MuskogeePhoenix.com, Muskogee, OK

Editorials

Discussion

August 28, 2010

Focus on positive with school grants

It can be a tad head-scratching to see renovations being completed at area schools in the midst of budget crunches and teacher cutbacks.

Muskogee Public Schools has suffered the loss of 24 certified teachers and five support staff, yet some schools are getting new technology and new looks.

Today’s Sunday Extra shows why this is.

Muskogee Public Schools’ district has a $2.8 million general fund decrease this school year, said John Little, MPS chief financial officer.

However, bond money and various grants allow the school system to free up cash to apply to the general fund. For instance, the 2009 bond issue money freed up $700,000. Without the bond, the school’s budget cuts could have topped $3 million.

It would be nice if funds from bonds and grants could be diverted in dire times, but it is completely understandable why they can’t.

If it were allowed, what would stop some schools from applying for every grant and passing a bond only to put those funds toward a new football stadium?

That wouldn’t pass the sniff test, so it’s understandable why the monies must be used for what they were stated.

Instead of focusing on the loss of the teachers and staff, we should instead be glad that even in the budget crisis, grants were and are available to help students with needed technology supplies and renovations.

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