AUGUSTA — Area school officials worry federal stimulus money slated for education could soon run out and cost them teachers.
A new report compiled by Carl Bethune, the superintendent of Jefferson County schools, looked at 11 counties in the Augusta area. It predicted that 701 teacher jobs could vanish when stimulus money is no longer available for fiscal year 2012.
Richmond County officialswere approved for nearly $32 million in federal stimulus funds that helped save more than 400 school jobs for the next two years.
Once stimulus money runs out, school officials say they would have to find another way to pay for certain positions. If the economy doesn't pick up and state budget cuts continue, Richmond County schools spokesman says other funding sources could prove difficult to come by.
