Thanks to some federal stimulus dollars the Blackville-Hilda school district won't have to consider raising its millage.

The school board passed its third and final reading of the 2009-10 operating district budget during a June 23 meeting.

The general fund or operating budget is $5,720,162, said Donna Abbott, the financial director for the district.

"We know what the revenue is and that is where we keep out expenditures," said Abbott.

The budget covers salaries, supplies, benefits and travel, she said.

Other special project funds - such as Title 1 federal monies - are not a part of the operating budget, said Abbott.

Some $276,579 in stimulus money kept the district from raising millage 3.8 mills, she said.

The millage hike would have been about $37,000, said Abbott.

Shortly after the budget was approved, Superintendent Teresa Pope took advantage of a professional development opportunity.

Pope received a fully funded fellowship to attend the Exemplary African-American Leadership Summit for Superintendents in Chicago June 25-27.

"It is indeed an honor since only 50 superintendents were selected to participate," said Pope.

The event was sponsored by the National Alliance of Black School Educators.

Founded in 1970, the NABSE is a nonprofit organization that focuses on developing the academic success of African-American youth.

The event included workshops on "Promising Practices;" data analysis on achievement; health issues; structural inequality; and legislative issues, she said.

"Promising practices are initiatives that are in place in other districts that work," said Pope.

Examples include successful teacher recruitment, retention and advancement, she said.

The workshops posed challenges and opportunities with possible solutions presented by experienced superintendents, Pope said.

Pope said small school rural districts are challenged with less staff and fewer resources to take on projects and implement strategies.

However, with a focus on what can and should be done immediately can help rural school districts prepare students to succeed globally, Pope said.

"It's a matter of realizing that you can't do everything at once so you prioritize and set your goals on what you can do immediately," said Pope.

Once those goals are reached, the district can concentrate on other goals, she said.