Stimulus funding

The Clark County School District is expected to receive $53 million for Title 1 schools, or schools in poor neighborhoods, plus $48 million for special education from the stimulus plan passed by Congress.

School officials, however, are not sure whether these monies can supplant or offset funding shortfalls.

Plus, Jeff Weiler, the chief financial officer for CCSD, said Thursday that Clark County’s share of stimulus will be much less than what comparable urban school districts, such as Miami-Dade, will receive because federal funding is proportional to state spending on education. Some say that Nevada spends less than other states on education.

Under the stimulus, Weiler also noted that Clark County would be eligible to issue $104.7 million in interest-free bonds, but would have to find a way to pay back the principal. Creditors who buy the bonds would not get interest, but would receive tax credits.