·                     General fund base state aid for 2008-09 was increased by $59 per student providing the district with $2.4 million in additional unrestricted funds.  These additional unrestricted funds will be used for increased labor costs including 39 positions needed to open the new Gordon Parks K-8 Academy.

·                     The legislature also increased restricted funds for at-risk education by $11 million.  These funds will be used for increased labor costs, smaller class sizes, counselors, and high school literacy program support.

·                     The legislature provided a $3 million increase in state aid to support Special Education students. In spite of this increase the General fund and Local Option Budget (Supplemental General fund) subsidize the special education program by more than $30 million dollars due to inadequate state and federal funding.

·                     Starting in 2005-06, the legislature added Capital Outlay aid.  The Capital Outlay state aid is expected to generate $4.6 million in 2008-09.

·                     The approved state law allows schools to increase the local option budget to 31 percent of the general fund.  This budget has been built based on an LOB of 30 percent.

·                     This budget has been built presuming no increase in the number of students.

·                     New Facilities Weighting, adopted by the Legislature to aid districts that are building new classrooms, adds a 25 percent ($1,108) weighting for each student served in a new classroom. Approximately $32.6 million has been received to date in New Facilities Weighting as a result of the bond construction funded by the 2000 bond election.  Less than $1 million is anticipated for 2008-09.

·                     With increased state funding in 2008-09, the district continues to support instruction. Funding increases in the proposed budget support 62 FTEs, including the following instructional and instructional support positions:

    Ø  39 new K-8 school staff

    Ø  2 elementary assistant principals

    Ø  4 high school counselors

    Ø  4 elementary instructional staff

    Ø  7 middle school instructional staff

    Ø  4 high school instructional staff

    Ø  2 equity and accountability staff members

Last updated:  10/03/2008 (From Proposed Budget book for 2008-09 -- The Adopted budget book document can be checked out at the Wichita Public Library or the WSU Library near December 2008 timeframe.)  Material can be found in the Introductory Section.