Olathe schools could lose out on $1 million, thanks to federal funding freeze
Next school year, Olathe Public Schools could have less money for student mental health services and recruiting qualified teachers, among other things.
District officials say Olathe will lose approximately $1 million if the Trump administration continues to withhold federal grant funding approved by Congress for districts across the country.
“Students in every school district, in every community, in every state, rely on federal funding for public schools,” Olathe school officials said in a release responding to the funding freeze.
“These cuts primarily affect programs that support our most at-risk populations, including low-income students, English language learners, and students with disabilities.”
Trump administration officials say final decisions have not been made about which, if any, grants will ultimately be released. They assert that funds, which are usually distributed around July 1, have been improperly used by some districts to support immigrants who are in the country illegally and to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion.
“Many of these grant programs have been grossly misused to subsidize a radical leftwing agenda,” the Office of Management and Budget said in a July 3 statement.
What funding would Olathe lose?
Olathe school officials say much of the roughly $1 million they stand to lose next school year had already been budgeted, including nearly $570,000 that was allocated to staff salaries and benefits.
According to district data, the largest chunk of money being withheld from Olathe schools is $452,248 meant for teacher recruitment, retention and professional development — a particularly important focus, given Kansas’ ongoing teacher shortage.
Also withheld are $368,851 for students to learn English and $80,000 for students whose parents work seasonal agricultural jobs that require them to relocate frequently.
Additionally, Olathe could lose out on $130,627 that the district had committed to providing student mental health services and trauma-informed care.
“We are monitoring the situation closely, and if these federal funds remain withheld, our district will reallocate funding from other budget sources to reduce the impact of this budget reduction on our students and staff,” officials said, noting that a reallocation of funds would “cause strain” on numerous areas of the district budget.
Melanie Haas, a state school board member whose district includes much of eastern Wyandotte County and northeast Johnson County, said she hopes grant funds will ultimately be released.
She said the abrupt decision to freeze funding means districts across the state that have already entered into contracts with vendors will now have to scramble to pay for services.
“They secure the services, potentially the people, the resources we need to do this work. Then to have the rug pulled out from under us and say, ‘Oh, never mind, those funds are going away.’ That makes it really hard to plan for anything,” Haas said.
In an email statement to The Star, Gov. Laura Kelly called on lawmakers to “use their influence to protect STEM education, career counseling, and after-school programs.”
“This cut harms Kansas schools and students, particularly in our rural areas,” Kelly said. “Kansas teachers should be focused on preparing for the upcoming school year instead of being forced to navigate this unwarranted cut to funding.”
