CARO, Michigan (WNEM) – President-elect Donald Trump said he wants to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, saying education money should go directly to states; TV5 asked one school district in Michigan what it thought about that possibility.

Caro Community Schools Superintendent George Rierson said he is aware of what could happen, but now we have to wait and see.

“It’s a concern for us,” Rierson said.

He was talking about the uncertain future of the US Department of Education.

Trump has said he wants to eliminate the federal agency and give that money directly to states, but right now, it’s unclear how that would work because Trump and the new Republican-led legislature have yet to take office.

“There are just so many places where the federal government helps us provide the services that our students need to thrive,” Rierson said.

He said federal funding in his district is used for students assisted by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, along with special education students and students who are considered at risk.

Rierson said that amounts to 222 students in the district.

“It would impact all those students. That’s about 15% of our total population. We received federal funding last year, which equaled about 10 percent of our budget,” he said.

He said STEM programs, Title IV — a program that works to improve student achievement — and teacher professional development programs all receive federal funding.

But Rierson said while there is concern, there is also calm.

“It’s something we’ll have to think about a lot if it goes forward. You know right now, it’s an idea. We don’t overreact. We don’t cut programs. We will continue to meet the needs of our students and maintain that course until we can no longer use those funds. And then we’re going to find different ways to be able to deliver those services,” Rierson said.

Trump is in the process of choosing his cabinet before taking office in January. He has not named his education secretary yet.

The US Department of Education also administers the federal student loan program.

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