Relief is likely on the way for the cash-strapped Jordan School District and others across the state.

With only hours left before the end of this year's legislative session Thursday, lawmakers passed two bills, HB295 and SB175, that would allow districts statewide, for two years, to use money meant for building needs to instead address day-to-day needs, such as teacher salaries and instructional materials.

Jordan, which recently decided to eliminate 500 jobs and raise class sizes by four students to deal with a projected $30 million shortfall, could be allowed to move from $5 million to $10 million in building money to help ease that shortfall. Jordan Superintendent Barry Newbold said it will be up to the board to decide how to handle that option, but he believes their its priority likely would be to mitigate the class size increase. Newbold said raising class sizes by four students and cutting 200 to 250 teaching jobs would save $12.5 million.

"I'm sure all Jordan District employees and patrons will be happy this bill passed," said Robin Frodge, Jordan Education Association president, shortly after picketing with other teachers outside Jordan schools Thursday evening over the proposed cuts. "Certainly, this presents an opportunity for Jordan School District to address its budget needs for the next two years."

Newbold said the legislation will help students in Jordan and statewide.

"We know that Jordan has been a focal point during the legislative session and perhaps even the catalyst for some of this legislation, but in reality, it helps many, not just us," Newbold said.

SB175 also would eventually end a Salt Lake County-wide equalization program, under which other districts in the county send Jordan some of their property tax revenues. The program has meant higher taxes for some districts. Under SB175, equalization would end in 2016.

Newbold said only time will tell whether ending the program will benefit Jordan. Some had predicted that eventually Jordan would lose money to other districts if the program continued because of possible changes in its property tax base relative to those of other districts. But Newbold said the bill is definitely positive in that it could keep that extra money coming to Jordan for at least six more years.

Other Salt Lake County districts had decried the program, saying it was unfair to their taxpayers. The Granite District had to raise taxes slightly last year to send the money to Jordan, though it might have eventually been on the receiving end of the money had the program lasted longer. Still, district spokesman Ben Horsley said equalization has been problematic.

"It put the burden of educating Jordan District students on other districts' taxpayers and we certainly recognize the inequity in that," Horsley said.

Jordan parent Jolynne Alger said the bill will at least allow some time for the economy to recover and for lawmakers to make other school funding changes before the equalization program ends.

She also expressed relief Thursday night to hear that HB295 had passed. Alger, who has a daughter in kindergarten, started a Facebook page, "Jordan District for Quality Education," recently to rally parents and teachers. The page has more than 2,000 members, who, along with others, have been flooding lawmakers with e-mails asking them to pass HB295.

When the bill passed the Senate, Sen. Curtis Bramble, R-Provo, jokingly asked the body if that meant the e-mails would stop.

"I think the parents and teachers and everyone in the Jordan District have started to organize for the first time, maybe in a long time, and it's made a huge difference," Alger said. "I think people felt beat down, and now we've stood up and they realize we do care and do have a voice and do have a vote."

The votes on the two bills followed a day of negotiations over their provisions. Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, worried that allowing districts to use building money for two years for general needs would allow them to "just do business as usual rather than changing the paradigm by which they educate our children."

Sen. Ben McAdams, D-Salt Lake City, who sponsored SB175, said he understands those concerns, but schools need help now. Districts will not be allowed to use money already committed to bond payments or debt service and cannot use the building money to pay for district administration.

"These are trying times, and there are school districts that do need a lifeline," he said.