PIERRE — One Monday-marathon budget session later and Pierre School District officials believe they have a budget worth passing later this month.

“We are proposing about a $22.3 million budget for next year, which is about a $400,000 increase from the current year or a little less than 2 percent increase,” said Darla Mayer, business manager for the district.

The district will have more state aid than it did last year as state dollar allocation is based on enrollment numbers from the year ending instead of the one that is set to begin.

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In the fall of 2007, 2,582 students were in the K-12 system. In the fall of 2008, that number jumped to 2,622 students. As a result, the district will receive $331,000 more in state aid for 2009-2010 when enrollment is expected to stay flat, according to Mayer.

In addition to having more student aid funds, the district will benefit from the stimulus package by approximately $750,000, with $600,000 going to special education — a help as the district will receive $123,000 less in state aid for special education. 

“It was a good work session,” said superintendent Dr. Kelly Glodt. “The board had very good questions and I would say the board feels pretty good about how the budget work session went too.”

Last year the district took on a $700,000 track resurfacing project.

This year no project to that scale is planned, which means a lower capital outlay budget, according to Mayer.

Perhaps the greatest addition to the budget is making room for up to six new positions, two potential teaching positions based on enrollment; three positions for the new credit recovery program at Riggs and a special education teacher.

“The process really begins with an analysis of our needs for next year, looking at our enrollment and projected enrollment for the next year and what administrators think they need to meet the needs of their students,” said Mayer. “And then a hard look at the numbers.”

State funds to pay teachers for activities offered outside of the classroom, such as after-school care, went away but Mayer said officials have proposed ways to keep teachers compensated for their extra work.

“We were fortunate with the way some of our stimulus money worked and some of our other federal grants and district funding, it looks like we will be able to continue to provide compensation for teachers for things like after- school programs and some professional development they receive.”