Members of the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) are lukewarm about a $7.5 million request from the state Department of Education to continue some aspects of Delaware's Race to the Top initiative.
Several state lawmakers grilled education secretary Mark Murphy Wednesday, questioning the need to continue pumping money into programs of which they question the efficacy.
"When do we finally finish this, or are we really just building a permanent bureaucracy," asked Joint Finance Committee co-chair Sen. Harris McDowell (D-Wilmington North).
Murphy said no, but that the money is going to aspects of the initiative they found useful.
"Every race has its finish line," he said. "I think people who run races constantly assess what's working and apply it."
The request also calls for adding ten new, high-salaried positions formerly paid by grant funding to the state’s payroll — some of which earn more than some state cabinet secretaries.
Rep. Debra Heffernan (D-Bellefonte) was among those raising concerns about that spending.
“We’re not sure that switching [new administrator positions] from Race to the Top funding to general funding would be helpful to educate kids," said Heffernan. "How does that help the kids and it’s a lot of money not going into the classroom?”
Rep. Joe Miro (R-Pike Creek Valley) added that those salary levels were "out of line".
"It's a wonder the [Department of Education] hasn't collapsed under its own weight," said Sen. Karen Peterson (D-Stanton).
Murphy contends it does help at a classroom level and that those position are needed to permanently implement lessons learned from the federal program.
He also notes that he’s not sure what his agency will do should JFC turn down the proposal.
“If that money does not come through then we will face some very difficult decisions and we will lose the ability to provide the types of supports that we’re providing now,” Murphy told lawmakers.
The request faces tough opposition from lawmakers with competing educational budget interests, including mandating seatbelts in school buses and other safety upgrades throughout the state. also has competition from state lawmakers looking to add more special education teachers, improve school safety and hire more school nurses.
Federal officials initially awarded Delaware more than $100 million over four years in 2010 as one of the first states selected for Race to the Top.
JFC will finalize their proposed budget later this spring.