By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–Administrators from Helena High School, Helena Middle School, Helena Intermediate School and Helena Elementary School were present for the May 9 Helena City Council meeting as each school received a check from the council to use at their discretion for projects and needs within each school.

Helena Mayor Mark Hall and other council members presented individual checks for $15,000 a piece to each school principal plus an additional $20,000 allocated for the Helena High School band and athletic program expenses.

“We’re very pleased tonight that the council has approved our normal budget and also added to this normal allocation we make to our schools,” said Hall. “We are giving each school $15,000 tonight plus an extra $10,000 for the high school band and $10,000 for athletic expenses. We all know those are huge, especially when you make state playoffs and go to all these competitions. It’s just a tremendous support that the community gives to the schools so your tax money is actually going back to the schools tonight.”

Those accepting the checks were Helena Elementary School Principal Mary Cooper, Helena Intermediate Principal Kathy Paiml, Helena Middle School Principal Scott Knight and Helena High School Principal April Brand.

This year, the Helena City Council was able to double the amount of money given to the schools compared to a year ago, increasing from $40,000 to $80,000 using the one-cent tax fund.

The one-cent discretionary fund has made bond payments and has built a reserve so the city can use the money for school projects, specialized training for teachers or other things that are not covered under normal funding circumstances, according to Hall.

“These administrators are some of the top administrators in the state as far as education is concerned,” said Hall. “We’ve seen a lot of different school systems with a lot of different problems but we just don’t have that. We’re just so grateful for what you do.”