POST FALLS - After being shelved for the past few years by the recession, the "dot game" has returned to the Post Falls School District.

That means funding is loosening up just a bit.

Technology upgrades rose to the top of the priority list after receiving the most dot stickers during a budget workshop Tuesday at Post Falls High attended by school administrators, department heads, district staff and parents.

"In the past four years, we've had to revert back to looking at what we're going to hang onto in the face of falling revenue," said district finance director Sid Armstrong, referring to why the dot game was shelved from the annual session. "The theme this year is, 'A Step in the Right Direction,' although we still have (budget) challenges."

Other priorities, voted on in order of preference by attendees, included:

* maintaining para-professional support staff;

* increasing certified and classified salaries;

* facility maintenance;

* maintaining class sizes;

* adding alternative education options; and

* adding a special education specialist/psychologist.

The input will be considered as the district continues to shape its 2013-14 budget before the public hearing on June 10.

The district's general fund budget for the next fiscal year is expected to be about $28.84 million, up .3 percent from the current budget of $28.76 million.

Armstrong said while some wish-list items will be met with the slight increase, other requests will continue to be unmet as the budget funding climate has only improved slightly, especially since one-time federal funds have been exhausted.

Some of the district's funding increase will come as a result of the expected increase in daily average attendance. Post Falls' enrollment is expected to increase from 5,695 to 5,775 this fall.

Multiple principals said their buildings are in dire need of technology upgrades.

"We still have Windows 97 running," said Janelle Baker, Prairie View Elementary principal.

Post Falls High Principal Dena Naccarato said expanding alternative programs for students would be a win-win.

"If we continue to expand those programs, it helps keep students in Post Falls School District, which means more money (for the district)," Naccarato said.

Principals at Mullan Trail Elementary, Frederick Post Kindercenter and Post Falls Middle School - the older schools in the district - said their buildings need spruced up.

"It would help with pride of the kids who come through the doors every day," Katrina Kelly of Mullan Trail said.

Dawn Mackesy of New Vision High said protecting the district's alternative-to-suspension program is critical, while Mike Yovetich of River City Middle School said his building has a glut of sixth- and seventh-graders so at least one more teacher would help.

Mandy Surratt of West Ridge Elementary said that school's priorities include doing away with classes that combine grades and bringing on a facilitator for gifted and talented students.

Superintendent Jerry Keane said a committee has been formed to determine how a fair system tying pay increases to student performance will be distributed starting next fall. Districts are required to submit a plan to the state by Oct. 1.

Teacher salary increases based on experience were unfrozen this past year.

The district is expected to receive $110,000 in lottery funds next year - a third of what it received before the money was halted during the recession.

"We've had to defer a lot of maintenance projects because we didn't have that money," Armstrong said.

He said he has heard another third will be restored the following year and the last third the year after that.

The district's overall funding from the state has been reduced by $3.6 million since fiscal year 2009 despite increases in student enrollment.