The School Committee on Monday approved an amended version of Superintendent Jeannine Nota-Masse’s initial $171.9 million budget plan for the coming year, redirecting roughly $69,000 to provide increased compensation for athletics coaches and pay for dues if the district opts to rejoin the Rhode Island Association of School Committees.

Ward 4 committee member Vincent Turchetta, citywide member Michael Traficante and Ward 1 committee member Sara Tindall-Woodman were among those who spoke in favor of providing the increased pay for coaches, who they said have not received an increase in several years.

“I’m glad that we’ve taken a step for both coaches and administrators,” Tuchetta said.

“I think the coaches are really unsung heroes,” Tindall-Woodman said.

Joe Balducci, the district’s chief financial officer, said he identified funding to support the increases through a review of other budget line items, including some related to transportation and insurance. No existing line items were zeroed-out as a result of the amendment, and Balducci said he was “comfortable” with all of the minor decreases, which totaled roughly $69,000 to offset the increases elsewhere.

Athletic Director Mike Traficante said the increases in pay will range from roughly $75 to a bit more than $800, depending on the coach’s current compensation. He also said the current three-step system used to determine pay will be replaced with a single-step approach that includes three classification levels, depending on factors such as number of games and a season’s timing in relation to vacations.

Nota-Masse’s initial budget is based on initial state aid projections that show the district receiving an additional $36,000 from the Department of Education in the coming fiscal year – a far cry from the typical yearly increase of between $3 million and $4 million.

The superintendent previously described the meager increase – largely attributed to an increase in local property values – as “troubling” and “stunning.”

The district’s requested increase in the city’s contribution, meanwhile, is nearly $3.8 million. For context, the district requested a $1.7 million increase from the city last year and ultimately received $470,000 in additional funding.

On Monday, Nota-Masse said she has reached out to members of the state’s legislative delegation and City Council about the situation. She has also been in contact with Mayor Ken Hopkins.

“I’m sharing our woes with anyone who will listen to me,” she said.

Traficante echoed the superintendent, urging his colleagues to lobby lawmakers to address the matter.

“We all have concerns about our state aid to education, and it’s a serious concern,” he said.

Ward 3 committee member Domenic Fusco added: “An increase of $36,000 is an insult … Let’s just keep the pressure on.”