School Districts Get Added Funding

It’s not quite Christmas in July, but Idaho school districts are getting larger-than-expected checks this week from the state.

The Coeur d’Alene district, the largest in the Panhandle, will get an extra $659,052.

The state Department of Education advised districts to build their 1995-96 school year budget on an estimate of $15,437 per support unit. A “support unit” - roughly a classroom and teacher - is based on the size of school and the level or kind of education being offered.

But the districts will receive $17,045 per unit. Anne Fox, superintendent of public instruction, said districts had expected some increase but not one nearly that large.

One reason for the cash surplus is that the state’s contribution to education was based on growth of 5,000 students per year. Enrollment grew only 2,649, Fox said.

The amount spent on teachers salaries didn’t increase as expected, either. One reason was more retirements than normal. Teachers at the top of the pay scale were replaced with less experienced ones.

Most extra money going to the districts must be spent on one-time expenses, such as remodeling, textbooks or computer equipment.

The Coeur d’Alene District will spend $599,810 for such projects as roof repairs, parking lot paving and conversion of heating systems from electricity to less-expensive natural gas.

, DataTimes