Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Federal Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Work session: district prepares for federal-title freezes; McKinney-Vento (ATLAS) becomes competitive and staff propose shifting positions
Summary
District staff told the school board that several federal Title grants (II, III, IV) were frozen; McKinney-Vento (ATLAS) homeless funding became a competitive grant and Rutherford County did not receive it for three years. Staff asked the board to move an ATLAS liaison and six Title III positions to general funds to maintain services.
Rutherford County Schools staff told the board at a 2025 work session that several federal grants are currently frozen and recommended budget moves to maintain services.
Staff reported that Title II (teacher development), Title III (ELL programs) and Title IV (safe and healthy students) funds were frozen; the amounts cited in the presentation were $1,185,219.42 (Title II), $794,336.99 (Title III) and $393,877.95 (Title IV). Staff said they are planning operations as if those funds will not be released and will not lay off personnel as a result.
Separately, the district’s McKinney-Vento grant (ATLAS), historically used to support homeless students, became a competitive grant this year. Staff said Rutherford County was not selected and will not receive ATLAS funding for the next three school years; the McKinney-Vento award amount previously used by the district was $228,267 (staff read the precise cents but summarized the total). Because of that change, staff requested two board actions: (1) move the ATLAS liaison position from federal funding to general-purpose school funds (staff reported this could be done without new funding because of an existing central-office vacancy), and (2) reclassify or move six Title III positions (three ESL coaches and three family liaisons) from federal to general funds using savings from unfilled ESL teaching positions and an unfilled central-office specialist position.
ELA/ELL staffing: Staff presented exit numbers for ELL services as justification for reallocating positions: exits rose each year, with staff reporting exit counts of 349 (2020-21), 459 (2021-22), 495 (2022-23), 648 (2023-24) and 1,103 exits in the latest year. Staff said the increases reduce the number of ESL positions needed. Directors noted the ELL population has grown overall and said they will continue to monitor through September and October; they said if federal funds do arrive the district will reverse reallocations and restore positions.
Staff emphasized that the district will try to maintain services for homeless students and cited transportation and food as major needs previously supported by McKinney-Vento funding. Board members and staff discussed whether faith-based organizations might help bridge gaps for transportation for homeless students.
No formal board votes on the proposed reallocations were recorded in the work session; staff told the board they will present formal requests for action at the regular meeting.
