By SUSAN RUMBLE

Special to The Press

Although the Parkland School District is doing well with increased revenue derived from positive real estate factors, a few other categories in the 2021-22 budget reveal increased expenditures.

In a presentation to the board on Jan. 19, Assistant Director of Business Administration Angel Green reported the amount Parkland paid to cyber charter and brick and mortar schools increased $1.8 million between Dec. 31, 2019, and Dec. 31, 2020.

“At this point in time, our budget is over-expended in this category,” Green said.

Over the past year, cyber charter had an increase of 100 Parkland students. Brick and mortar increased by 13.

The district has to pay $13,166.14 for every regular student and $28,291.23 for each special education student attending a cyber charter or brick and mortar school, other than Parkland in the school choice program.

Green said 13 additional teachers were hired to cover COVID-19 adaptations, and she is looking to federal stimulus money for possible help in funding their salaries.

In March, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Rodney Troutman is expected to provide a list of new staffing requests to consider for the 2021-22 budget.

Green stated the cost of district employees’ health insurance is expected to increase 10 percent, and payments to the Pennsylvania School Employees Retirement System will increase 1.2 percent.

Green commented on the budget preparation process.

“Due to the coronavirus, both 2020 and 2021 have been like no other,” Green said. “Our district faces more uncertainty in creating the 2021-22 budget than in previous years.”