Wake County budget committee warns of staffing risk after federal grant losses and funding uncertainty

The Wake County Public School System Budget & Finance Committee on Oct. 28 heard that two competitive federal grants were terminated earlier this year and that continuing uncertainty about state and federal funding could affect staffing for the 2025–26 operating budget.

"It was almost a $12,000,000 grant over a 3 year period, and and it was explicitly to be used for recruiting high quality teachers at our high need schools," said David Nader, a staff member who presented the budget update. He told the committee the district appealed the decision but was unsuccessful. Staff also said a school‑based mental‑health grant worth just over $14,000,000 over five years was terminated after an appeal that did not succeed.

Why it matters: federal funding makes up roughly 8% of the district’s proposed operating budget for the year — just under $180 million — and 83% of the operating budget pays personnel. Committee members…