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Board members warn loss of federal education funding would hit district programs; Title budget roughly $3.4 million, district serves about 2,100 students with I
Summary
Board members discussed potential impacts if the U.S. Department of Education were dismantled, noting the district's Title funding and special‑education caseload.
During board reports at the Feb. 11 meeting, board members discussed federal education funding and warned that elimination of Department of Education programs would significantly affect district services. Board member Quist framed the topic as personal and urged the community to stay informed about possible federal changes.
Quist, referencing Title programs, asked district staff for figures. Cruz, who presented district salary‑scale information earlier in the agenda, told the board, “Our full Title budget is about $3,400,000 annually.” When asked how many students receive special‑education services, Cruz said, “We should have about 2,100 students with an IEP.”
Cruz told the board that those federal funds primarily support interventions and efforts to reduce student‑to‑staff ratios: “Our district's primary use of title funds is for interventions, like direct intervention for students that would be high need or in need of additional services outside of your traditional [classroom].” He added that replacing those funds “would be a very challenging puzzle to figure out how to continue to fund it with the alternative sources.”
Quist said the discussion was not political but personal: “This isn't political. This is personal. This is personal to me,” referencing her family's experience with Title I services. Board members emphasized the role of federal programs in funding special education, career and technical education, Pell Grants/FAFSA supports and civil‑rights protections that oversee educational equity.
No formal board action on funding occurred at the meeting; the discussion was presented as a board report and included staff responses to members’ questions.
