SH SD151 weighs financial impact of Trump administration’s legislative and budget priorities

South Holland educators are weighing the impact that the Trump administration’s legislative agenda and forthcoming budget could have on schools.

The Trump administration has expressed interest in closing the United States Department of Education and eliminating Title I funding, provided to schools with a high percentage of students from low-income families, like South Holland School District 151.

“We as a school district will need to watch carefully because that way of thinking does not portend well for the development of the federal government’s budget,” Superintendent Teresa Hill said at last week’s board meeting. “A significant portion of that budget does impact our communities; it impacts education.” 

Title II funds, allocated to help schools recruit and train teachers, are also at risk under the new administration. 

Closing the DOE requires congressional approval. In January, House Republicans filed bills to close the DOE. The GOP holds slim majorities in both the House and Senate, however, meaning they would still need some Democratic support to overcome a filibuster — if the bills are called for votes, at all.

Hill encouraged attendees to pay attention to the administration’s first budget proposal following President Donald Trump’s recent executive orders.

She also expressed concern about the possible decrease in evidence-based funds from the state. According to the Illinois State Board of Education, evidence-based funding is an Illinois program that allocates state funds to the most under-resourced schools. SH SD151 is ranked in Tier 2 of the funding program, which means the district is eligible for the second-most funding. 

“Should those funds go away, it would be a very bad thing for our school district and our students,” Hill said. “With that being said, our goal and job will be to find the best ways to maintain the quality of education and services we provide with less resources.” 
Hill reassured board members that potential budget cuts would not impact ongoing projects, such as the $4.2 million Coolidge Middle School Art and Science Center, which will open in 2026.

Cutting ties with Thornton Township school treasurer

The SH SD151 board is considering ending its partnership with the Thornton Township Trustees of Schools at its next meeting. The township school treasurer’s office manages the district’s property, accounting and investments, and disperses tax revenue to the districts. The consideration comes as the Trustees of Schools has been unable to reconcile its books.

Hill suggested that the board separate the district from the township treasurer’s office. This move would require additional responsibilities for staff in the district’s financial department and hiring another staff member to manage accounts receivable. A board member must propose a resolution outlining the change before next month’s board meeting, which needs approval. 

“We believe that this is both in the short term and in the long term, a better way of dealing with our finances …” Hill said. 

Any changes to the relationship will take effect on July 1. Hill presented the board with two other options: maintain the township’s control of the district’s finances or enter into an intergovernmental agreement, allowing the district to control its properties. Still, the township will retain its accounting and investments. 

Official business

The board unanimously approved the minutes and expense reports from January. All members except finance chair Corean Davis were present.

Committee reports

Facility improvements at Coolidge Middle School include new automated door opener buttons for wheelchair users and HVAC improvements installed at the end of January. According to Benjamin Clark, chair of the building committee, administrators are considering installing generators to prevent power outages at Coolidge.

Taft Elementary School will soon have a new roof and HVAC system. The board accepted bids to advance the three-phase roof replacement. Quality Control Systems will complete the first two phases. Seal Tight Exterior, Inc. will complete phase three. Work will be completed by July, according to the bids.

Administrative report

Madison Elementary School principal Jerald McNair advocated for changing funding allotment to deprioritize attendance as a metric. He said the political climate has deeply impacted student attendance and district rankings. 

In response to the Trump administration’s early actions, students stayed home in protest of his immigration and deportation policies. “Today, for example, it was ‘A Day Without Immigrants.’ So what that meant was certain students stayed home, which impacts our attendance and the money we receive from the state,” McNair said. “ … We cannot control ‘A Day Without Immigrants,’ but we’re accountable.”

Roughly 34 percent of SH SD151 students missed 10 percent or more school days without a valid reason for the 2023-24 school year, according to its 2024 Illinois State Report card. The statewide figure is 26 percent.

McNair and other district principals remain in contact regarding absent students, which includes contacting children’s siblings at another school and knocking on families’ doors, he said. “We are burning the midnight oil to do everything we can to get students in school consistently,” McNair said.

Honoring leadership

The board honored president Patrice Burton for her 30 years of service. Hill said she is one of the longest-serving board members in South Cook County. A reception for Burton will be held on Mar. 25, at 4:30 p.m. at Madison School.