The potential dissolution of the U.S. Department of Education has sparked concerns among local school districts, particularly regarding federal funding and the distribution of resources.

While nothing official has happened yet, Linda McMahon was confirmed Monday by the U.S. Senate to head the department. The Associated Press reported she told employees it was the department’s “final mission” to eliminate bureaucratic bloat and turn over the agency’s authority to states.

Officials from some local school districts weighed in Thursday on how such a change could impact their operations.

While the full scope of the changes remains uncertain, Fort Frye Local Superintendent Stephanie Starcher emphasized that federal funding, such as Title I and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act funds, is expected to remain intact. However, the primary concern lies in how these funds would be distributed if the federal department were dismantled.

“We would still get Title I and I.D.E.A. funding, but how it is dispersed is the big question,” said Starcher. “Assuming the process remains streamlined and accessible, we would adapt to any procedural changes.”

“All title grants public schools receive are federal grants. These grants flow through the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce,” Fort Frye Local School District Treasurer Kaitlin Huck said.

Huck also provided the grant amounts allocated to Fort Frye for the 2025 fiscal year.

¯ Title I-A: $327,296.28 ($6,924.36 of which is a set-aside for the non-public school, St. John Central). Title I-A is the national disadvantaged children grant. Fort Frye spends this grant on Title I-A teacher salaries, family literacy night supplies, classroom supplies and homeless supplies set aside (as required by the grant).

¯ Title II-A: $58,755.36 ($3,028.11 of which is a set-aside for St. John Central). Title II-A is the national supporting effective instruction grant. Fort Frye spends this grant on professional development costs for the teaching staff.

¯ Title IV-A: $41,298.88 ($1,399.55 of which is a set-aside for St. John Central). Title IV-A is the national student support and academic enrichment grant: Fort Frye spends this grant on district-wide counseling services.

¯ Title VI-B (I.D.E.A.): $277,165.12 ($2,785.58 of which is a set-aside for St. John Central). Title VI-B is the national special education grant for grades K-12: Fort Frye spends this grant on special education teacher salaries, paraprofessional salaries, special education classroom supplies and special education transportation to the opportunity school.

¯ Early Childhood Special Education (Preschool I.D.E.A.): $6,393.48. ECSE is the national special education grant for preschool. Fort Frye spends this grant on special education preschool services through the Ohio Valley Educational Service Center.

¯ Fifth Quarter: $4,958.66. Fifth Quarter is the national agricultural grant. Fort Frye spends this grant on vocational education supplemental salaries.

The total amount of the grant money the district receives for these programs is $715,767.78.

“We put these dollars towards the best possible uses to serve our students in meaningful ways,” said Huck. “Losing these funds would be devastating to public school systems across the nation.”

Frontier Local School District Superintendent Beth Brown said that under the state budget proposed by Gov. Mike DeWine, state funding for their schools is not expected to decrease as long as the Fair School Funding Plan remains in place.

“If they and he wants to stick with the Fair School Funding and complete those phases, if they stick with the plan that they started several years ago … what the state gives us will not reduce,” she said. “Unless they add some more unfunded mandate, which typically happens. But you know, as far as overall state funding, if they stick with the funding plan, then we would be okay.”

Wolf Creek Local Interim Superintendent Bob Caldwell said his concerns about dismantling the federal Department of Education include the impact on free and reduced lunch subsidies. That could not only affect low-income students fed by the program but farmers who produce commodities to supply it.

Eliminating the department will “hurt all education but definitely public education,” he said.

Caldwell said he loves all education and does not begrudge children attending private or charter schools. But without a strong public education system “we become a society of haves and have-nots,” he said. “And I believe in equality.”

Caldwell said voucher programs have their place but they do not improve public education.

Students who struggle may not get into private schools but benefit from learning alongside students who are stronger in some areas, he said.

As an example, Caldwell pointed to his own struggles as a student in a geometry class. He said he learned by hearing students he believed understood the subject better than he did ask questions.

“I didn’t need remedial education. I just needed it slowed down,” Caldwell said.

Wolf Creek Local Treasurer Rachel Miller said the district received more than $750,000 in federal funding in the 2023-24 fiscal year, but it dropped down to about $500,000 this year without COVID emergency relief funds. This year’s money includes approximately $180,000 for the school lunch program, $160,000 for special education, $70,000 in Title I money for kindergarten through fourth grade, $45,000 in Rural Education Achievement Program money and about $15,000 for Title II-A.

City Editor Evan Bevins contributed to this story.