Federal Grant Could Provide Necessary Funding to Lake County

January 8, 2010

On paper, the dollar amounts are impressive.

However, in practice, the conditions involved in qualifying for those dollars may be more than the Lake County School Board is willing to embrace.

At tonight’s board meeting, school officials will continue discussing their application for the "Race to the Top Grant." At stake is a share of $4.35 billion in federal funding that could help plug a revenue hole when stimulus money runs out in 2011.

Since only a few states will be selected to receive the grant money, the competition is expected to be fierce. Also, schools that are chosen will be expected to agree to certain benchmarks.

Resolution of those benchmarks will likely determine if Lake County continues pursuing the grant.

"There are so many unknowns right now and that’s what concerns us," said board member Rosanne Brandeburg. "There were a couple of questions that we had that if we get into this and we find that we can’t sustain it, can we get out?"

While most school officials would agree that funding is important, the debate surrounding the Race to the Top funds centers around how the conditions attached to these funds would affect the district. Any state chosen as a Race to the Top recipient would have to agree to improve the quality of its education and advance reforms in specific areas.

Individual school systems would have to adopt standards and assessments that prepare students to succeed in college and the workplace and to compete in the global economy; build data systems that measure student growth and success, and inform teachers and principals about how they can improve instruction; recruit, develop, reward and retain effective teachers and principals, especially where they are needed most; and turn around their lowest-achieving schools.

The board may also face opposition from the teachers union. According to board Chairman Cindy Barrow, one of the conditions of the grant would be changing the way teachers are paid, which would involve moving to a merit pay system. It’s just one of the details that will need to be worked out before Lake County decides if it will join in the state’s pursuit of the grant.

A final decision may not have to be made at tonight’s meeting, but the board will have to decide if it wants to move forward. Brandeburg said a memorandum of understanding has to be sent to Tallahassee by tomorrow.

"I’m open to exploring this all the way through," Brandeburg said, "because if it’s going to benefit our students and our district then I think we should. If it’s not, then I think we shouldn’t."