The Marion Independent School District school board passed a five-year renewal of the district's Instructional Support Levy Monday night. Previously set to expire at the end of the 2010-11 school year, the levy will be extended through 2016.

The Instructional Support Levy (ISL) gives districts funding for enhanced educational programs. It is levied on state income taxes and can be passed through either an election, which extends the levy for 10 years, or by a school board vote, which renews it for five years.

The ISL will amount to just under $800,000 for the district for the upcoming 2010-11 school year. According to Superintendent Sarah Pinion, those funds go to classroom supplies and educational materials for student instruction.

Pinion said that the district chose to approve the ISL extension by board vote this time to save the cost of a special election, which she estimated at $2,000.

Due to recent state changes in school board elections, a school election won't be held this fall, meaning the district wouldn't be able to place the measure on the school board ballot to save costs. The next school board election isn't scheduled until September 2011, after the current ISL expires.

Pinion explained that the levy renewal passed at Monday's meeting adds no additional tax increases and only continues a levy already in place.

At a hearing prior to the board's passage of the renewal, no members of the public spoke on the measure.