Teaching jobs saved by ARRA funds

BONIFAY – Superintendent of Holmes County Schools, Gary Galloway, along with unanimous votes from School Board members, approved of using the over $1 million State Fiscal Stabilization Fund gained through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to save the jobs of approximately 30 teachers in the Holmes County school system.

Title I Administrator Gwen Young presented the board with the progress of the 2009-2010 federal and state projects and programs, which included the funds from the ARRA and Galloway explained that the funding would only be sufficient for a year’s worth of salaries.

“It’s a step in the right direction,” said Galloway. “Though, the funding will only be enough for this year; we still have work to do.”

Project applications also included School Choice & SES, improving the academic achievement of the disadvantaged, local programs for neglected and delinquent, rural and low-income school programs and the education of homeless children and youth reinvestment act.

Young said three children in Holmes County are classified as homeless.