BY SUSAN RUMBLE

Special to the Press

After beginning the May 16 meeting with recognition of students who received awards at the state or national level, several Parkland School Board members voiced support for the proposed 2023-24 budget, which comes with a 2.5 percent tax increase.

School Director Bob Bold offered comments on the $230,387,002 proposal which received an 8-0 vote of approval.

“This is my 22nd budget,” Bold said. “What we saw in the first half-hour from the children in this district is better than any speech I could give.

“The tax increase doesn’t bother me. This doesn’t fall out of the sky.

“It takes the whole community. It takes money.”

The administration center was filled with students and staff who had significant achievements in a variety of endeavors.

These included state orchestra and state chorus, the United States Junior Math Olympiad, the Student Television Network’s National Conference first place, and the Governor’s STEM challenge.

Another prime award was first place nationwide earned by the Parkland Scholastic Scrimmage Team in an online tournament conducted over two hours in March.

Students worked under time constraints against hundreds of other schools from across the country.

Still another special award was the district’s recognition from the Educational Theater Association as a premiere community for theater education.

Parkland was one of only 25 in the entire country and the only school in Pennsylvania to receive the theater recognition.

Turning to athletics, the board applauded the district power lifting team which was comprised of 11 national and 35 state champions.

Board member Lisa Roth commented.

“[It was great] to recognize the excellence we see,” Roth said. “It takes money. We’re planning for the future.

“There’s going to have to be a new building or two in our future.”

Member Jay Rohatgi also commented.

“We want to make sure we do the right thing,” Rohatgi said.

Director Rob Cohen also spoke about the budget.

“The budget is what our district is all about,” Cohen said. “Through the budget, we announce to our community how we are going to inspire excellence.”

In other matters, the board offered gratitude to senior Reva Gandhi, the outgoing student representative who presented reports on school activities throughout the year.

She will be going to Dartmouth to study environmental science.

Gandhi was a National Merit Scholar and a Presidential Scholar semifinalist.

“I’d like to congratulate Dartmouth for getting you,” Roth said.