The summer school program is costing the district $500,000. This includes teacher salaries, clerical, administration, counselors, custodial, textbooks and technology support, said Alpine district business administrator Rob Smith.

Teachers are paid per course at the rate they would earn if they were teaching during the regular school year. For example, a first-year teacher with a bachelor's degree would earn $1,250 for instructing one class during one block. A teacher with eight years experience and a master's degree would earn $1,753 per class for a block.

Participating school principals and assistant principals are paid a stipend of $2,500 each for the summer.

As part of the summer-school program, Mountain View High serves a midday meal to around 250 students through the federal, free summer-lunch program.

Assistant superintendent Gary Seastrand, who led the district's summer-school committee, said there is potential for the summer program to grow as the district offers more courses.

"This really is the first year of years to come," Seastrand said.

Alpine board members and members of the district's community council joined legislators for the tour Tuesday. "This program has been needed for quite some time," said Lyn Denna, secretary for the community council.

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E-mail: astewart@desnews.com