William Penn SD projects $6 million shortfall for 2025-26 after identified savings; district outlines staffing cuts

Dr. B. Coates, district leader, told attendees at the February budget meeting that the William Penn School District must identify about $9,500,000 to balance its budget for the 2025-26 school year.

“Right now, we are in need to identify about $9,500,000 for our 2526 budget,” Dr. B. Coates said, outlining district plans to find savings and to reassign staff.

The district presented a package of staffing and benefit adjustments that administrators say will total a little more than $2.5 million. That package includes an anticipated $750,000 reduction in the use of personal care aides (PCAs); about $500,000 in insurance savings from renegotiated vision and dental contracts; a reduction in academic interventionists from 16 to 8, listed at approximately $940,000 in savings; reassignment of three central-office secretaries to fill three vacant school secretarial positions; and changes to assistant-principal allocations that…