The news that Gov. Gary R. Herbert supports the state's extended-day kindergarten program was welcomed Friday by Top of Utah school officials.
Herbert released an $11.9 billion budget proposal for 2011-12 on Friday, and for the first time in three years, it includes $50 million in ongoing funds for public education growth across the state.
It also includes $7.5 million to continue the state's extended-day kindergarten program.
"The extended-day kindergarten program has been very valuable to our students," said Nate Taggart, spokesman for Weber School District.
Taggart and others say the daylong program has helped many kindergarten students who are behind catch up.
"It levels the playing field and has contributed to the success of our students," Taggart said.
Weber has had the program in place for eight years in six schools.
Davis School District Superintendent Bryan Bowles said the extended-day kindergarten program is critical to many students who need the extra help.
"It is not offered in every school in our district and it is optional, but it is there for the parents who want it," he said.
Ogden School District Superintendent Noel Zabriskie said the extended-day kindergarten also has proven successful in his district.
"It closes the gap between those who are prepared for kindergarten and those students who are not," he said.
Top of Utah district officials said they are also pleased with the proposed funds slated to go toward growth.
For the past several years, because of the economy, legislators have not been able to allocate funds to cover growth.
For Davis School District, the additional funds are critical because student enrollment annually grows by 500 to 1,000 students, Bowles said.
"We have been receiving less each year, and it has stretched our budget beyond what we can manage," he said.
Davis is not the only district that is growing.
"As a district that is consistently growing, we're glad to hear it's included in the governor's proposal," Weber district's Taggart said.
"We've had very lean years, and the money has not been there in the past, which means we're educating more kids with less money."
Box Elder School District Superintendent Ron Wolff said if growth money had been available this year, Box Elder could have received $190,000.
Box Elder ended up with 76 more students than the state projected for this year, he said.
Without the funds for growth, Box Elder, like many Utah school districts, had to decrease the amount of money it spent per pupil, Wolff said.
A state revenue forecast released in conjunction with Herbert's budget anticipates $215.6 million more revenue for the budget year that begins July 1 than in the current budget.
Herbert is also planning on using $100 million from the state's rainy day fund, leaving it with about $110 million.
Herbert's budget doesn't include any tax increases but does include money intended to help lure more business here, such as $7 million for tourism marketing, $7.3 million for business incentives and $1 million to lure businesses from California.
But his budget also doesn't include funding for growth in higher education or any pay raises for state workers.
Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, said he's concerned state workers may start quitting if they continue to be denied raises, but he recognizes there isn't enough money to pay for the increases.
The Legislature ultimately sets the state budget, and Waddoups said Herbert's proposal is a good starting point.
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