WASHINGTON, D.C. - Fourteen local school districts in Ohio could share more than $20 million in federal tax dollars over the next two years through the current economic stimulus bill before the U.S. House, U.S. Rep. Charles Wilson said Monday.
In its current form, the bill - officially titled the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009" - would provide nearly $75 million for schools in Ohio's 6th Congressional District, which Wilson represents. The congressman said the legislation proposes money for Title 1 funding, special education funding, school modernization and repair and classroom technology investments.
Of the local school districts, East Liverpool would be eligible for the most funding, at $3.46 million. Steubenville City Schools would be eligible to receive $2.38 million; Switzerland of Ohio, $2.25 million; Bellaire, $1.74 million; Edison Local, $1.59 million; Indian Creek, $1.53 million; Wellsville, $1.43 million; Martins Ferry, $1.38 million; Barnesville, $1.26 million; and Buckeye Local, $1.1 million.
Union Local would be eligible to receive $781,000; Bridgeport, $743,600; Toronto, $659,300; and Shadyside, $372,800.
St. Clairsville-Richland City School District is located in Ohio's 18th Congressional District, represented by U.S. Rep. Zack Space, D-Ohio.
Information about possible funding for that district and school systems in West Virginia was not available late Monday.
"The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has two purposes: to create jobs and to lay the foundation for future economic growth," Wilson, D-Ohio, said. "The investment that this plan is making in education accomplishes both of those goals. Building 21st Century classrooms is good for schools, good for jobs and good for every single one of our children who deserve a first-rate education."
Title 1 and IDEA funds will be increased to help low-income students and students with disabilities. Additionally, funding will be provided to help schools repair, renovate and modernize their facilities over the next two years. This will create new construction jobs for local workers and provide technologically updated, 21st century classrooms for local students, Wilson said.
The congressman did not specify what criteria were used to determine the level of additional funding that could be available to school districts.
