State Senators Becky Schmitz of Fairfield and Keith Kreiman of Bloomfield released details on how much Ottumwa schools can expect to receive in new federal funds to save education jobs. 

“To fight the recession, we have to keep investing in our children’s education,” Schmitz said.  “Rebuilding our economy means we must continue to prepare our young people for the jobs of the future. The new federal dollars are intended to protect this year’s students by preventing layoffs and helping districts rehire local teachers, classroom aides, counselors and librarians.  It would be a big mistake to put this money in the bank for next year instead in classrooms where it is needed now.”

Iowa will receive an estimated $96 million from the federal Education Jobs Act.  The nonpartisan Legislative Service Agency has estimated that the Ottumwa Community School District will receive approximately $911,275 and estimates that amount could potentially be used to hire 15 teachers based on last year's average teacher salary in the district.  The information is from the nonpartisan Iowa Legislative Service Agency. 

“This money will be released to local schools as soon as possible,” Kreiman said. “Reducing class sizes and providing learning opportunities for all of Iowa's children is critical to the future of our state. In the Legislature, Republicans and Democrats must continue to work together to protect and improve the education of our children and our future economic growth.”