“But Vogel says recent clarifications from the state indicate Seminole might be able to work around some of its concerns and still get a share of the $4.35 billion.”

Florida stands to “win” $700 million. Half of that sum would stay in Tallahassee. The rest filters down.

Seminole’s share has been estimated to be about $1.3 million in each of four years after which time the funding goes away. This pittance is about one fourth of one percent of Seminole’s operating budget and school board members have expressed doubts that the funding would even cover the yet unspecified requirements.

The cost to the district is the further erosion of local control, and the possibility that taxes could rise when the four year non-recurrent funding runs out and the District is left footing the bill for the mandates.

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Seminole may join race after all

Seminole Superintendent Bill Vogel hopes to convince the School Board Tuesday to change its mind and go after federal Race to the Top cash after all. ...

In a split 3-2 vote, the board said that too many strings and unknowns were attached to the federal money, which is to be parcelled out by the state if Florida’s application wins approval from the feds.

But Vogel says recent clarifications from the state indicate Seminole might be able to work around some of its concerns and still get a share of the $4.35 billion.

“Since we talked to the board last month, the Commissioner (Florida’s Education Commission Eric Smith) has made several changes and has increased flexibility and given districts more options,” Vogel said.

The state also has clarified that districts still have until midnight Tuesday to sign on. The Seminole School Board meets at 5:30 p.m. FAX machines will be warmed up and standing by to get the required “Memorandum of Understanding” to Tallahassee, Vogel indicated. ...

Florida hopes to receive between $350 million and $700 million as it share. While that may seem like a lot of cash, its peanuts in the school spending arena. Seminole board members who voted against the bid for federal money worried that costs of meeting requirements of the grant – including buying lots of new computers – could easily exceed what the district receives.