This much is clear: School districts in Lancaster County will be getting at least $34 million over the next two years from the federal economic stimulus bill.

But beyond that, not much else is known — at least for now.

District officials don't have specifics on what they can spend the money on, and there's no approval process in place for vetting proposed projects.

That will come in the next few weeks, according to the state Department of Education, which is administering the funds.

Meanwhile, districts have begun to compile wish lists of stimulus projects.

Conestoga Valley is considering using some of its estimated $1.3 million to enhance its Title I programs, which provide reading support for struggling elementary school students.

The district could expand the programs to include math and offer them to middle school students for the first time.

Eastern Lancaster County School District is considering using its estimated $600,000 fiscal stabilization grant for school upgrades.

Hempfield is eyeing new library books, "green" energy improvements for its schools, new equipment for its science, technology, engineering and math lab and other expenditures with its estimated $2.5 million share of stimulus funds.

Cocalico is considering spending a portion of its estimated $1.375 million windfall on security and communications upgrades at its schools.

And all districts are looking at how the stimulus money may help them retain programs and staff they might otherwise have to cut because of the recession.

The additional funding will be "a huge, huge help for our bottom line," said George Ioannidis, chief financial officer of Manheim Central School District.

The $34 million coming to Lancaster County is from five different funding streams.

About $15 million is designated for special-education programs, $8.7 million is for Title I reading and math expenditures and nearly $300,000 is for technology upgrades and training.

In addition, Gov. Ed Rendell has earmarked $7.3 million in fiscal stabilization grants for the county's 17 school districts.

That money can be used for a wide variety of expenditures, including school upgrades and repairs, literacy education and basic- and special-education programs.

Under the stimulus law, funds from those four sources must be spent, or committed to be spent, in 2009-10 and 2010-11.

In addition, Rendell is using federal stimulus funds to increase the 2009-10 basic education subsidy for county schools by another $2.8 million above the $7.4 million increase he announced in February.

That means districts will be getting a hefty 7.8 percent hike, on average, next year, instead of the original 5.2 percent increase.

Exactly how much of the money will end up here is the subject of considerable debate. The state Legislature must approve Rendell's budget, so in theory legislators have the final say on how much goes into the basic education and fiscal stabilization funding stream.

But the state Department of Education and the National Governors Association contend that money is not controlled by the Legislature because it's federal funding being distributed under the provisions of a federal law.

"I think the bottom line on all of this is (Rendell's) going to have to talk with the Legislature and work with the Legislature on this," said Chris Wakeley, executive director of the House Education Committee.

Lancaster County school officials have begun to prioritize their districts' needs, but there's little else they can do until a formal mechanism for reviewing projects and distributing the money is established.

"I think everybody's winging it at this point," said Ioannidis, who expects to learn in early April how to submit proposals for funding.

He also wants more direction on how much of the money must be spent on new programs or purchases and how much can pay for existing operations supported by other sources, including local tax revenue. "Our overarching concern is, what happens when this pot of money runs out?" he said.

Cocalico superintendent Bruce Sensenig said he is being cautious until more details emerge.

"Right now, there's a lot of speculation and caution going on," he said in an e-mail.

"You don't want to count your chickens before they hatch."

E-mail: bwallace@lnpnews.com