HAVERHILL — With students in several grades studying outdated textbooks, Mayor James Fiorentini said he wants to spend federal money on new books.
He said he also will explore using recently announced federal education money to improve technology in the city's schools.
"Textbooks to me are a number one need we have and ought to be addressing," Fiorentini said. "Dr. (Raleigh) Buchanan (former school superintendent) brought it to my attention and so did a teacher at the high school who talked about history texts being out of date."
Haverhill stands to gain about $1 million in funding though President Barack Obama's Race to the Top, of which $250 million is coming to Massachusetts.
Fiorentini said this is a possible source for replacing textbooks, such as in science where discoveries are constantly being made. He said he will discuss the possible spending with the School Committee. He is chairman of the committee.
Interim Superintendent James Scully said he is waiting for definitive guidelines for using the Race to the Top money, but is optimistic a portion can be spent on new textbooks and classroom technologies, such as SMART Boards.
Haverhill also will receive an additional $1.3 million through the $26.1 billion Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act, which Obama recently signed into law. It provides $10 billion to help local school districts across the country avoid teacher layoffs.
But money from that fund may not be used for things like equipment, utilities or transportation, nor can it be used to add to a rainy day fund or to pay off state debt.
Regarding the Race to the Top money, Scully said feedback from principals as to what their needs are, as well from the mayor and School Committee will help him to formulate a list of priorities for the district.
"I don't think it's all discretionary. A lot will have to be tied into correcting deficits in the schools, such as those with MCAS issues, attendance issues, low math and reading scores, and where additional tutoring is needed," Scully said about the Race to the Top money. "One of my big concerns is what's going on in our middle schools. They need some attention with academic issues."
Scully said schools need to replace grade 11 U.S. history books that don't meet state guidelines, as well as grade nine world history books, grade five social studies books, and the entire math, science and technology curriculum.
"I think the mayor is correct. Things like texts that are in short supply need to be maintained and kept current," Scully said. "I'm looking for feedback from schools, the School Committee and the mayor and then will go forward with some solid recommendations."
Haverhill's education budget has been so tight in recent years that the School Department created the Textbook Project that allowed companies and residents to donate money to pay for new books. Scully said that in the last three years, the project collected about $100,000 in donations and, after some purchases were made, currently has a balance of around $50,000.
Scully said he doesn't have an estimate about what it would cost to buy all the textbooks that Haverhill needs, but that it would be a large amount of money.
Buchanan estimated in past years that is would be close to $1 million.
"There is never enough money to do what you want to do,'' Scully said. "But textbooks are an annual challenge that schools face."
Both Fiorentini and Scully have said they are being cautious about the Education Jobs money and see it as possible one-time source of funding that can't be counted on in future years.
"We are on the same page in that we do not want to create a crisis in June by hiring people we know we will have to lay off in June," Fiorentini said about his ongoing discussions with Scully about what the money means for Haverhill.
Haverhill laid off 15 teachers, mostly in the art, music and physical education areas, last spring. Several weeks ago the School Committee rehired eight of them.
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