Parents urge Madison City Board to host town hall as federal funding uncertainty and ELL support draw concerns

Maggie Mintz, a parent with three teenagers, asked the board to host a public forum or town hall to allow two‑way dialogue with families, students and staff about a recently passed federal tax and spending package she said could affect public education funding. "I really hope that you guys will take me up on the offer and the formal request to have a town hall so we can talk about it," Mintz said.

Mintz described the package as a sweeping federal tax and spending bill that, she said, extends tax breaks, expands military and immigration enforcement spending and offsets costs with cuts to Medicaid, nutrition assistance, clean energy programs and public education. She warned the bill includes a new private‑school voucher mechanism funded by tax deductions and said that, in her view, vouchers can reduce public school enrollment and revenue.

Rebecca Benjamin, who identified herself as a parent of a rising third grader at Mill Creek Elementary School, told the board she was specifically worried about potential reductions to federal funding for English Language Learner (ELL) programs, including Title III grants. Benjamin cited reporting that roughly $68,000,000 in federal K–12 funding was tied up in a freeze and urged the board to prioritize local and state funds to fill any federal gaps, to advocate for release of the funds, and to seek alternative funding sources to maintain ELL services.

Robin Pope, a recent Bob Jones High School graduate, told the board the district’s health science internship helped her confirm a nursing major and earn certifications — including patient care tech, EKG tech and CCMA — which she said eased her college transition.

Superintendent Dr. Nichols acknowledged the board’s concern about federal and state funding, said the district is monitoring the situation, and reported that the state provided an additional "400 plus thousand dollars" this year targeted to ELL students. He said district officials and groups of superintendents were meeting with federal delegates in Washington to seek more information and urged patience while the district tracks developments.

The board did not take formal action on any of the public requests during the meeting but said it would continue to monitor legislative and funding developments and encouraged parents to contact local representatives.