Construction projects would put people to work immediately, Superintendent says.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell  issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate voted on its version
of the federal economic stimulus package today:

“Now that the Senate has passed its version of a federal economic
stimulus plan, I urge the House-Senate conference to begin quickly and to act
swiftly to resolve differences so that the bill can reach the President by Presidents’
Day. While I commend the Senate on its inclusion of funds for IDEA, Title I, Education
Technology, and early childhood programs, I am disheartened by the Senate’s
compromise decision to exclude funding for school construction, renovation and
repair; to halve the amount of funds for the state fiscal stabilization; to
exclude funds for state educational data systems, and to exclude language that
would expand state participation in the after-school supper program.

“School construction, renovation, and repair funds will put
people to work right away in California.
As a result of the state’s dire fiscal situation, 886 already approved school
construction, renovation, and repair projects are on hold. Funding from the
stimulus package would jump-start these programs. Moreover, school facilities
projects yield benefits beyond the specific school projects; they contribute to
workforce development, increase green technology, and benefit many communities.

“School districts are planning their budgets right now, and many districts are
contemplating cutting teachers, staff, and vital programs. Without question,
the state fiscal stabilization funds would help keep teachers working in
classrooms and staff at school sites across the state. The Senate’s proposal,
with reduced fiscal stabilization funding, will mean that we can almost
guarantee that more of our educators will receive layoff notices in about four
weeks’ time. This is represents a significant loss that will no doubt impact
the quality of the education of California’s
young people.

“Education data systems are critically important in fully
serving the needs of our students and will generate economic activity through
development and purchase of data software and hiring and training of staff to
collect, maintain, and report education data. In fact, a comprehensive
education data system gives parents, educators, and policymakers the
information needed to better target often-limited education resources, and in California
we have made progress on this front. But this progress would not be able to
continue if we do not receive funding for these programs in the stimulus
package.

“Finally, the House language amending the National School
Lunch Act would allow additional states to participate in the after-school
supper program. California has
been operating a pilot after-school snack program that we would hope to expand
through this language. There are many young people in our state who need this
program.

“I urge members of the joint-conference committee, who will
soon begin work to reconcile the Senate and House versions, to resolve
differences in favor of the House version, which offers reasonably more in the
way of relief for our schools, our state, and our economic resurgence. The
national dialogue surrounding the stimulus package has centered on wise
investment of these stimulus funds to boost our economy, and I couldn’t agree
more, but the best investment – with the greatest return on our money – is in
an investment in our children.”