Schools: Stimulus Funds Are Not Enough

Driving in I heard this depressing report on NPR. Apparently, the unprecedented amount of stimulus funds set aside for education ($150 billion) is not enough to make up for budget shortfalls nationwide, or to save teachers in danger of being laid off. The report cited the example of Marion County in Florida, which is facing the possibility of laying off 500 of its 3000 teachers. It seems to me that this is yet another indictment of the funding system for schools in our country. I understand we're in an economic downturn, but as long as schools rely largely on the outmoded property taxes system the ability of states and school districts to make up for severe budgeting shortfalls remains crippled.