World News

A group of St. Helena parents has accused the school board and top administrators of misconduct in the awarding of retirement packages to St. Helena Unified School District Superintendent Allan Gordon and high school principal Jim Zoll.

When President Barack Obama signed the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act into law on Feb. 17, a beleaguered national economy readied for the influx of $787 billion. A combination of tax cuts and spending, the stimulus package was designed to create jobs and revitalize an economy in the midst of a national recession.

Federal stimulus money is headed for local school districts girding for an unprecedented level of expected state cuts. But the lack of a state budget is leaving local school officials pondering to what degree they will see real fiscal relief.

Health and social service agencies trigger a unique set of complications under the federal stimulus plan. Faced with a confusing mix of formulas and vague projections, health is one of the few areas where federal awards could actually cost programs money in the long run.