WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. September 2, 2010:

White Plains will will receive $902,528 in Federal Education Jobs Fund Restoration money to restore jobs this year, according to the New York State Education Department figures.

Fred Seiler, Assistant Superintendent for Business for the School District told WPCNR Thursday that Governor David Paterson has sent the request for the aid to Washington, and if the New York State Legislature approves the amount, the district will be able to add $451,264 to the 2010-11 school budget for potential job restoration, and an additional $451,264 in 2011-2012.

Seiler told WPCNR that district does not yet have the federal government rules defining what types of jobs the job restoration funds can restore yet.

He said the district would probably restore what he described as "service jobs, such as teaching assistants."

In the preparation of the 2010-11 school budget, the school district eliminated 41 full-time teachers, 39 teaching assistants, and 4 administrators.

WPCNR estimates, and Mr. Seiler agreed, this would roughly would mean 6 to 9 full-time assistants (at $50,000 each, including benefits) could be rehired this year. If teaching assistants were brought back on a part-time basis, more presumably could be brought back in the current year. However, until the federal guidelines are received, it is speculation how many personnel could be brought back.

Seiler noted that the district received $1,078,295 in Federal State Fiscal Stabilization Fund dollars through the Federal American Reinestment and Recovery Act, but this money had already been figured into the current 2010-11 school budget. He added that the $1,078,295 could not be counted on next year, saying, "so we are already $1 Million in the hole on the 2011-12 budget."

Total state aid for the White Plains in 2010-11 is $17,154,267. This includes $719,394 in "aidable building expenses," $1,139,793 in student disabilities aid, and $291,209 in aid for students who are failing the State's academic standards.

The New York State Education Department estimate of White Plains City School District aid, recomputed on August 24, 2010, to reflect the Jobs Restoration aid enacted by federal law August 10 may be viewed at http://www.nysed.gov/stateaid/dist/sr0927/cb/662200.HTML