BY KARISSA MILLER
Almost $7 billion in federal education funding, which is distributed to local school systems through various programs and grants, has been frozen by the Trump administration.
The U.S. Department of Education notified states on June 30 that their annual federal funding allocations wouldn’t be disbursed on July 1, which is customary.
Iredell-Statesville Schools officials are projecting a loss of $1 million in federal funding while the Mooresville Graded School District stands to lose $200,000.
Federal funding plays a significant role in support the local public-school budget, particularly in targeting specific student populations whose needs might otherwise be underserved.
Representatives of both local school systems said this week that no positions would be eliminated as a result of the cuts.
According to I-SS Chief Finance Officer Adam Steele, the $1.08 million frozen by the Trump administration impacts one classified position, nine certified positions, pay for tutors, professional development for teachers, mentor stipends, and curriculum/programs/subscriptions such as Educators Handbook, ECAT 504, Second Step, Tier One Canvas, and the Elevation Education ESL student data platform.
“Our goal is to repurpose those positions or shift them around to another pay source. We were told a day before the funds were going to be released. We had already planned for professional development,” I-SS Superintendent Jeff James said. “At the end of the day, it’s going to impact services in some shape and form, but our goal is to make sure that individuals have a job.”
MGSD administrators have worked to create a short-term plan to ensure that no jobs are lost and that the level of student and staff services is not impacted.
“While a temporary solution is in place, it is not feasible for the district to locally absorb an annual shortfall in excess of $200,000 long term,” said MGSD Chief Communications Officer Tanae Sump-McLean. “There will come a point where we have to prioritize programs even though they are all important to the education of our children,”
The funds will impact the following areas for MGSD:
• $153,175 for professional development, beginning teacher support, tuition reimbursement for Staff;
• $35,076 for Multi-lingual learners (professional development, family engagement and classroom Materials)
• $48,152 for student safety
North Carolina public school districts stand to lose a total of $165 million.
Several states and organizations have filed lawsuits to challenge the legality of the freeze. As a result, North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson earlier this week joined more than 20 other states in filing suit against the Department of Education related to the legality of withholding these funds.
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Let these developers that are walking away with their pockets full make up the funding. They build all these houses but aren’t responsible for the infrastructure which includes schools. Let them pay!
YES!!!!!
Sad days but I appreciate that both systems are prioritizing people keeping their jobs. NC needs to impose impact fees on all new housing!!