The Parkland Board of School Directors approved plans for the 2026-2027 proposed general fund budget amounting to $261,667,936 after careful consideration of the district’s growing needs and long-term financial outlook. The approval was made during the regularly scheduled board meeting May 12.

The 2026-2027 proposed general fund budget represents a 5.2% increase over 2025-2026 expenditures. To fund essential programs while minimizing the tax burden on the Parkland community, the district will utilize $9.83 million of its fund balance to balance the budget.

The proposed budget includes a total mill rate of 18.42, which represents a 3.50% millage increase (the maximum Act 1 index).

For the average residential taxpayer, this equates to an increase of $145.43 for the year.

Focus areas of the 2026-2027 proposed budget:

•Students and Educational Programs

Built on a foundation of student-centered growth, the budget prioritizes direct instructional impact. It finalizes a multiyear elementary literacy initiative, updates AP Social Studies and Business frameworks, and modernizes secondary curriculum. To offset costs, the district has strategically reduced and eliminated less effective expenditures, including a $105,000 savings in supplemental educational technology apps.

In order to preserve core student programming, the district is implementing operational reductions, which include eliminating the late activity bus, scaling back out-of-district conferences and evaluating all staff retirements for non-replacement.

•Safety (Physical, Mental and Behavioral Health Needs)

Enhanced by a $291,108 grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, the district is installing impact-resistant window film and sustaining a home school visitor position. The budget also maintains our commitment to student safety by continuing our school bus fleet replacement plan to meet industry standards and the maintenance of our School Resource Officers across the school district.

•Growth, Future Planning and Debt Service

Parkland continues to expand, with enrollment now surpassing 10,000 students. To address this growth, the district recently broke ground on a Parkland High School addition featuring 46 new classrooms and lab spaces. While the borrowed proceeds for this construction are held within a restricted capital projects fund, the responsibility for repayment lies within the general operating fund. Consequently, the annual debt service is a dedicated line item in the general budget, requiring $1.2 million in new debt service payments this year.

•Long-Term Budget Planning & Fund Balance

The district is entering a multiyear fiscal transition. While construction borrowing is held within the capital projects fund, the resulting annual debt service payments – which require $1.2 million in new funding this year – are a line item within the general fund. These payments, alongside compounding mandated costs in staffing, health care, special education and specialized transportation, have created a structural deficit. To maintain stability in the district, the board and administration have developed a comprehensive 5-year, $20 million reduction plan to engineer a path to long-term financial stability.

•Legislative Advocacy to Protect Taxpayer Investments

The board and administration recognize that local challenges cannot be solved in isolation and are actively partnering with state legislators to address underfunded mandates that strain local taxpayers. The district’s key legislative priorities include:

Special Education Funding Reform:

Special education is one of the fastest-growing demographics and cost drivers for the district. For the 2026-2027 school year, Parkland faces a $40.1 million net funding gap between mandated special education expenditures and the state/federal revenues provided. The district strongly supports legislation like HB 2307, which would increase the state’s reimbursement share for the extraordinary expenses of high-need students.

Cyber Charter Tuition Reform:

To combat rising outside charter costs, the district supports the Governor’s cyber charter tuition reform proposal, which aims to generate $250 million in statewide savings for school districts. Parkland also advocates for a moratorium on new cyber charters (SB 27), stricter oversight and residency verification (SB 927 and SB 934) and charter enrollment caps (HB 2293).

School Construction Reimbursement:

As the district manages severe overcrowding and facility needs, we are pushing for the full funding and activation of PlanCon 2.0 to provide critical state reimbursement for school construction and renovation projects.

School Board President David Hein said, “As our district enrollment continues to climb, it is imperative that the school board maintains a strategic focus on the intersection of fixed expenditures and long-term capital needs. Our current budget shortfall requires us to make difficult decisions. However, the board is committed to working alongside our staff, unions, and community to make the necessary structural adjustments over the next five years to ensure Parkland remains on solid financial footing.”

Superintendent Dr. Mark J. Madson noted, “This budget represents a strategic balance between our students’ academic requirements and the economic realities of our community. We are not waiting for a crisis; we are acting now. By making measured reductions – such as evaluating retirements for non-replacement and tightening operational costs – we are protecting the core classroom experiences that make Parkland a destination district. Getting through the next five years will take all of us working together, but this plan sets us up for long-term stability and continued excellence.”