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Mancelona district warns of steep drop in federal pandemic aid; Title grants to total about $300,000
Summary
District finance staff told the board the 2025–26 budget will see a sharp fall in federal pandemic-era funding, leaving only three Title grants (about $300,000) — roughly 2.5% of an anticipated $12 million budget — and requiring adjustments to local plans.
Shelly Meeder, central office staff, told the Mancelona Public Schools Board on April 8 that the district expects only three Title federal grants next school year, with an estimated total of about $300,000.
"The only federal funding anticipated next school year is the three different Title grants that we’ve received for decades with an estimated total of $300,000," Meeder said, noting that federal revenue will represent about 2.5% of the district’s projected $12 million in total revenue.
Meeder framed the projection as a substantial change from pandemic years: since the 2020–21 school year the district received roughly $3.3 million across 15 different pandemic-related grants, and in 2022–23 federal grants once accounted for about 16% of total revenue. She said the 2025–26 budget will be the first in five years without COVID-related federal funding.
Meeder told the board that, while there is concern about potential federal cuts, Title funding is expected to remain and "would likely be managed by a different federal agency" if the U.S. Department of Education funding picture changes.
Superintendent Mrs. Frollo and administration also discussed district efforts to stretch local resources. Mrs. Frollo reported work on student achievement data and plans to adjust intervention groups and tools to improve reading and math outcomes; the elementary will implement a math spiral review using Standards Mastery on i-Ready, with students scoring below 65% receiving small-group reteaching and a retest.
Board members did not take additional budget votes during the meeting; the finance outlook provided staff and trustees with context for forthcoming budget planning and union contract talks referenced by Mrs. Frollo.
What’s next: district staff will continue preparing the 2025–26 budget with reduced federal support in mind and will discuss details in future meetings as required by the district’s budget calendar.
