Summit To Receive $85,750 from Federal Jobs Bill

The Summit Public Schools will receive $85,750 in federal funds through the Education Jobs Program for use toward teacher compensation and benefits.

The news came down from the New Jersey Department of Education on Monday when it released its figures showing the allocation of the Federal Education Jobs Bill. The bill, as its titled, was put into motion to bring back positions to districts across the country after what was a difficult budget year, and before what promises to be an even more challenging season this time around.

These funds are must be used this school year and "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 program is allocating $10 billion in funds nationwide, $262,742,643 of which is coming to New Jersey. The Newark district is earmarked to received $23,695,429. No other district will receive more than $15 million. Jersey City ($13,844,068) and Paterson ($12,895,333) are the only other districts in the state that will receive more than $10 million.

The bill states that the monies may be used for "salaries, performance bonuses, health insurance, retirement benefits, incentives for early retirement, pension fund contributions, tuition reimbursement, student loan repayment assistance, transportation subsidies, and reimbursement for childcare expenses."

Board of Education President Jack Lyness said the district doesn't have a lot of information yet.

"We're delighted to have the money," he added.