Snohomish County schools react to education department firings

EVERETT — Snohomish County schools expressed concern after the Department of Education announced plans Tuesday to fire more than 1,300 employees.

The effects of the firings are yet to be seen. But some local schools worry insufficient staff at the federal department could delay funding for programs related to special education, financial aid and more.

Schools get most of their funding from state and local taxes. But the Department of Education contributes about 8% of the funding elementary and secondary schools across the county use, according to its website. It administers student loans and financial aid through Pell Grants and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.

In total, the department manages about $1.5 trillion in student loan debt for over 40 million borrowers, the Associated Press reported. It also enforces civil rights laws in schools and assesses the performance of state education programs.

Around 4,200 employees worked for the department at the start of the year. The most recent firings, along with more than 500 employees who accepted severance packages and 63 other employees who were previously cut, means the department will operate at about half its size compared to when President Donald Trump first took office, The New York Times reported.

The firings were a first step toward a total shutdown of the Department of Education, the head of the department, Linda McMahon, said in an interview Tuesday on Fox News. But the layoffs will not affect the delivery of grants and financial appropriations from Congress, she said.

Officials at local schools aren’t so sure.

“While it is too soon for the district to make a fully informed response as we will not completely know the potential outcomes for some time, the cuts to the Department of Education may directly impact our most vulnerable students, their education, and educational programs,” Marysville School District spokesperson Jodi Runyon wrote in an email Wednesday.

A lack of staffing at the department could delay the distribution of federal funding to schools, Runyon said. That delay could lead to districts turning to their general funds to cover the missing dollars.

“Due to our current financial status (enhanced financial oversight), if federal funding were to be delayed or reduced, it would be detrimental as we do not have a robust fund balance to weather this type of storm further impacting our schools, the district, and ultimately, students,” Runyon wrote.

The Department of Education provided over $2 million to Arlington Public Schools in the 2023-24 school year, district spokesperson Gary Sabol wrote in an email. Those funds helped pay for special education in the district and Title I programs, which provide customized curricula for struggling students.

“I rely on OSPI for the most reliable information about what impacts could transpire at the federal level, but certainly would be concerned if we were to lose the funding,” said Gina Zeutenhorst, executive director of financial services at Arlington Public Schools, in an email Wednesday. “The percentage of funding as a whole may sound small, but it is very significant to the health of our operations. Obviously with our budgets already constrained and challenged as they are, this would be a devastating loss.”

The state isn’t expecting major cuts to Title I or special education, said State Superintendent Chris Reykdal at a media briefing Thursday. But impacts could be felt in higher education almost immediately, possibly delaying students’ ability to pay for college, he said.

“We’ll be doing everything we can to see what our legislature gives us in state funds, what we think we can secure confidently in federal funds. Then we’re going to hold our breath for a while to figure out if the federal government’s going to pull that money away this fall or this summer,” Reykdal said. “If it’s big enough, the Legislature will have to come back and react to that. Districts cannot absorb a 7% cut if massive reductions occur in federal spending.”

Edmonds College issues about $11.3 million in financial aid every year, college president Amit Singh wrote in an email, which includes Pell Grants and student loans. It’s too early to tell, however, how the layoffs will impact the college, Singh said.

The layoffs could lead to major delays in FAFSA processing, Pell Grant distribution and Federal Work-Study funding, said Scott Haddock, president of the Edmonds College Federation of Teachers, the union that represents Edmonds College faculty and staff. Without this funding, students may need to take on debt they can’t afford or put their education on hold, he added.

“This isn’t just a problem for students—it’s a problem for our entire community,” Haddock wrote in an email Wednesday. “When students can’t finish their degrees, it means fewer nurses in our hospitals, fewer skilled tradespeople repairing our roads and ferries, and fewer small business owners keeping our local economy strong. These are the people who make our community work.”

Everett Community College disbursed $16.4 million in financial aid for the 2023-24 school year, president Chemene Crawford wrote in an email. She anticipates the amount will be higher for 2024-25.

“Advocating for continued access to federal financial aid, institutional and student support programs, and technical training remains a top priority,” Crawford said.

The federal government provides about 5% of the Mukilteo School District’s budget, or just under $16 million, said district spokesperson Diane Bradford in an email Wednesday.

“The uncertainty caused by the federal cuts come at time when many school districts are already experiencing budget reductions,” Bradford said. “The funding we receive from the U.S. Department of Education helps support some of our most vulnerable students, including students learning English and those receiving special services.”

Edmonds School District is awaiting guidance from the Office of Superintendent Public Instruction, spokesperson Curtis Campbell said in a statement Wednesday. Northshore School District is also awaiting guidance and is “monitoring the situation closely,” district spokesperson Carri Campbell wrote in an email. Everett Public Schools did not respond to an email seeking comment.

On Thursday, Washington joined 20 other states in a lawsuit against the Trump administration to stop the firings. The layoffs would cut so many employees that the department would “be unable to perform essential functions,” a press release from the Washington State Attorney General’s office read.

“This isn’t about political parties or budget cuts on paper—this is about real people trying to build better lives and contribute to our community,” Haddock wrote. “We need Congress to reject these cuts and stand up for our students, our workforce, and our future.”

Will Geschke: 425-339-3443; william.geschke@heraldnet.com; X: @willgeschke.

Jenna Peterson: 425-339-3486; jenna.peterson@heraldnet.com; X: @jennarpetersonn.