Local schools receive additional funding

By Staff
Melissa Cason, Franklin County Times
Franklin County Schools and Russellville City Schools will receive additional funding to help the systems pay for basic needs such as utilities or toiletries.
The funds were released by Gov. Bob Riley last week and were included in the fiscal year's education budget as a condition appropriation, meaning its release was contingent on adequate revenues coming into the Education Trust Fund.
That revenue is being released to schools across the state, according to the governor's press release.
"Because our economy is strong, we're experiencing record growth in the Education Trust Fund, and can help schools across Alabama," Riley said.
The money is listed in the education budget under "Other Current Expenses," which schools can use to cover basic expenses not otherwise earmarked in the budget, according to the release.
Franklin County Schools will receive $72,598, and Russellville City Schools will receive $54,763.
The money is distributed to the schools based on total student enrollment.
Franklin County Schools educate about 55 percent of the county's children, while Russellville City Schools educate the other 45 percent, Franklin County Superintendent, Bill Moss, said.
"We will use the money to cover utilities or janitorial supplies for our schools," Moss said.
Moss added that $72,000 seems like a lot of money to a lot of people, but their power bills alone add up to about $600,000 per year.
"We are happy to get anything the state wants to give out," Moss said. "We are very appreciative of the extra money."