The La Conner School District’s board of directors approved a completed 2017-2018 budget of $10,876,536 for the coming school year at its July 24 meeting.

This is some 6 percent more than last year’s budget.

Staff and programs added include dean of students, American sign language, freshman academy class and an after-school program director with two program assistants.

The after-school program fills the void left by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Skagit County ending its program in June. It will be self-sustaining, stressed Bonny Haley, director of business and operations. “There are increased expenditures” to establish the program. Income projections from “increased revenues, donations and tuition, moving forward,” will fully fund the program, Haley said.

The cost per student expenditures increased from internalizing the management and expenses of the after-school program.

Enrollment will be at or above the 555 students in 2016-17 said Haley.