Budgeting Through the Squeeze: Modern Financial Strategies to Fund What Drives Student Outcomes
Date & Time: Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at 2 p.m. ET
School districts are entering a period of financial strain as pandemic relief funds expire; inflation pushes operating costs, and state revenues face growing uncertainty. At the same time, major cost drivers are tightening budgets further, including rising employee benefit expenses, legally mandated special education spending, and declining enrollment.
This leaves districts carrying fixed costs for facilities, transportation, and utilities with little funding left to invest in initiatives that improve student outcomes. As a result, K–12 leaders are increasingly asking: Are we deploying the limited resources we have in ways that drive the greatest impact for students?
In this webinar, K–12 budget consultants will share best practices for modern district budgeting that help leaders prepare for enrollment or funding changes, strengthen financial communication with school boards, make smarter staffing decisions, anticipate cost pressures, and avoid always reacting in crisis mode.
Key Takeaways
- Scenario Planning: The right questions to model so districts stay proactive amid change
- Budget Storytelling: How clearer financial communication builds board trust and supports critical investments
- Smart Personnel Budgeting: Connecting position control, compensation, and benefits directly to the budget process
- Long-Range Financial Planning: Multi-year forecasting strategies to anticipate cost pressures before they hit
Speakers
Ardan Hennessy, Principal Consultant, Euna SolutionsModerator: Steven Blackburn, Content Marketing Manager, District Administration
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