COLORADO- State lawmakers approved a big increase in K-12 funding this past legislative session, amounting to about $475/pupil for public schools.
In Colorado Springs, for some school districts, that increase is going to teachers and staff.
Academy School District 20 says the additional funding is allowing them to put money where things such as a bond measure didn’t cover.
For us in 2016 we just passed a $230 million bond,’ said Dir. of Communications Allison Cortez with District 20, ‘Sometimes people don’t think ‘Well how are you going to fill those buildings with teachers and staffing and operational costs?’
Some of the additional money from the state is allowing the district to staff the newly opened schools.
According to the district, teachers and other staff members in District 20 received about a 5% raise with the increased funding.
For other districts, the money will be allocated to other needs within the district.
Some school districts are also looking forward to implementing bonds and mill levy overrides approved by voters in 2017.
