Greencastle-Antrim says it will keep funding pre-K as state and federal budgets stall
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Summary
Superintendent Dr. Hanks told the board the district is currently operating on local tax revenue because of concurrent state and federal funding interruptions and pledged to continue funding First Start pre-K from reserves for now, while warning the district may need to tighten spending if the impasse continues.
Superintendent Dr. Hanks told the Greencastle-Antrim School District board on Nov. 6 that the district is currently funding operations primarily from local tax dollars because a state budget shutdown has prevented federal pass-through funds from arriving.
"We are right now funding our district solely on local tax dollars," Dr. Hanks said, adding that federal funds come through the state and have not been released because of the state shutdown. He urged the community to understand the district has held reserves and has been careful with finances but cautioned reserves will "dry up" if the impasse continues.
Dr. Hanks specifically pledged the district's commitment to continue funding its First Start pre-K classrooms: "You cannot get that 4 year old year back, and I would consider [pre-K students] some of our most vulnerable population. So we are committed as a district ... we will be able to continue to fund pre-K and not cut that." He said the district may be one of the few continuing pre-K funding while surrounding districts have announced cuts.
Board members asked no substantive follow-up questions at the time; Dr. Hanks said staff would continue monitoring state and federal developments and noted that local taxpayers had carried the school year so far. He warned budget planning remains sensitive to how long state and federal funding remain unresolved.
