This article offers a general breakdown of the Sioux Falls district budget. The school board is considering a $276 million expenditure budget with a 1.5% increase in property tax payments, as well as millions in one-time COVID-19 relief for fiscal year 2022. The district is also budgeting for 15 fewer elementary school teachers this year. Examples in the budget include:
- More than $13.4 million to instruction, including for summer academies and student and teacher technology
- More than $4.7 million combined for remote learning and Virtual Academy expenses, including laptops for students and teachers, and iPads for kindergarten and first grade students. More than $2 million went to elementary Virtual Academy teaching staff.
- More than $2 million for an electronic air cleaning system in the HVAC to kill viruses, bacteria and mold spores, as well as $530,000 for extended HVAC run times to increase fresh air
- More than $1.5 million for student health, including approximately $1.2 million for the nine additional counseling staff and more than $300,000 for additional nursing staff
- $985,000 for special education
- $900,000 to recruit and incentivize substitute teachers.
- The district is also raising pay by an extra $15 a day for substitute teachers and offers incentives, like gift cards, to teachers on days it is tougher to fill a school
- $201,000 for bottle fill drinking stations
- $150,000 for wipes, masks, gowns, hand sanitizer, etc.
- $100,000 to continue school-to-home communication tools. District spokeswoman Carly Uthe said this was a purchase of Remind, which the district had been using for free. The software allows teachers to communicate with parents.
- $90,000 to revise the district’s website
Published on: April 8th, 2021
By: MORGAN MATZEN