Parkland School District Director of community and public relations Nicole McGalla reports that during the 2011-12 school term, $166,006 was raised in alternative revenue to ease the pain of declining income.

McGalla said sponsors helped out with several district events.

The staff breakfast, costing $3,200, was sponsored by Giant Markets and Chick-fil-A.

Outback Steakhouse sponsored the $1,700 retirement luncheon.

The Outback has already been lined up as a sponsor of the Readers' Club dinner. The restaurant will deliver food, which would have cost the district $2,000, for participants.

Several sponsors said they liked their banners, valued at $1,000, at the annual Arts Festival and indicated they would like to do more next year.

The school district calendar and newsletters were sponsored saving the district $29,550.

McGalla said the school bus ads are off to a slow start because the sign material must be non-flammable, which makes them expensive.

She suggested an incentive for bus sponsors by giving them a free month of advertising to make up for the costly signs.

"There is a lot of new advertising on the horizon," McGalla said.

She is working with a sponsor for the senior citizen dinners. That individual would provide a product and service appropriate to the age group.

Parkland Education Foundation revenue for its first year is $130,556.

The private, non-profit foundation has a procedure for requests and distribution of funds for Parkland education purposes.

McGalla said she conducted research and made comparative inquiries to determine fair rates for the sponsors.