February 18, 2026-Special Board Meeting

The Wissahickon School District held a special board meeting on February 18, 2026, primarily to discuss and approve a preliminary budget action item related to applying for a special education exception referendum. This exception would allow the district to exceed the Act 1 index tax increase limit of 3.5% for the 2026-27 school year, raising it to 5.1% to address budget deficits, particularly those associated with special education costs. The board approved the motion to submit the preliminary budget and apply for the exception, noting that this is an initial step in the budget process with further reviews and votes planned in the coming months. The discussion emphasized that the 5.1% increase is the legal maximum allowed under the exception and that the district still faces a budget deficit even at this level. The board also highlighted upcoming finance committee meetings and the need for potential expense reductions to balance the final budget expected by May or June.