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Schools

San Ramon Valley Schools Slated to Get $5.2 Million in Federal Funding

The San Ramon Valley Unified School District could get money from the Federal Education Jobs Fund, a multibillion dollar push by the Obama administration to help save jobs in public schools nationwide.

The San Ramon Valley Unified School District could receive more than $5.2 million in the next few weeks to re-hire laid-off employees or hire new ones, thanks to a federal law signed by President Barack Obama last month and a California State Senate bill awaiting the signature of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The money comes from the Federal Education Jobs Fund, a multi-billion dollar push by the Obama administration to help save jobs in public schools around the country.

California is eligible for $1.2 billion, and California Senate Bill (SB) 847 would authorize the California Department of Education to give money to schools across the state based on average daily attendance for each district.

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The money can only be used to rehire former employees or hire new ones specifically for educational services, such as teaching. The money may not be used to replenish reserve funds or reduce debt.

Last week, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell released the estimated amount of money districts statewide would receive.

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The estimate for San Ramon Valley was $5,218,104.

San Ramon Valley Unified School District spokesman Terry Koehne said the money
would help alleviate the class size increase affecting classrooms district-wide because of budget constraints. He said class sizes increased from about 24 students to 26 students this year in an effort to save money and jobs in the district.

Koehne said the district saved about $3 million when employees agreed to four furlough says for the school year, and one-time stimulus money also help save teacher's jobs.

More than 70 employees got pink slips last year, and Koehne said about 32 full-time equivalent employees have been re-hired because of cost-saving measures. He said all permanent teachers that were laid off are now back in the classroom and a few temporary employees are back at work.

"We're going to be in a position where we'll be able to look toward this next year with hopefully a little bit more flexibility than we've had in the past," Koehne said.

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