DANVILLE — The Trump administration pauses an education grant. States with Democratic officials sue. Courts issue injunctions. The policy stands, or the administration walks back the changes.
As that process has unfolded multiple times this year, local school districts have been watching to see whether directives from the federal government would affect their bottom line.
Danville District 118 Board of Education member Christopher Easton worried at a meeting Wednesday that the changes might prompt the district to raise property taxes.
“I fear that you’re going to make an ask of us of more than 5 percent to make up all that’s happening with the Department of Education, loss of income from the state on transportation, all these things that you’ve reported to us,” Eaton said. “And I will not vote to raise taxes above 5 percent ever.”
Danville Finance Director Narcissus Rankin said she would limit any tax increases to earn support from board members.
Danville Superintendent John Hart also said during a previous meeting that there have been cuts at the state level as well. He expects the state to reimburse transportation costs and private Special Education contractors at a lower rate than last year.
The school board came after a Supreme Court ruling this week allowed the Trump administration to cut the Department of Education’s workforce. The move could delay much of the department’s work, including the release of Title I grants for high-poverty schools.
The administration has also been attempting to block some grants going to local school districts.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon previously announced schools — including Decatur School District 61 — would not continue to get reimbursements for projects paid for with COVID-19 emergency relief funds. A court issued an injunction to allow some states to keep accessing those payments, and the administration later walked the policy back.
The Decatur school district’s teaching staff have have also being affected by federal changes.
At a meeting Tuesday, administrators said they expect one third of the district’s 43 new international teachers to arrive after the school year begins after Secretary of State Marco Rubio temporarily paused new visa interviews in June.
Decatur administrators said this week they plan to hire long-term substitute teachers while the latecomers are arriving.