Superintendent warns proposed state and federal changes could affect preschool promise and other district programs

Superintendent Holloway used his report to highlight new partnerships — including service on a community health services board and workforce development task force — and to flag possible funding headwinds that could affect district programs next year.

Holloway described a governor’s proposed state school fund budget that appears likely to move forward, but cautioned that portions of the Student Success Act and other embedded programs could face cuts. He also noted the president’s budget proposal at the federal level would show a roughly 15% reduction to the U.S. Department of Education and the possible consolidation of multiple funding streams, which could lead to reduced Title I funding for some districts.

On preschool funding, Holloway said the Department of Early Learning took reductions this cycle and the district uses the preschool promise grant for roughly $300,000 of its preschool budget. He said the district expected the preschool promise grant agreement in July and that the final numbers will determine next steps: "We are supposed to see the preschool promise grant numbers in the agreement in July," he told trustees.

Holloway told the board he would monitor federal continuing resolution activity and other pending actions that might affect Medicaid, SNAP and other programs school families rely on; changes there could indirectly affect district programs and the Community Eligibility Provision that supports school meals.

What the board asked Trustees asked for clarification on what would trigger changes to district spending and how staff would respond if grant funding were reduced; Holloway said staff would take a cautious planning approach and bring options to the board as the state and federal pictures clarified.