Parkland board hears IU and community‑college budgets; districts told contribution won't rise

The Parkland School District board heard budget presentations from two partner organizations on the workshop agenda: the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit (CLIU) and Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC).

Gregory, executive director of the CLIU, introduced his team and the IU’s general operating budget. Jeanne Coy, CLIU business manager, told the board the IU is projecting a general operating budget a little over $1,700,000 for fiscal year 2025–26, an increase of about $33,000 year‑over‑year (roughly 1.9%). Coy said more than 95% of the increase is driven by salary and benefit costs and that the IU is asking member districts for no increase in their district contribution. “We are asking that there be no increase to the district contribution,” Coy said, adding the bulk of the change results from higher benefits and salary averages tied to projected teacher and act‑93 increases.

Board members asked about the PSERS rate assumptions; Coy said the rate used in the budget work was 34.72% and that it was later certified at 34%, and she offered to provide the board with the dollar impact of that change.

Lehigh Carbon Community College President Anne Bieber and Vice President Stephanie Nestor reviewed LCCC’s operating plan. Nestor said the college’s total budget for the year is $62,600,000, up about $1,300,000 from the prior year largely because of a 7.1% increase in state funding. She noted grant revenue will fall by about $300,000 as COVID-era HEERF funds are exhausted and said debt service and capital project funding is up roughly $90,000.

Nestor told the board that Parkland’s operating share is calculated on the five‑year FTE average of Parkland students attending LCCC (492 students, or just over 19%), producing an operating share of about $900,000; when combined with the property‑market share component the total Parkland appropriation to LCCC will be just over $1,300,000 — an increase of just under $27,000 from the prior year.

The presenters also reviewed tuition and fee changes, dual‑enrollment growth (budgeting 20,000 dual‑enrollment credits, up from 17,100), and targeted capital projects (HVAC, parking lot and science‑lab renovations). Board members asked about enrollment trends, the calculation of district contributions, and whether colleges and districts are collaborating to bolster dual‑enrollment participation. LCCC said it coordinates outreach with guidance counselors and school staff to maintain and grow FTEs.

Next steps: both institutions will finalize their budgets and the district will vote on any required member‑district approvals at a future meeting.