Full-day kindergarten, redistricting, charter and cyber schools, state pension payments, and salaries and employee benefits are the main contributors to the $10 million increase in the Parkland School District’s $167.8 million proposed budget for 2016-17.

With the recent approval of a transition from half-day to full-day kindergarten for next term, the district will need $2.7 million for staff and facilities.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Rodney Troutman spoke to The Press at the Jan. 26 school board meeting.

He said 10 new full-time teachers will be required and four part-time positions will have to go to full time to cover all the classes.

Portable units with two classrooms each will be obtained for Jaindl and Fogelsville elementary schools.

They will be used for upper grades or special subjects to provide classroom space for the kindergarten children within the main school buildings.

Troutman noted kindergarten registration in March will give a better idea of what will be needed to accommodate full day kindergarten.

He said in the past about 60 children attended kindergarten elsewhere before enrolling at Parkland in first grade.

He is watching to see if more of them come to kindergarten in the district when it is full day.

The redistricting project underway to move students northward to schools with more space carries an estimated cost of $500,000.

Troutman anticipates four new teachers may be needed to make the adjustment.

If class sizes reach a tipping point as redistricting takes place, additional classes will be provided, necessitating more staff, said Troutman.

Business Manager John Vignone reported on the impact of cyber and charter schools.

The district must pay $10,000 to the school for every regular student and $20,000 for each one in special education.

“Each year the tuition goes up. We’re getting nailed on this. It’s getting up to three million this year,” observed Vignone.

He noted cyber schools receive the same amount as charter schools which are in brick and mortar facilities.

Vignone projects salaries for 2016-17 will total $77.3 million, a $4-million increase over the previous year.

Benefits are listed at $48.1 million, a $4.3-million increase.

Debt service will be $15.6 million, a $348,000-increase over the present term.

In the next few months, the board and administration will assess factors influencing revenue and expenditures, searching for ways to cut costs and to obtain additional funds.

Findings will be presented at the May 5 annual budget seminar.