Mt. Vernon Township High School Superintendent Terry Milt.

“We received the last two payments Friday,” Milt said. “However, Title I is way, way behind, as well as transportation and Medicare funding.”

Milt said payments from the federal funds that are still lagging behind amount to about $350,000.

Although there is no word yet on when the funding will be received, Milt said word has come down that the Title I funding will be cut by $55,000.

Title I is part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and funds from Title I are authorized for professional development, instructional materials, resources to support educational programs and parental involvement participation.

Milt said MVTHS receives $250,000 annually in Title I funding, and the cut is “major.”

“If we don’t have Title I funds, we don’t have the money we use from it for teachers,” Milt said.

The high school was forced to issue $1.2 million in tax anticipation warrants in April, and at that time, Milt reported that unless the federal money was received, the district would have to continue to rely on tax anticipation warrants to cover the shortfall.

The final two state aid payments were for about $350,000.