School officials in west central Minnesota say an additional $51 per student from the state will be helpful in the next school year.
However, the money -- a one-time infusion of 1 percent of the state's per-pupil funding formula -- isn't likely to undo the budget cuts already made this spring.
School leaders contacted this week seem pleased with the new funding on top of the 1 percent they were scheduled to get next year.
School districts across the state have been reducing budgets for the 2008-09 school year because small increases in state funding are not keeping up with inflation in energy, transportation and insurance costs.
"It would be nice if they could figure out a better way," said Minnewaska Area Superintendent Greg Ohl. "If the state decides to fund education in a way that will meet the needs of the students, I don't think they're going to do it with 1 percent."
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Area districts also seem unlikely to take advantage of the opportunity to double the new money by transferring another $51 per student from their capital budgets to pay educational costs.
"We have huge needs in capital to keep our buildings up," said Montevideo Superintendent David Baukol.
Willmar expects to receive an additional $200,000 to $240,000 for the coming school year. In an e-mail to staff, Superintendent Kathy Leedom wrote that the funding will be "somewhat of a safety net going into the next budget season, where energy and fuel costs keep everyone wondering how to make ends meet."
Willmar is in the process of making $1.4 million in budget cuts, and the new money isn't likely to change what's already been done, said Business and Finance Director Pam Harrington.
The more than $60,000 anticipated by Minnewaska will help the district move out of statutory operating debt this summer, Ohl said. A district is in statutory operating debt when its budget deficit exceeds limits set by the state.
The district just completed $500,000 in budget cuts, and those will stand, but the money will provide "a little buffer," he said.
In the Montevideo Schools, where the budget was just cut about $600,000, the new money is expected to bring about $70,000 to the district. "It probably will pay our fuel increases over the next year or so," Baukol said. "Yes, we're appreciative of the money, but it's not going to have a huge impact on any school."
New London-Spicer School District expects to see a little more than $100,000 from the $51 per student, said Superintendent Paul Carlson. That will help offset increases in heating and fuel costs, and may help the district launch its new intervention program for at-risk students.
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For Benson Schools, the new funding will be about $56,000. "Given the price of everything, it helps, but it's really not adequate in my opinion," said Lee Westrum, Benson superintendent.
Given Willmar's needs for building maintenance and repairs, "It is unlikely that Willmar will take advantage of (the transfer)," Harrington said. "The buildings still need to be kept up."
Willmar's buildings are well-maintained now, but the district could fall behind in its maintenance program if it shifted money from the capital fund.
"It is not conductive to education to have the buildings around the students falling apart," Harrington said.
The transfer would be "just taking money from one pot to another," according to Westrum. "I don't really see the advantage."
