Pennfield Opts to Try for Race to the Top

January 7, 2010

The Pennfield Schools Board of Education opted to participate in Michigan’s push for Race to the Top funding at a board workshop Wednesday.

The federally funded program will distribute $4.35 billion, of which Michigan is eligible to receive $400 million. Some of Michigan’s funding would be spent on Project ReImagine grants, which were awarded to 13 districts, including the Lakeview School District, in November. The state must submit its application by Jan. 19.

The Pennfield board was cautious about signing on, citing concerns that the district may start new programs with the funding and be forced to continue them after the funding is gone, Superintendent Ben Laser said. Those "legacy costs" are unknown at this time. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Michael Flanagan has said districts may be able to opt out at a later time, Laser said.

"The benefit is we may get additional funding that’s going to help out kids," Laser said. "The risk is that if we choose to get in they won’t let us out and there’s legacy costs attached."

Becky Rocho, assistant superintendent of the Calhoun Intermediate School District, said she thinks all of the districts in the county will probably go for the funding, but she won’t know for certain until this afternoon, when districts must sign up or indicate they intend to sign up. Tuesday is the deadline for enrollment in the program.
Not knowing how the state will restrict the program puts districts "between a rock and a hard place," Rocho said.

"It’s unusual that we would require more than the federal government is to participate in a program," Rocho said, "But there’s nothing that limits the (state) Department of Ed from doing that."

On a district level, the amount of money received depends on how many students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. Pennfield could receive $88,247.
The board also discussed the budget for next school year. Lase r said he expects the district will receive about $300 less per pupil than it did in 2009-10. The district will also see increased retirement costs and he is projecting the district will face a $900,000 shortfall.

"To go in knowing that you’re going to see a minimum of a $600,000 deficit, that’s not a good feeling," Laser said.