Volume I, No. 21

April 30, 2009

Education’s Bottom Line provides information regarding the State Budget along with other pertinent information on issues affecting school districts. Further editions of the Education’s Bottom Line will be sent as conditions warrant.  

Public Health School Closures

By Dave Walrath

Yesterday Assembly Member Tom Torlakson announced he will be introducing legislation to address the school issues related to the swine flu outbreak. The legislation would ensure school districts do not face additional financial challenges or penalties if they must close a school as a result of a swine flue outbreak...more ...

Reclaiming Local Dollars Under IDEA

The following are excerpts from an article from the Association of American School Administrators (AASA).

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 includes language designed to ensure that as the federal government increases its commitment to special education, local districts are able to reclaim local dollars spent to cover the federal shortfall. Specifically, districts are allowed to reduce their local effort in special education by an amount equal to 50 percent of their federal increase. The only caveat is that districts will have to spend their reclaimed local dollars for activities authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The $11.3 billion increase for IDEA under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has provided most districts the first possible opportunity to take advantage of this flexibility. more ...

$1.9 Billion in State General Obligation Bond Proceeds for K-12 School Facility Projects

By Duwayne Brooks

The Pooled Money Investment Board (PMIB) will disburse to K-12 school facility projects $1.9 Billion of the $13.5 Billion in State General Obligation Bond proceeds that the State Treasurer’s Office sold in March and April, 2009. more ...

If you have any questions on the articles in this newsletter, please contact the author of the article in question.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Murdoch, Walrath & Holmes (MWH) has been instrumental in shaping statewide policy and implementing regulations for K-12 schools for more than two decades.  Strategic relationships have been forged with the State Administration through agencies such as the Department of Education, the State Allocation Board, the Department of Finance and the Office of Public School Construction and, on the federal level, with key Congressional Members and the Executive Branch.  MWH prides itself on having some of the best minds in K-12 education in virtually all aspects of school fiscal needs. 

If you wish to opt out of Education’s Bottom Line, please click on the link below or send an email to adalen@m-w-h.com.