The state House Appropriations Committee has taken a step toward averting a $300 per-student cut to schools later this month. The committee voted to tap federal stimulus money the state has been saving to help balance next year's schools budget. The action would not eliminate the cuts. Instead, schools would lose just $165 per student which would still force many districts to lay off teachers and other staff.

House Speaker Andy Dillon says he wonaEURtmt stand in the way of a vote on the legislation. But Dillon says he worries that reducing the immediate impact on schools will lift some of the pressure to come up with a long-term solution to the school funding crisis.