Though a copy of the preliminary budget wasn't provided to the public before the meeting, Mars School Board discussed aspects of it Tuesday night.

The board will be asked to tentatively adopt the budget at next week's regular meeting, according to district business manager Jill Swaney.

Swaney said next year's budget isn't expected to include a real estate tax increase, but is expected to include a $1.8 million deficit.

Despite the looming shortage, Swaney said the budget maintains current district operations.

“This budget is full of additions,” Swaney said. “We'll be retaining all teaching and support staff.”

This includes filling any unfilled and replacing retired or resigned positions.

The district is also looking to hire a special education teacher, three paraprofessionals and a primary center reading teacher in the new budget.

District parents have voiced their concerns over the past year and a half about the district's inability to expand staff in these particular areas.

A few shared their support Tuesday night for the proposed retention and expansion of district staff.

Kristen Lutzic said she has two children in special education who have been attending school via livestream interactive learning. Support staff have been an important part of their learning experience this year, according to Lutzic.

Lutzic said she's worried these people will “get lost” going into next year, making it difficult for her children to transition back into school.

“For me, that's a way for me to get my kids to feel comfortable going back in,” Lutzic said.

Joe Graff, a middle school teacher and president of the Mars Area Education Association, also acknowledged the efforts of support staff.

“They are essential to the day-to-day operations,” Graff said.

In other areas, the budget also accounts for a couple new textbook series, new technology purchases and fully funding the district's debt service.Swaney said Mars Area is also poised to fund an additional $1.395 million in charter school tuition. In Pennsylvania, districts are responsible for covering tuition costs for students who attend charter schools but live within the district.Unexpected costs associated with the number of students who chose to enroll in a cyber charter school this year resulted in an estimated $1.5 million deficit in the 2020-21 budget.Fortunately, some of this deficit has been offset by things like unexpectedly robust revenues from local taxes.The district is still anticipating the need to cover tuition costs going into next year. District leaders are hoping students will return to a brick-and-mortar setting as the pandemic progresses.The planned $1.8 million deficit for next year's budget isn't uncommon for Mars Area, according to Swaney.“We'll be working to reduce that to break even,” Swaney said, “which is historically what occurs in this school district.”The budget won't be posted for public review on the district website until after its preliminary adoption next week.The board plans to vote to adopt the final budget in June.