The region’s state schools – not including Wagga – have been handed an extra $3,079,264, taking the total 2017 budget to $14,837,574.

It comes after The Daily Advertiser reported Wagga schools would benefit from an extra $1.5 million of “needs-based funding”, tipping the city’s education spend over the $8 million mark.

The schools awarded the biggest boost to their bottom lines between 2016 and 2017 include Tumut High School ($178,476), Leeton High School ($157,696) and Coolamon Central School ($147,371).

The region’s public schools with the biggest budgets include Leeton High School ($885,315), Narrandera Public School ($745,060) and Narrandera High School ($645,000).

Of 74 local schools surveyed, only Ganmain Public School ($-11,024) and Carathool Public School ($-1,983) will have reduced budgets next year. 

Under the state’s Resource Allocation Model (RAM), each school is awarded a “base allocation” to cover the core cost of educating each student and operating a school.

The government then awards more money to schools with students who are disabled, Aboriginal, refugees or come from poor backgrounds.

Relieving principal of Narrandera Public School Derek Noffke has decided he will spend the school’s extra $129,570 on more teachers.

“We have prioritised more teachers to support every kid in the classroom across all academic levels,” Mr Noffke said.

“With the funding we received this year we employed a speech pathologist a day a week to increase student outcomes.

“This needs based funding is based on the complexity of schools, with flexibility to spend in a way that will increase learning outcomes.”

The state government has not todl principals about how to spend the cash.