Ryan Ruggles, District Administrator
May 2025 Community Spirit Article
DOE, DPI, and our Community DNA
Over the last several months I have received many questions in regards to the possible closure of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) and its potential effects on our district. As part of those conversations, I have also fielded questions in regards to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and its response to the changes and recommendations at the federal level. While I understand we live in some politically charged times, my goal is to have open, honest, kind, and respectful conversations that are based on facts.
The discussions around the potential closure of the U.S. Department of Education have been ongoing but there still remains much that is unknown. We know there has been a 50% reduction in force at the DOE, but we know little in regards to the shift in the work duties and the potential impact on our district or related services. Typically, we do not have much direct contact with the DOE and our communication is mostly through grant portals or directly with DPI. While a complete closure of the department would require Congressional action, DPI has been communicating with Wisconsin districts to address any implications that may arise. DPI has continued to ask questions about the potential closure as well as to related orders, but has not received answers to many of the questions. We also know there is legal action around this order that may take some time to play out.
So what does all this mean specifically for Tomorrow River? To start from a funding lens, the majority of our funding comes from local municipalities and the state. Federal funding accounts for roughly 5% of our total funding. That percentage amounts to around $574,000 and helps support several district programs and directly sponsors four education positions within the district. At this time funding has not been interrupted, and there has been no indication of a change in funding. We have been affected by some of our school district partners losing funding through federal grants. For example, we were working with a university on reduced tuition for future special education teachers, and that program was cut.
From the state lens, the DPI has been instrumental in administering over $1 billion in federal funding for the 2024-25 school year. This funding supports various initiatives such as school meals, student loans, and services for students with disabilities. Should the federal government further reduce or eliminate the DOE, the DPI would assume greater responsibility for managing educational programs and funding within the state. This includes overseeing the distribution of federal funds, ensuring compliance with educational standards, and providing support to school districts to maintain the quality of education.
From a procedural and compliance standpoint, the DPI already is responsible for most of our school requirements including, but not limited to, teacher licensing, instructional time, standards, and school reporting and improvement processes. All of our departments work quite regularly with DPI on a variety of issues. Recently, the Wisconsin State Superintendent has emphasized the importance of safeguarding critical federal funding that supports essential services for students across Wisconsin, including special education, mental health resources, and career and technical education programs. Our district will continue to work with DPI and our state representatives to ensure that our funding and support remain strong.
As I have stated before, one of the things I love about our community is there is great support and pride for our schools. In addition, I appreciate that we live in a community where political differences in opinion do not separate us as neighbors. While some of the next steps for the DOE and DPI are unclear at this time, one certainty is that the DNA of our community is one of strength, support, and collaboration. I know we will move forward together with the goal of having the best schools possible for our students and families. Please reach out with any questions or for further conversations. Thank you for your partnerships and support.
(This article was submitted on 4/21/25 and may not contain the most recent updates.)