Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Steamboat Springs Education Fund Board members will have money on their minds tonight.

More than $2 million in funds will be considered as the board determines its 2006-07 budget during a 7 p.m. meeting at the George P. Sauer Human Services Center.

The 11-member Fund Board uses three commissions to determine how to spend revenues from a voter-approved, citywide half-cent sales tax. The commissions -- Educational Excellence, Technology and Capital -- have presented their requests for next year to the Fund Board in meetings during the past several months.

The requests total nearly $3 million, roaring past the $2.3 million spent by the Fund Board this year and meaning all the requests may not be filled.

The Educational Excellence Commission has asked for nearly $1.5 million, citing needs including 14 teacher salaries to preserve small class size, staff training and staff and materials for English as a Second Language programs, the articulated foreign language program approved by the Steamboat Springs School Board and the instruction of gifted and talented students.

The Technology Commission has asked for about $840,000, primarily for technology staffing and computer replacement. The Steamboat Springs School Board recently enabled the school district to move ahead with plans for a "one-platform" computer environment that would phase out Macs and replace them with PCs.

The Capital Commission has asked for $650,000, all of which, if approved, would provide initial funding for a $1.2 million addition to Steamboat Springs Middle School, including nearly 4,000 square feet for classrooms and offices along with a heated walkway and improved drainage in front of the school.

After the Fund Board sets its budget tonight, the commissions will revise their requests accordingly before returning to the Fund Board for final approval. The Fund Board does not spend money itself, but rather "gifts" funds to the School Board for specified allocation.

"It would be great if we could provide funding for all of it," Fund Board president Robin Crossan said at a meeting in February. "I don't know how it will go until we get here next month," referring to tonight's meeting.

-- To reach Mike Lawrence, call 871-4203 or e-mail mlawrence@steamboatpilot.com