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Superintendent: state education funding intact after governor signs budget; proposed federal cuts would eliminate Title III and cost Harrisonburg about $300,000
Summary
The superintendent said state education funding remains as presented in the division’s budget after the governor signed the education portions of the state budget, but the White House’s federal budget proposal would eliminate Title III funding and could cost Harrisonburg about $300,000.
Superintendent Doctor Richards told the board the governor signed the education parts of the state budget and the district’s proposals for state funding are intact, including the removal of a longstanding support-position cap that had limited certain staff positions since fiscal crisis actions in 2008.
On federal funding, Doctor Richards and the district’s finance staff reported concern about the presidential administration’s budget request to Congress, which would eliminate funding for Title III (English language acquisition) nationally. The superintendent cited a national figure of about $890 million proposed to be eliminated from Title III and estimated the local impact to Harrisonburg at roughly $300,000. The administration’s budget request also floated moving some federal education funds into state block grants; staff said that would leave the district dependent on state decisions about how those dollars are distributed.
Mister Kirwan, the district’s executive director of finance, and Mister Garwood supplemented the update with details that Title 1 and IDEA funding remained intact in the proposal the superintendent had seen but that Title III reductions were worrisome. A board member reported recent meetings with U.S. Representative Ben Cline (referred to in the discussion) and urged constituents to contact members of Congress to advocate for federal funding that supports students in the district.
Why it matters: Title III funds pay for English-language acquisition supports and related professional development and positions. Staff warned that a loss of Title III funds at the federal level would either require the city to backfill the gap or result in reductions in services for English learners and related training.
Next steps: district leaders said they will continue advocacy with the congressional delegation and monitor the congressional appropriations process. The board encouraged community members to contact federal representatives.
