Gov. Mike Beebe released today a list of about $42 million in federal stimulus money on higher education institutions and another $26 million for other educational needs.
The biggest single expenditure was $6 million for the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Science and the Arts, the boarding high school for brainy students, in Hot Springs. The Arkansas Wireless Information Network got $4.1 million. $4 million allocations went to ASU, UA, UALR and the Department of Correction. The Schools for the Blind and Deaf got $3.5 million each.
The money can be used for renovation and modernization, but not new construction. Education money in some states is going to shore up budget shortfalls, but Arkansas can apply the money to other uses because it doesn’t face budget deficits. Beebe noted that the Math and Science money was contingent on other elements of a plan being approved.
UPDATE: A reader asked for specifics on spending. The details are now available at this link.