LARGO, Fla. (WLFA) — The Pinellas County School Board is not shying away from the impact frozen federal funds will have on the district. More than a thousand people tuned in to the open forum the school board hosted to inform the community on what’s happening.

Leaders spoke to a room of parents and concerned community members and told them they are on the same page when it comes to frozen federal dollars.

“Our school board unanimously supported hosting this forum tonight,” said Laura Hine, the School Board Chair. “And also support unanimously the unfreezing of these funds.”

Programs to enhance the middle school experience, increase professional learning for teacher retention, and enrichment in the arts are all at risk. Parents said they hate to see what’s happening but came to the forum to get more clarity.

“I’m angry because that would be taken away, why make the kids suffer and struggle?” said Brittnie Blunt, a mother of two.

Superintendent Kevin Hendrick said they’ve reallocated $4 million to help with the loss but said the $9 million frozen by the federal government still hangs over their heads.

“You can read, I can read, we can all surmise that perhaps these funds might be repurposed to some other reason. We don’t know,” said Hendrick.

The U.S. Department of Education said it is ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the president’s priorities. Board members said they wrote letters to elected leaders on the state and federal levels.

Two letters from State Representatives Kathy Castor and Anna Paulina Luna show the release of the funds is seeing bipartisan support. The board said no employees will lose their jobs, but positions will change, and salaries will be impacted.

“I’m not going to cry, this is heartbreaking,” said a board member.

Parents said it feels like students, their kids, are being knocked down.

“The innocent children shouldn’t be having all their programs that they benefit from be taken away. And it seems like almost their education is going to be taken away,” said Blunt.

The board is encouraging community members to contribute creative ways to fill the gaps left by the funding freeze. They ask people to sign up to volunteer at schools, and mentor students. If any community members know of businesses willing to donate toward the Pinellas Education Fund, the board said the money will support the programs they’ll lose funding for.

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