How Trump’s threatened cuts would hit Maine’s rural schools : NPR

Reading interventionist Roxanne Davis works with a first grader on forming words at Mill Stream Elementary School.

Greta Rybus for NPR

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Greta Rybus for NPR

Jonathan Moody runs a rural school district in and around Skowhegan, Maine, about 90 miles north of Portland. His office is in an old, converted farmhouse; the conference room was once a chicken coop.

“I drive 30 minutes to work and I have no stoplight,” Moody says with a chuckle.

Moody grew up going to rural schools nearby, and now he’s dedicated his career to leading them. But the rurality of his district, MSAD 54, coupled with high poverty, has made school funding “a tremendous challenge,” Moody says.

Because of that, his schools rely heavily on federal dollars: Seventy-four of the district’s staff positions are funded by federal grants, and federal money helps pay for free school meals, special education, mental health services and a robust after-school program, among other things

Moody says federal funds help educate “our most needy students. They’re the backbone of our [academic] intervention system. “They assist students in catching up with the pace.” This level of funding for schools has never been seen before in history. She assists a student in tying their shoe in the library of Mill Stream Elementary School. Barbara Welch, a former classroom teacher, now focuses on coaching other teachers and tracking the effectiveness of their interventions. She strategically directs Title I services towards the youngest students, particularly those in kindergarten through second grade. Her position, fully funded by Title I, involves working with students in classrooms and supporting teachers. Her position is fully supported by a federal grant known as Title I. Moody asks, “What are you going to do if this is cut, or that is cut?” School mental health services are similarly at risk in Maine and across the country. According to Catharine Biddle, who studies rural education at the University of Maine, families in the state often face long waitlists for private mental health services for their children. Trained school clinicians can often address students’ needs faster and at no cost to families.

The federal government provided grant money to schools for mental health services through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, allowing MSAD 54 to hire three licensed counselors, including Jordan Chighali. Chighali has observed an increase in anxiety, depression, and parental struggles with substance use among her students. Many students rely on mental health support at school as their only option, and they report that it helps them perform better academically.

Despite the positive impact of these services, the administration announced a $1 billion cut in mental health grants for schools, affecting MSAD 54’s funding. The funds are set to run out a year and a half earlier than planned, leaving Chighali disappointed and concerned for the well-being of the students. In difficult circumstances, students like Barbara Welch find comfort and support from school staff like Chighali, who are dedicated to their students’ mental health and well-being.