School budget approved

Enrollment increases and a few extra dollars from the state have led to a small increase in Whitefish School District’s budget for Fiscal Year 2017.

The School Board on Aug. 9 unanimously approved the $17.9 million budget that includes raises for teachers and staff, and the hiring of three new teachers at Muldown Elementary. The total budget amount is up 5 percent over last fiscal year.

Funding for the budget is generally established through enrollment numbers and local levies. The district did not request a local operating levy this year.

“The budget came together pretty well this year,” said Danelle Reisch, District Business Director. “It was nice to have the increased enrollment.”

The general fund is the chief operating fund of the school district and mostly — 89 percent — goes toward salaries and benefits for district staff. The general fund for FY17 totals $12.7 million. Operation and maintenance costs account for 10 percent, or $1.2 million, of the general fund.

“We really do spend most of our money on instruction,” Reisch said.

Whitefish Education Association negotiated a 2.75 percent pay increase for teachers plus a longevity stipend. The increase translates to about 5.3 percent including the longevity stipends and steps and lane advancements, Reisch notes in her budget memo. Administrative staff will see a 2.75 percent pay bump and classified staff is set to receive a 50 cents per hour wage increase.

The budget funds the addition of new staff at Muldown including teachers in kindergarten, first grade and second grade, as well as a half-time music teacher and half-time nurse.

Also funded in the budget is a full time maintenance person for the district and a $10,000 allocation for public relations.