At a public forum the Allentown School District ran a participatory budget simulation to show trade-offs administrators face when allocating limited dollars. Tables of community members were given $3,000,000 in “play” money and a $10,000,000 menu of potential initiatives; facilitators assigned roles including superintendent, CFO, principal, teacher, student and parent.

Multiple groups said mental-health counselors and supports were top priorities. One table reported carving out an estimated $1,600,000 for mental-health supports after a partner, Lehigh Valley Health Network, offered in-kind help; another table said teams focused on reducing class size and investing in reading and math interventions. "The 1 thing about this group is they focused on the kids," a table spokesperson said when describing the group’s deliberations.

Participants also weighed facilities repairs, textbooks versus digital materials, after-school enrichment and family-engagement staffing. Several groups reported trimming capital items (for example, delaying or sharing HVAC/roof projects) to preserve funding for classroom needs and student supports. One facilitator noted that parents and residents often prioritized items differently than staff, citing parents’ emphasis on reading, math and teacher staffing.

Organizers said the exercise is intended to increase community understanding of budget constraints and collect public preferences that will inform Board discussions; it was not a formal decision-making process. The simulation concluded with several tables sharing prioritized lists and trade-offs with the full group.