A nonprofit group wants legislators to require North Dakota public school districts to post their financial information online.

The North Dakota Policy Council calls its plan "Sunshine on Schools."

"It would help to shed light on everyone's budget," said Brett Narloch, the council's executive director. "(Posted school district) budgets can educate voters and parents of how kids are getting educated."

Mark Lemer, West Fargo School District's business manager, said some financial information is already posted to the district's Web site. He said some school districts may have trouble meeting a requirement to post all their information.

"That would require a lot of effort," Lemer said.

"I support the openness of all school budgets," said Jon Martinson, executive director of the North Dakota School Boards Association, "But you've got to have people making sure it's up and running," he said, referring to the Web site.

The council's plan suggests all public schools have a searchable Web site with specific and detailed budget information, including pictures of scanned checks and receipts. It says the Web sites should be publicized and updated each month.

Wayne Sanstead, the state superintendent for the Department of Public Instruction, said people have a right to look at school districts' public information. But he also said a Web site requirement would be hard for some districts to meet.

"That would be a whale of a burden on school districts with not enough personnel, presuming each district has a Web site," he said. "If not, that's another impact on them. Not all school districts have full-time business managers, which adds burdens on those serving in dual roles."

The number of school districts in the state is projected to drop from 195 to 189 by fall, due to declining enrollment.