After months of arriving to meetings as the sun was setting, and not leaving until the moon was positioned high in the evening, MUSD Board member deliberations over the 2017-18 school year budget are expected to end Wednesday night.

The board is poised to finalize its proposed budget at 6:30 p.m. at a regular meeting in the district board room.

Surviving the proposed final cut to its maintenance and operation budget were: staff pay raises, a sick leave bank and smaller class-size targets.

The board is proposing a 3 percent increase for all district employees. Teachers will receive an additional 1 percent increase from the state. The district calculates its raise in staff pay to cost MUSD $817,500.

The district is also proposing the creation of a district sick leave bank for employees. The $28,000 cost to the district would facilitate the donation of unused sick time by employees to those who have depleted their 11 day allowance.

In previous meetings, board members agreed a sick bank would “increase district morale.”

Lowering classroom sizes are also on the agenda. It comes at a cost of $20,400.

The lowered class size targets come as enrollment grows. District budget documents show enrollment across MUSD increases by around 200 students every year since 2016.

Enrollment growth revenue figures for regular and special education comes at a total of $400,000 for MUSD next year, according to district documents.

MUSD projects the teacher-to-student ratio at the district to be one teacher for every 18 students.

Budget documents show district staff will increase next school year by nearly 60 employees.

Staff switch-ups will also be voted on during the meeting.

Current Maricopa High School Dean of Students Brian Winter is being recommended to fill the shoes of former Athletic Director Mark Cisterna.

Cisterna’s recent resignation is expected to be approved Wednesday evening.

Winter was to start as assistant principal at MHS beginning in July. However, if approved, he will instead reprise his role as district AD after previously serving in that position five years ago.

“Brian did an excellent job as our athletic director in 2011-12 and we are very excited to have him back in that role,” Superintendent Steve Chestnut said ahead of the board’s anticipated approval of the hiring shift.

Expected to take Winter’s slot as assistant principal is MUSD Professional Development Coach Heidi Vratil.

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