Arkansas Teachers to Receive Christmas Bonus

posted by: Pamela | December 15, 2010, 09:51 PM

Teachers in about half of Arkansas’ 239 school districts will receive a bonus this holiday season due to a $90 million federal grant.

The Federal Education Jobs Fund, a part of the federal stimulus package, is intended nationally to create or save education jobs in districts that made budget cuts during the recession. Governor Mike Beebe appealed to the U.S. Department of Education and received permission to use the money for bonuses and other one-time needs.

State Education Commissioner Tom Kimbrell told a legislative subcommittee Monday that schools have wide discretion in how to use the federal stimulus dollars. Kimbrell said some districts will provide bonuses of $500 to $700, while others plan to use the money for one-time repairs or construction projects. The funds cannot be used for administrators and must be spent by September 2012.

Kimbrell said the bonuses are expected to be paid by Friday.

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