Mar 19, 2009 9:12 pm US/Eastern
Stimulus To Save Brockton From Cutting Teachers
BROCKTON (WBZ) ―
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Brockton schools are benefiting from stimulus money set aside to help struggling school districts.
WBZ
Cash strapped schools hoping to avoid drastic cuts can breathe a temporary sigh of relief.
On Thursday, Gov. Deval Patrick says help has arrived in the form of federal stimulus dollars.
The money will only be given to communities where funding is scarce.
"Thanks to help from the federal government and through these federal recovery funds we can soften the blow," Patrick said. "Any amount of funding we get is important. Brockton is in trouble financially."
Brockton High School Principal Susan Scachowicz says the money will help save jobs and keep their programs running.
"Are these programs in danger of being cut if you don't get the funds?" WBZ's Paul Burton asked.
"These programs are very much in danger if we don't get the funds," Scachowicz said. "They may be in danger anyway we don't know yet. I worry it still might happen."
Some 70 percent of Brockton High is minority students. Every after school activity including their sports programs are free. For senior Dionisio Goncavles the money comes at a critical time.
"I just did an A plus program a computer program which not a lot schools give to the students because it cost a lot of money," Goncavles said.
For the past six years Brockton High has been a national model school. The idea of cutting teachers and making class sizes larger is something Scachowicz wants to avoid.
"When you hand a teacher a pink slip it's devastating. I've both received them, and I have given them and it's devastating."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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