FAIRMONT – With the current administration’s aim to close the federal Department of Education (DOE), signaled by a March 20 executive order, local school and government officials are taking time consider what it means for their students and constituents.

Fairmont Superintendent Andy Traetow said there are many uncertainties at this time, due to a combination of lawsuits filed regarding the executive order and Congress needing to create legislation to end the department.

Right now, 3.1 percent of Fairmont’s annual revenue comes from the federal government. This amounts to $846,215. Even though 3.1 percent may not sound like a lot, Traetow said it is significant and focused in specific areas.

“We do not yet know how the federal government plans to distribute the responsibilities, measures of accountability, or funding and program oversight to other departments,” he said. “The fact that public education is mostly a local and state responsibility does not minimize the importance the federal government plays in supporting special education services, Title I opportunities for students of low income and after-school programs.”

Fairmont is a Title 1 school, and without DOE funding those programs for students of low-income Traetow said there is a chance they go away. In any event, Traetow said they are committed to providing the best possible educational experience.

“[We are] dedicated to being a leading and innovative school district preparing students to thrive today and excel in their futures,” he said. “Amid current uncertainties, we will continue to embrace and celebrate the unique gifts and talents each of our students possess, and will move forward in our ongoing work to ensure all students have the access and opportunities they need to be successful.”

In the current situation, Traetow said it is still early and they are waiting for clarity on when, how, and if federal investment programs will be transitioned.

State Representative and Fairmont native Bjorn Olson said discussions of Federal DOE disbanding are ongoing and it is unclear what will happen yet.

“We should remember that education spending constitutes about 40 percent of our state budget,” he said. “Of that, around 8 percent of that funding comes from the Department of Education, with about 80 percent of that coming through the Federal Department of Agriculture to feed children.”

Currently, Olson said he is most concerned with the actions of Governor Tim Walz. He said Walz’s budget proposal this year includes $178 million worth of cuts to special education, non-public schooling and teachers pay.

“[There were] 65+ unfunded mandates that were passed by Gov. Walz and House Democrats in 2023 that have completely devastated local school districts leading to layoffs and budget cuts,” Olson said. “These layoffs and budget cuts are not theoretical in nature, they’re happening all across Minnesota right now.”

As an educator before entering politics, Olson said he will always stand strong for his local schools.

“School districts in our area do a fantastic job with the limited resources they have to make sure they are providing a quality education to students,” he said. “I could not be more proud of the work they do and will always be a fierce advocate for them.”

For Martin County West, 7 percent of their funding comes from the federal government. MCW Superintendent Cori Reynolds said it aids with Title 1 programs and special education like it does for other districts. She said there’s another area that gives her pause for concern.

“The government gives a lot of money to the state, like for food service programs aided by the USDA in connecting farmers to our food providers,” Reynolds said. “I am concerned about how this could affect our meal quality.”

If DOE funding were to go away, Reynolds said they would look into alternate funding streams and make cuts if absolutely necessary.

“We run pretty slim over here,” she said. “We don’t have a lot of fluff in our system. We would have to do a lot of deep investigation if we lost 7 percent of our funding. Title 1 funds have gone toward reading programs, and other programs would have to be trimmed down to keep those programs going because reading is vital.”

Education statistics are what districts like MCW use to inform their teaching through evidence-based practices. Reynolds said if the DOE’s research arm went away, it would be more difficult for them to continue doing so.

Looking forward, Reynolds would like to see the federal administration continue its commitment to public education.

“They are the guardians of those pieces of public education we view to be so important that they are standard nationwide, like ensuring disabled children have a right to an education,” she said. “I hope the government holds the line on those nationwide values.”

For Granada-Huntley-East Chain (GHEC), 10 percent of their funding comes from the DOE. GHEC Superintendent Doug Storbeck said 90 percent of those funds offset special education expenses. This includes their membership in Southern Plains Education Cooperative.

“In addition to providing an alternative learning center (ALC), Southern Plains also provides Level IV special education classrooms and an abundance of special education services,” he said.”If there is a reduction in special education federal funding, our local school districts would have to pick up the difference in lost revenue.”

GHEC receives Title I, II, III and IV funds from the DOE. These funds benefit low-income students, class size reductions, English learners and health and safety costs. Rural Education Achievement Program and Perkins Grant DOE funds are used to offset tech expenses and supplement Career and Technical Education programs.

Storbeck said he is hopeful the amount of funding received will not be significantly impacted.

“These funds might run through different departments, such as special education dollars going through the Federal Department of Health and Human Services. Ultimately, the logistics might change, but funds will still be available.”

Truman Schools could not be reached for comment before this story was written.