Stimulus money from Washington for the schools is poised to hit Cape Cod. The Superintendent of Schools of Barnstable immediately analyzed the requirements and told Radio WXTK that she couldn't use the $2.6 million for which Barnstable is eligilble.

All towns were looking for money to cover shortfalls in their budget. But the money can't be used for that. It must be used for NEW SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS that have not been offered before. The money is for FY10 and FY11. After that, Barnstable would have to find money to continue the new programs or end them -- if they can! In other words, expand your spending and in two years find yourself in a bigger budget hole.

The Chatham schools are already into what appears to be a future of chronic budget overspending. To use the federal money Chatham schools would have to add new special programs, thus increasing their overspending. When the federal money runs out in two years, the schools would be looking to the town for even more money.

While Barnstable is scheduled for some $2.6 million, Chatham is earmarked for $191,000, about $95,000 in each of FY10 and FY11. Unless things change, Barnstable will be rejecting the federal money.

Hopefully, the other stimulus money the town is hoping for will not have strings that will render it unusable. The federal stimulus plan was supposed to be for saving as well as creating jobs. Not so for this school aid program.