ISD 166 Superintendent says, “It’s an odd time” as federal funding uncertainties loom
It is largely unknown how rural Minnesota school districts, such as Cook County School ISD 166, will be impacted by the proposed dismantling of the Department of Education and the ongoing federal changes.
The short answer right now, Superintendent of ISD 166 Chris Lindholm said, is, “We just don’t know.”
Lindholm said ISD 166 receives impact aid funding, title funding, food service funding, and enrichment funding, which, according to Lindholm, will continue to be mostly protected. However, the details surrounding the Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and Title II are generally uncertain right now.
“We just don’t know the details,” Lindholm said. “I’ve learned not to just get too worked up until I actually know what the problem is. And so we’re holding tight.”
President Donald Trump’s executive order signed on Thursday, March 20, calling for the dismantling of the U.S. Education Department has complex implications.
The Republican president has argued the federal office hasn’t improved student outcomes and is unnecessary in a country where states and local districts primarily control education from funding to hiring and curriculum.
The department has been largely responsible for oversight, enforcing discrimination laws, and distributing aid money for schools with low-income students and students with disabilities. Federal funding makes up a relatively small portion of public school budgets, roughly 14%, according to the Associated Press.
In the short term, students, teachers, and parents likely won’t see much impact. Long term, it’s harder to predict.
It depends on how Education Secretary Linda McMahon distributes the mandated functions of the department to other parts of government, including the states. McMahon said she is preparing to relocate the department’s core operations to other agencies and roll back federal regulations.
The biggest question is how the states will distribute the federal money the department sends to help educate students who are poor, disabled, or still learning English and need extra support. School systems with weak property tax bases, including those in rural areas, depend on that money to pay teachers, pay for buses, and buy classroom technology.
In a March 20 press release, McMahon said, “Closing the Department does not mean cutting off funds from those who depend on them—we will continue to support K-12 students, students with special needs, college student borrowers, and others who rely on essential programs. We’re going to follow the law and eliminate the bureaucracy responsibly by working through Congress to ensure a lawful and orderly transition.”
Only Congress has the power to bring a full end to the Education Department. Republicans in Congress are planning legislation to eliminate the agency, though they face heavy opposition from Democrats.
On March 21, Democrats said that Trump had no authority to move federal loans or disability services to other agencies. They noted federal law places those duties under the management of the Education Department, including in the Higher Education Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
“It’s an odd time,” Lindholm said. “I’ve been doing this for 30 years, and I’ve not navigated a time in my career like this.”
WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins spoke with ISD 166 Superintendent Chris Lindholm about the impact the reduction of the U.S. Department of Education will have on rural school districts, such as Cook County. The conversation pertaining to federal funding and the Department of Education begins at minute 8:58. Audio below.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Kalli Hawkins March 27, 2025
