Next year's budget hole for Pinellas schools is suddenly looking a lot less deep.

The district will get about $21.6 million from the education jobs fund that President Obama signed in August, the district's chief financial officer, Fred Matz, told the school board yesterday. Though the federal money has to be spent this year, it will free up district money that can then be used to partially fill next year's projected deficit of $52.5 million, he said.

It's not clear when the money will arrive, but Matz said Florida Department of Education officials told him it will be soon. The district is hoping to use a small portion of it immediately to hire 12 to 20 math and science teachers for high schools.