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$74 million could come to local schools

By Ray Gomez

Story Created: Jan 23, 2009

Story Updated: Jan 23, 2009

Laredo students could see more than 74 million dollars.

This as part of a stimulus package designed for schools.

The stimulus package is now pending in Congress.

"This money is an unexpected relief for all laredo and nearby school districts. According to officials this is a big investment for our children."

"It's like a dream come true. There is a lot of infrastructure needs throughout the community and Zapata is not exemption to that."

But this stimulus package is just a possibility...it still has to pass through the senate first.

"We have to wait to see what the senate will do. But we feel very confident that the senate will follow what we are doing here...get the bill pass by the house next Wednesday."

But school districts in Laredo are happy that there may be some help coming their way.

UISD will get 29 million dollars, but they will get the money in a span of two years.

"We anticipate it will allow us to build either a campus, an elementary school or wings or infrastructure for technology."

According to school districts officials, they are seeing an increase in enrollment every year.

And they have no more room for the students.

" We are looking at the possibility have the old united high school into a ninth grade campus because of the space at the new united. So we are looking at those options."

So far they have 35-hundred students and growing in just that high school alone.

Zapata County ISD has the same problem.

They're seeing even bigger budget woes do to the economy... There.

"We are starting to see an impact on the fact that oil production has been cut 50 percent."

Hoping they can get their four point eight million dollars and that the senate can sign off on this stimulus package.

LISD would get 39 million, Cotulla would get one point four million, and Webb County Consolidated ISD would get 452 thousand dollars.

Under the program the money could only be used for expansion.

The senate is supposed to make a decision on Wednesday whether to sign this bill or not.