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MARYVILLE

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News Brief

July 28, 2025 |  By: Gavin McGough

Federal money that has been held back is being released to schools

American flag with Education spelled out.

Federal money for schools held back by the Trump Administration is being released to the relief of local districts.

Last month, roughly nine billion dollars in funding for schools across the country was abruptly cut off and put under review. Schools in our region were left with big gaps. St Joseph schools were down over a million dollars.

Following pressure from Republican Senators, the Trump Administration announced last week it would release the majority of the missing funds.

Phil Pohren, Interim Superintendant of Maryville Schools, said the funds support a number of district programs.

"So those dollars, critical to us, supported some technology things, helped our English language learners and some professional development.", says Pohren. 

It appears the money will now make its way to the districts. Other programs which can now resume include teacher training and recruitment efforts. One such program in Maryville is 'Called Grow Your Own.'

"Tremendous program, about a ten-thousand dollar granted program that looks at students in the Maryville R2 district that want to be teachers. We start them at the Junior and Senior level in high school intergrating into the classrooms around the district and doing teacher-type things. It's a way to get them going early in their careers as early as high school.", says Pohren. 

It is unclear if these programs will be funded in future federal budgets. Current budget proposals from the administration do not have money allocated for many of the initiatives. But the release of at least this year's funds is good news for local schools and students.