Pascrell Applauds $142K for Livingston Schools

U.S Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-8) applauded yesterday the announcement of $142,926 from the federal Education Jobs Fund coming to the Livingston School District to save teaching jobs.

"Anyone who spends just a little time with young people in a classroom knows that these are some of the best-invested federal dollars in our communities, especially during times of severe economic turmoil," said Pascrell, a House Ways and Means Committee member who is a former high school history teacher, in a press release. 

According to Pascrell's release, districts must use its funds only for compensation and benefits and other expenses, such as support services, necessary to retain existing employees, to recall or rehire former employees, and to hire new employees, in order to provide early childhood, elementary, or secondary educational and related services.  The funding to New Jersey's Eighth Congressional District is part of the $10 billion Education Jobs Fund, which Rep. Pascrell supported in July and then again in August when it became part of the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act. 

At Monday's Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Dr. Brad Draeger announced that the district will receive the aid as part of a federal jobs grant to help school staffing.

But Dr. Draeger said that while helpful, it does not scratch the surface for helping another anticipated budget crunch for the 2010-11 school budget. He even added that the school board might want to use the grant toward the 2011-12 budget.

* Ed Kensik contributed reporting to this story.