Bismarck School Board members Monday unanimously passed a budget for this year that funds additional staff development, building improvements and new textbooks while putting money back into the taxpayers' pockets.

The $76.5 million budget also provides additional funds for a revamped music program, teacher and support staff salaries and laptop computers for new online assessments the district implemented this year in response to No Child Left Behind, a federal legislation requiring all students to be proficient by 2013.

More state funding, increased mill valuations and district cost reductions from closing Richholt Elementary School allowed the district to put money into areas it has put on the shelf for the last couple of years while giving property owners a 5 mill decrease. On a $100,000 house, that comes out to a savings of about $23.

"It was a good budget year because we were able to do some things we have been wanting to do," board member Dan Kuntz said. "We funded things we wanted to fund while still allowing room for a mill levy decrease."

With $350,000 going to training staff on new math and science programs and curriculum mapping, Kuntz said he is concerned that the board would be committed to continually provide those funds. About half of that money pays the salaries of three teachers who are training their peers.

"We will be watching to see just what kind of results we have and whether they prove to be beneficial," Kuntz said.

Staff development has been underfunded in recent years and a concrete plan of how the funds would be used made it a priority this year, board president Marcia Olson said. Part of the reason administrators have been working for the last two years to put together a concrete plan came from the pressure No Child Left Behind is putting on schools to increase student performance.

"When we are looking at staff development and curriculum materials, everything is focused on bringing students up to proficiency," said Paul Johnson, Bismarck superintendent.

This year the district is spending almost $500,000 on new textbooks and supplemental materials, such as a new science curriculum for elementary schools. Schools are using Foss science kits in the classroom this year, which cost the district $123,000. Part of that expense comes from hiring a retired teacher to facilitate the new material.

Another addition to the district's budget was $118,000 for its revamped band and orchestra program. The new program combines kids from elementary schools across the district, gives them more practice time and personal attention from instructors. A summer band camp for fifth-graders also was added.

Johnson said an increase of a little more than $2 million in state money and $1.3 million in local taxes allowed the district more room to spend money. Also, cost-saving measures of cutting down on leased space and reutilizing Richholt freed up more than $300,000 for other uses.

"I am pretty happy with it (the budget)," Olson said. "I think the amount of time we spent on it was well worth it because in the end you get a budget that will serve the district well. It is a budget that finally has some things that are really geared toward what we have been talking about for a long time."

(Reach reporter Sheena Dooley at 250-8225 or sheenadooley@ndonline.com.)