Stick to the intent

Wednesday, April 1, 2009 | 2:07 a.m.

Federal stimulus money for education began flowing to states this week, with $40 billion of it dedicated to propping up the budgets of school districts.

The Obama administration states emphatically that this “stabilization” fund’s primary purpose is to maintain the salaries of teachers threatened with layoffs, or to bring back teachers who have been laid off, because of the recession.

That interpretation is consistent with the intent of the entire stimulus bill, which is to either create or preserve jobs.

But news outlets, including Education Week magazine and the Associated Press, are reporting that several state governors are justifying other interpretations based on wording in the stimulus bill.

Education Week says the bill contains “vague language and loopholes” regarding school budget stabilization funding. The Associated Press reports that as the bill went through Congress, lawmakers decided not to expressly prohibit states from using the stabilization funds to replace state aid for education.

Now there are maneuvers such as this one: Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri wants to cut state education funding by $37 million, spend that money elsewhere and use the stimulus money to fill the gap in the education budget, Education Week reported.

The magazine also reported that Idaho Gov. Butch Otter wants to hold the stimulus bill’s school budget stabilization money in reserve until 2011, even though the White House intended that stimulus money be spent as soon as possible. Other states are mulling a similar strategy.

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford wants to use his state’s share of the money to pay down debt.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan is upset with this kind of talk and is threatening to withhold a second round of stimulus money from states that abuse money from the first round.

The Obama administration worked hard to get the stimulus bill passed and its intent is well known, even if the bill’s language is murky in some parts. Governors should spare their state’s children from overcrowded classes and stimulate the economy at the same time by using the stabilization money to preserve teaching jobs.