More teachers' aides for special-education classes, new energy-efficient heating and cooling systems at schools and increased tutoring services are among the upgrades Lancaster County residents could see at their public schools if lawmakers approve a massive economic stimulus package being debated in Congress this week.

The House last week approved the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and the Senate is considering its own version of the $885 billion package of tax cuts and spending programs aimed at jump-starting the economy.

The legislation, proposed by President Barack Obama, includes about $120 billion in new funding for education.

The biggest chunk is $79 billion in aid to states to offset expected cutbacks in their education budgets because of the recession.

But the bill also contains several other funding sources for individual school districts that, all told, would represent the biggest single increase in federal funding for public education in more than 50 years.

Locally, the legislation could mean an additional $46 million in federal grants for the county's 16 public school districts over the next two years, according to estimates by the Congressional Research Service.

The new funding would range from an estimated $1.25 million for Columbia School District to $12.95 million for the School District of Lancaster.

That money could be used for construction and renovation projects and services for special-education students and economically disadvantaged pupils.

Many districts would get nearly twice as much federal aid as they're receiving this year, helping them to plug gaps in their budgets caused by shortfalls in local and state revenue.

But questions remain over what the funds could be used for and whether the money would dry up after two years, forcing districts to cut programs they've just added or expanded.

"It's too soon to decide whether it's good news or not," said Keith Ramsey, director of finance and operations for Eastern Lancaster County School District.

On the surface, the stimulus bill looks like a boon for Elanco.

Over the next two years, the district would receive an additional $4 million in federal grants for building projects and student services, nearly doubling its existing federal aid.

But Ramsey isn't sure what strings would be attached to the new money.

Elanco is slated to get $1.6 million in 2009-10 for construction and renovations, but it's not clear if that money could only be used for new projects or could fund those already in the pipeline, such as Elanco's proposed $28 million high school/middle school renovation.

Ramsey also is concerned that the money for special-education services and low-income students would have to go toward new programs the district could not sustain after two years.

Penn Manor superintendent Donald Stewart had similar concerns.

If a district were to use its federal grants to add tutoring programs or full-day kindergarten, would it have to curtail those programs after two years?

"I'm enthused about new funding coming to public education, but I have to see first the guidelines and restrictions on how the money should be spent," Stewart said.

SDL superintendent Pedro Rivera was more optimistic than other school officials about taking advantage of the new funding.

"We've already documented where we could use from $1 of stimulus money to $25 million of stimulus money," he said. "This is something that our executive committee has been planning around for quite a while."

Rivera said he believes SDL will be able to use its estimated $5.9 million construction/renovation allocation to buy furniture and computerized white boards for four elementary schools that will be renovated in the next two years under a $48 million project.

Those expenditures were not included in the project specifications, he said.

"That would really help us bring our renovations to the next level," he said.

The House bill specifies that construction grants be used for "modernization, renovation or repair of school facilities" to improve energy efficiency, student safety or access for the disabled.

Projects that increase the use of technology in classrooms, reduce class sizes or "improve teachers' ability to teach and students' ability to learn" also are eligible for funding.

That seems to cover a lot of potential projects, but the bill also stipulates that the money be used to "supplement, not supplant" other available funding for the projects.

In other words, if funding is available from other sources, federal funds can't be used.

Rivera said the extra $3.3 million the district expects to get for special education services would help fill the gap between what the state provides and the needs of the district, where nearly one in five students receives specialized instruction.

"That would really bring us up to par in terms of providing service to those kids," he said.

If the economic stimulus package is approved and the state is able to keep education funding at the current level, Rivera said, "the taxpayers will definitely benefit from us not needing additional money."

School districts will learn today how much to expect in state funding next year when Gov. Ed Rendell unveils his proposed 2009-10 budget.

It's not clear when the stimulus bill is likely to be approved by the Senate.

E-mail: bwallace@lnpnews.com