Superintendent spotlights student and staff achievements and warns of $22.6 million funding shortfall

The William Penn School District superintendent opened the March meeting by recognizing students across the district for academic and extracurricular accomplishments and by thanking employees for recent awards and programs.

"You will note that on the third flyer all the way to the right, it does explain the amount of adequacy or the gap that we are still waiting to receive in our district, and it equates to $22,600,000," the superintendent said. "That is still owed to this district." She asked families and board members to help advocate in Harrisburg and noted the district will visit the state capital on April 14 to press lawmakers for support.

The superintendent named students from Alden Elementary, Artemore, Bell Avenue, Coblin, East Lansdowne, Evans, Park Lane, Walnut Street and Penwood campuses and praised teachers whose pupils demonstrated above-average growth on NWEA MAP assessments. She also announced an employee recognition program and said the district communications department won 11 awards at the 2025 Pittsburgh Excellence Awards.

In addition to academic recognitions, the superintendent highlighted athletics results and outreach: students placed at Nike Indoor Nationals and the superintendent thanked administrators and community members for support. She also reminded listeners of upcoming events, including a DCIU education career fair on March 25, a Penwood career night on April 30 and a district hiring fair at Penwood Middle School on May 13.

The superintendent framed the $22.6 million figure as part of materials circulated by Children's First that quantify the district's adequacy gap. No board action on state funding was taken at the meeting; members discussed travel logistics for planned advocacy in Harrisburg.

The board moved on without further public comment; the district's next business meeting is scheduled for April 27 at 6:30 PM.