MCH invited a special panel of leading education administrators from across America to share their insight regarding school spending and the impact of ARRA stimulus funding in 2009 and beyond.

Panelists for the webinar were Kim Brightwell, CFO of the Blue Springs School District in Blue Springs, MO and Marjorie Murray, Director of Special Projects at Seminole County Public Schools in Sanford, FL. The event was well attended and there were a number of targeted questions from our audience. Key takeaways from our panelists:

• They have been overwhelmed with emails and calls from vendors and have a difficult time sorting through inquiries and replying appropriately.
• They appreciate vendors who take time to understand their particular school district’s needs and who were willing to work with them on delivery dates, payment schedules, etc.
• Marjorie and Kim agreed that they were more likely to give their attention to a strategically written direct mail piece that related a vendor’s products and services to programs approved under the funding guidelines.

Feedback regarding the webinar content was positive and included high praise for our panelists. Here are just a few of the comments we received in response to the survey question “What did you like best about the webinar?”:

• “The honest talk from two decision-makers in the trenches.”
• “Confirmed our thoughts about volume/pressure being placed on administrators by suppliers.”
• “Two educators doing different things so we could see both ends of the spectrum.”

Attendees were reminded to utilize all of the MCH resources available including the BudgetAware™ Bulletin, white papers, and other information at www.mailings.com.

To listen to the webinar in its entirety, you will need to listen to Part 1 and Part 2.

The Stimulus Bill has been signed by President Obama and institutions are anxious for the funds to start flowing. In an Education Week article, Alyson Klein highlighted some of the more significant challenges facing Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

• Top posts within the Department of Education have yet to be filled.
• Political appointees, not the career staff at the department, will be accountable for where the funds are channeled.
• School districts are pressing for details on how much money they’ll receive and are concerned that there aren’t specific guidelines in place for the timing of disbursements from the states to the districts.
• Secretary Duncan can waive the “maintenance of effort” requirement for states in dire economic circumstances, but the Education Department will need to determine which states are eligible for the exception.
• In keeping with the government transparency, schools will need to provide public notice on the Internet regarding how the funds are being spent.

Aides to Democrats in the House hope a large portion of the education funding contained in the Stimulus Bill will make it to state governments before July 1st. Duncan said, “We have to implement and execute this in an absolutely impeccable manner.” He also said, “the department plans to be very fast…in allocating the money and will give states real guidance around speed.”

To view stimulus funding for education in detail, see the PDF in Education Week’s article.

The Washington Post reported today that the bipartisan Senate group recommended cutting at least $100 billion from the economic stimulus package. Education funding at risk includes:

• $39.8 billion for state education departments
• $14 billion for education programs including special education and Head Start

“Majority Leader Harry Reid said he would allow the centrist bipartisan group to continue working and that, if it reaches consensus, he will schedule a vote for today on final legislation. If that fails, he will call for a rare Sunday session for a key procedural vote that would require 60 votes for passage.”