MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Wisconsin school districts are being told how much they’ll receive from the new federal aid package that’s designed to prevent public employee layoffs.
The bill included $179 million to Wisconsin schools to prevent teacher layoffs, and the state’s Medicaid programs got another $185 million. The state Department of Public Instruction says its allocations are based on the general school aid formula.
Milwaukee is getting over $14 million from the new package, and Madison will get just over $8 million. But schools in more well to do areas are receiving a lot less.
The northern tourist areas of Mercer and Phelps are only getting $7 each. The state Administration Department says the allocations won’t change, and schools can start spending the money now to cover salary and fringe benefit costs from August 10th on.
But many schools are not making promises to return laid off teachers just yet. New Berlin Superintendent Paul Kreutzer says they won’t decide anything until they get the money in hand. That district laid off 30 teachers, but eventually brought 20 back.
