KCKPS discusses $4.9M federal funding freeze, plans to use carryover and contingency while finalizing budget

The Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools Board of Education on July 15 discussed how a federal freeze on education funds could affect the district and how staff plan to respond as the board finalizes the 2025–26 budget. Superintendent Dr. Anna Stubblefield told the board the presentation "really is for discussion and information," and that the official budget adoption remains scheduled for Sept. 9.

Why it matters: district staff said roughly $4.9 million of federal grant funding that the district typically plans to spend this school year is currently frozen at the Office of Management and Budget; that includes large after-school and related programs. Those grants are already budgeted, which means the district faces a timing gap that could require using one-time reserves or pausing programs.

What staff told the board: Finance staff said the near-term plan is to rely on federal grant carryover where programs have remaining balances and to use contingency reserves if carryover is exhausted. "The plan would be to use the carryover for the first few months," a finance staff member said, adding Kansas officials and the U.S. Department of Education are still seeking guidance from OMB. Staff committed to report back with precise carryover amounts by the end of the week and to return to the board with options if the freeze persists.

Discussion and concerns: Board members pressed for details about which programs would be affected and how quickly decisions would be needed. Trustees emphasized the human impact—after-school programs, staff jobs, and family supports—and asked staff to identify which programs could be scaled back with the least harm and where contingency can be used. Staff said the 21st Century (Kids Zone) grant represents a large share of the possible exposure (about $2.1 million of the $4.9 million figure, with a separately discussed Schlegel component of roughly $675,000) and described a potential state-level plan to provide roughly half of those funds temporarily while legal and federal reviews play out.

Next steps: Staff will email carryover totals and contingency balances to trustees (the district reported a contingency reserve balance of a little over $15.1 million at the meeting) and present concrete options for board consideration at upcoming meetings. The board scheduled additional budget discussion time (a special budget meeting on Aug. 1 and additional regular meetings) so trustees can review narratives tying board priorities to line items and provide direction before the Sept. 9 adoption vote.