Governor urged to sign bills to allow for distribution of money to schools
By Theresa Harrington/ Contra Costa Times
Two state officials Wednesday urged the governor to sign measures that would allow the distribution of more than $2.1 billion in federal money to schools before he leaves today for Asia. In Sacramento, Jack O'Connell, state superintendent of public instruction, and state Sen. Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch, said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger should request and sign Senate Bill 847, co-authored by Torlakson, and Assembly Bill 185, authored by Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan, D-Alamo. The bills would authorize the state Department of Education to distribute $1.2 billion in federal funds approved by Congress last month to save jobs; $416 million in School Improvement Grants for low-achieving campuses; and $488 million in State Fiscal Stabilization Fund money intended to help support local education budgets. (more…)