Announcements

Stay up to date on all of the latest events happening around the community to help you and your student.  Please note any announcements posted here are not solely a part of the Pontiac School District.  For any information related to any event posted here please contact the event staff directly.  Contact information can be found on the announcement.

Below please find information regarding state legislature information that could impact the Pontiac School District.  

Below is the Spanish Version of the letter.

Dear PSD Families:

Below is some information regarding the Federal Government shutdown and its impact on our district at this time as shared with us from Oakland Schools:

Just after midnight, the Legislature moved to avert a state department shutdown by passing a one-week continuation budget covering the period from October 1 to October 8.

• The School Aid Act for FY ’24-’25 expired at midnight. Because a new School Aid budget has not yet been enacted, there is currently no statutory authority for the state to distribute School Aid payments to districts. Likewise, the boilerplate provisions and requirements tied to receiving those funds have also lapsed. Until the FY’25-26 School Aid budget is signed into law, districts have no guarantee of funding or clarity on compliance conditions for categorical or foundation allowances.

• Leaders assert that a comprehensive bipartisan budget deal is near, but the final details, including line items, are still being drafted. I am aware that many rumors and press statements are circulating, but please be assured that specific information regarding per-pupil funding and School Aid remains confidential and unreleased.

• Until a plan is released for review, voted on in the Senate and the House, and signed by the governor, it remains a public relations tool. There are still many strong objections across the legislature to various parts of the budget framework that the Governor and the Leader have announced. Like us, most legislators have yet to be fully briefed on what they will be asked to vote on.

• Congress did not pass a continuing resolution before the Sept. 30 deadline, and the federal government is now in shutdown.

• Education Department: The U.S. Department of Education’s contingency plan furloughs up to 95% of staff outside of student aid. Critical payments, such as Title I and IDEA, are still scheduled to be made (since they are forward- or advance-funded), but new grants and civil rights investigations are currently paused.

• Child Nutrition Programs: USDA has contingency funds to support the national school breakfast and lunch programs in the short term, but extended shutdowns pose risks if those funds run out.

• Other federal programs, such as Head Start and Pell Grants, along with other aid streams that have multi-year or mandatory funding, are expected to continue in the short term. Impact Aid districts might experience effects sooner.

• If the shutdown stretches beyond a month, disruptions to child nutrition, Head Start, and grant disbursements could escalate.