William Penn SD hears consultant benchmarking and business-office update as special-education and charter costs drive budget pressure

William Penn School District met March 20 to review a benchmarking analysis from PFM and a business-office update that together outline where the districts budget is under pressure and where officials see possible savings and revenue relief.

The PFM presentation to the district recommended further review of special-education program structure and of charter-school enrollment and transportation use, while the business office reported specific spending increases, a projected $6 million boost in total revenue for 2025-26 and the recent closing of two bond issues to shore up cash flow.

PFM consultant Ian Tyson said the firm compared William Penn to six peer districts using state reporting to identify areas where the districts per-student costs exceed its peers. "Special education costs are higher in William Penn," Tyson said, noting that when charter tuition is excluded the districts special-education cost per student is roughly $4,600 above the benchmark average. Tyson recommended reviewing how nearby districts structure services and increasing federal Medicaid access reimbursements where possible to reduce the local/state share of those costs.

The benchmark analysis identified three primary budget pressure points: - Special education: William Penn has a higher share of classroom teachers accounted as special-education teachers, and a larger share of its special-education spending falls…