Parkland to Seek Wage Freeze from Support Staff

Even after , Parkland School District officials must still bridge a $853,000 funding gap in its proposed 2012-2013 school budget and will seek a wage freeze from its support staff as part of its efforts, Superintendent Richard Sniscak said Friday at an all-day budget seminar.

The district's as part of contract negotiations. The district's for the current school year.

With the state allowing a tax increase up to 3.67 percent, the district continues to face fiscal challenges to balance the budget, Sniscak told board members and fellow administrators. passed in January carried a proposed 4.96 tax increase, above what the state will allow.

The district's support staff, which includes food service personnel, teachers assistants, bus drivers and maintenance workers, will be entering the final year of a 5-year contract in the 2012-2013 school year, Sniscak said. The contract calls for a 4.95 percent raise in the final year.

Also to bridge the funding gap, Sniscak said:

* The administration will continue to evaluate expenditures and revenue. With more than , the district expects to make many cuts through attrition. Sniscak said the district also will get more precise numbers on revenue, including real estate tax revenue, in the next two months.

* The district will continue to press lawmakers for increased funding for basic education and special education.

The district is already planning $10.4 million in cuts/reductions for the 2012-2013 school year, according to information provided by assistant Superintendant Rod Troutman at the budget seminar. 

The district will:

* Cut more than 65 positions, including from the elementary, middle and high schools; three administrators; four tax office clerks, one hall monitor; one full-time laundry worker, three teaching assistants, two special education para professionals, and three part-time custodians.

The district also will cut 14 summer employment positions and restructure 17 positions in food services and two in maintenance.

Projected savings: $3.5 million.

* Curtail spending on summer school, professional development, textbooks and electricity. It will eliminate the and re-negotiate the copy contract, among other planned reductions. The district also plans to use money in the budget reserve and fund balance.

Projected savings: $6.2 million

* Reduce costs to Lehigh Carbon Community College and the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit, and reduce bus runs.

Projected savings: $680,000.

Sniscak, in opening remarks at the budget seminar, said the district has been doing more with less for two consecutive years now. He expects class size to increase as the result of staff cuts. 

School board President Jayne Bartlett said the district must contend with 24 unfunded and 14 underfunding state mandates as it works to finalize its 2012-2013 budget. She said the district must continue to balance a quality education for students with its fiscal responsibility to taxpayers.