TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

The federal government released $2.56 billion in stimulus funds on Saturday to support sagging California school budgets, but the approximately $50 million headed for Kern County isn't likely to go to re-hire teachers, send students to summer camp or buy new textbooks.

That's because districts expect more red ink to flow from education budgets in June, when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger releases a revised state budget and the legislature reacts to it.

"We won't be using it to mitigate any past cuts, but it will be used to offset potential cuts," Steve Gabbitas, Bakersfield City School District spokesman, said about the State Fiscal Stabilization Funds.

Based on its expectation that state revenues will decline an estimated $8 billion, and that the May 19 propositions won't pass, the Kern High School District will wait for the state's next budget cut before spending the federal stimulus funding, spokesman John Teves said.

"We anticipate it will be used to save jobs by preventing additional cuts of positions and programs," Teves said.

Districts also received federal funding for programs supporting low-income and special education students this month. Those dollars must be used in those areas, whereas the most recent funding can be used as general budget funding.

Another $1.1 billion is expected to be made available for categorically funded programs in the fall.

It is as if the federal government is putting money in your pocket, and next month the state will reach in and take it out, explained Michael Brouse, assistant superintendent of business services in the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District.

In March, Panama-Buena Vista issued layoff notices for 93 full-time positions, including 77 teachers.

The federal money won't help with current layoffs in the district, Brouse said, because there is more bad news to come.

"If we get cut more in June... this might help save those layoffs," Brouse said.

When the chance of federal stimulus dollars came up at the beginning of the year, there was concern among schools that California would "hold" federal dollars at the state level, and dole out portions.

That won't happen because the federal government will send stimulus funds directly to districts, but the state's financial situation has effectively handcuffed schools from using the federal money.

"Most of us are anticipating that at best the federal dollars will be an offset to further reductions," said Mark Fulmer, assistant superintendent, administration and finance with the Kern County Superintendent of Schools.