The painful planning of Parkland School District's 2012-2013 budget continued Monday morning with the prospect of 59 potential staff cuts outlined by the Personnel and Finance Committee.

The cuts are proposed to bridge a budget gap that will likely require a 3.83 percent tax hike despite the retirement of more than 30 teachers.

"We want to give the (Board of Education) a sense of comfort and be as transparent as possible during this process," said Assistant Superintendent of Schools Dr. Rod Troutman.

Superintendent of Schools Richard Sniscak said the proposed cuts will result in increased class sizes and less elective offerings at Parkland High School.

Troutman said some of the cuts will come from not replacing 24 elementary, middle school and high school teachers.

Troutman also said enrollment has been basically flat throughout the district, except for Jaindl Elementary School, which has seen an increase.

Sniscak said the process of "checkerboarding" teachers could occur, which would mean moving high school teachers with proper certification to middle school positions. Middle school teachers with proper certification could move down to elementary school positions.

The proposed staff cuts are as follows:

• Administrators: 3
• Support staff: 18
• Professional staff - elementary (not replaced): 9
• Professional staff - middle school: (not replaced) 6.5
• Professional staff - high school: (not replaced) 8.5
• Summer employment: 14