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Senate Stimulus Package Holds No School Construction Dollars

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By ADAM EMERSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 11, 2009

As the Senate stimulus package stands, Florida's public school districts would miss out on nearly $650 million in construction money, according a national news organization that compared the differing bills under consideration in Congress.

The House proposal directs money for school construction, but the Senate proposed no money for building and renovating schools. Hillsborough County schools alone would lose $48.7 million if the funding isn't restored in the Senate plan, according to the nonprofit news organization, ProPublica.

The Associated Press reported today that President Barack Obama's negotiating team prevailed in restoring some of the lost funding for school construction, but congressmen and White House aides continued to meet.

In joining Obama in Fort Myers on Tuesday, Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, said Florida would suffer disproportionately from the reduced education spending in the Senate bill.

While the Hillsborough County School District doesn't have new schools planned for several more years, administrators said they need to renovate heating and air conditioning units, roofs and lighting in its buildings countywide.

Those needs total about $378 million.

Besides Hillsborough, Pasco County schools would lose $12.1 million in school construction money, or $187 per student. Pinellas schools would miss out on $28.6 million, or $260 per student.

ProPublica (www.propublica.org) has a list of all Florida school districts affected by the Senate plan.

Reporter Adam Emerson can be reached at (813) 259-8285.

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