Mo. Education Department : "Cloud over our heads is gone now"

See Related Stories

Intro:	The Missouri Department of Education may be able to breathe a sigh of relief tonight.
RunTime:	0:42
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: The Missouri Department of Education will not have to worry about losing any of the $500 million they receive in federal funding if the government reopens Thursday.

After U.S. Senate leaders announced an agreement today to potentially end the government shutdown, communications director Sarah Potter says she is thankful.

Actuality:	POT1.WAV
Run Time:	00:13
Description: It’s just a big relief for us. Umm...we weren’t really having to do anything different. But just that cloud hanging over our heads, is gone now. We’re very thankful for that.

Potter says that federal money helps fund school lunches, Title I, special education, and career and technical programs.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Hanna Battah.

Intro:	After news from the nation's Capitol, federally- funded departments in Missouri's Capitol are feeling more relaxed.
RunTime:	0:45
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: U.S. senate leaders announced an agreement Wednesday to reopen after a 16 day government shutdown.

If the agreement passes, U.S. House speaker John Boehner says the government will reopen Thursday.

Sarah Potter from the Missouri Education Department says she was concerned they would have to lay off some employees if the shutdown continued.

Actuality:	POT2.WAV
Run Time:	00:14
Description: We were able to keep drawing down federal funds this whole time. But I think things are going to change if we actually hit the debt ceiling, because it was unsure at that point whether or not those federal payments would be made.

Potter says the federal funding they receive also goes toward programs like Title I, special education and career and technical programs.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Hanna Battah.

Intro:	One Missouri Department of Education employee says she anxiously awaited news from the nation's Capitol about the government re-opening.
RunTime:	0:35
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap:

Actuality:	POT3.WAV
Run Time:	00:03
Description: That cloud kind of hanging over our head is gone now.

Sarah Potter from the Missouri Department of Education says she and other department members are thankful after U.S. Senate leaders announced an agreement Wednesday to reopen the government and avoid a U.S. treasury default.

Even though the department maintained federal funding during the 16 day shutdown, they still feared possible employee layoffs.

Actuality:	POT5.WAV
Run Time:	00:09
Description: I think things were going to change if we actually hit the debt ceiling because it was unsure at that point whether those payments were actually going to be made.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Hanna Battah.