Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

* UPDATED x1 * ISBE warns Rauner veto could cause “disruption and confusion for all 852 school districts”

Posted in:

Illinois
Updated Posts

* Illinois State Board of Education press release…

ISBE is committed to advocating for the best education system for Illinois to serve districts most in need. Last year the General Assembly passed landmark legislation that changed the way in which schools are funded in Illinois. While the State Board was working to implement PA 100-465 as passed by the General Assembly, it was discovered that the adequacy targets of 178 school districts would unfairly include local resources that those districts are not able to access – to the sum of $37.8 million. According to the sponsors of the initial legislation, this was not the intent of the legislature. To correct this large drafting error, the State Board requested the changes included in SB 444 (Manar/Davis) and requested that the Governor sign the bill that was approved by the General Assembly as soon as possible. On the last possible day, the Governor issued an amendatory veto to SB 444 which has caused a disruption for the agency as it continues preparations for tier funding distribution as quickly as possible. If PA 100-465 is not changed in accordance with SB 444, there will be further disruption and confusion for all 852 school districts.

The new Evidence-Based Funding formula creates a distribution system where each district’s state allocation is directly related to and dependent upon the needs of all 852 school districts. If the changes included in SB 444 are not enacted, 178 school districts will see a reduction in funding based on their inability to access local resources. The State Board is continuing to gather and clean data needed to distribute tier funding as we wait for the General Assembly to act on this amendatory veto. Time is of the essence to ensure that what districts receive from the state this year is equitable and fair.

* From the governor’s office earlier this week…

“We believe it is unfair for critics to say that this amendatory veto will delay implementation of SB 1947,” she said via email. “The Illinois State Board of Education continues to work on the new funding formula, and tier funding is still several months from being sent out.”

Sounds to me like the ISBE isn’t exactly on board with that thinking.

*** UPDATE *** Biss campaign…

Today, Daniel Biss released the following statement after the Illinois State Board of Education criticized Bruce Rauner for his amendatory veto of SB 444, the bill to fix errors in SB 1947, and for creating disruption for the agency and all 852 school districts.

“After jeopardizing public school funding by vetoing SB1 and then diverting tax dollars to private schools through a last-minute voucher program, Rauner is only adding to the confusion now by refusing to fix major drafting errors in the bill. Our students and teachers are again left to wonder if their schools will receive funding—and if Rauner cares at all.”

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 11:10 am

Comments

Looks like ISBE is about to have an effin problem.

Comment by PublicServant Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 11:13 am
===On the last possible day, the Governor issued an amendatory veto to SB 444 which has caused a disruption for the agency===

Yes, not on board at all and pointing fingers to boot. Lol.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 11:16 am
ISBE apparently doesn’t like being thrown under the bus by BTIA(TM).

Maybe should have checked with them first.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 11:17 am
As has been his history, I expect Rauner to have misplayed this issue.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 11:25 am
the headline for the mailers say “Rauner Veto for Private Schools reduces funding for 178 Districts Statewide”. Targeted mailing in those 178 districts and juxtapose that against those schools that are “left out” (which exist primarily in Chicago it appears) and you have a potent regional charged attack for downstate and suburban voters. Are you taking note Jeanne Ives? Leave the (inaccurate) anti-union conspiracy screeds alone and focus on demonstrable, verifiable consequences of his actions.

Comment by Undiscovered country Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 11:27 am
Rauner’s just stayin’ true to his playbook-

“Crisis creates opportunity. Crisis creates leverage to change. And we’ve got to use that leverage of the crisis to force structural change.” April 6, 2015

This isn’t the first time he’s pulled a stunt like this, we just don’t get the benefit of a Tweet “alert” like another “politician” does at the Federal level.

Comment by Anon221 Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 11:28 am
==As has been his history, I expect Rauner to have misplayed this issue. ==

Just wait until his amendatory veto is approved, and some school gets a scholarship or two because it is “registered” with the ISBE (the amendatory veto’s standard) but it turns out that it doesn’t qualify for “recognition” by the ISBE (the current standard) because it does not meet the requirements for recognition of Section 2-3.25o of the School Code.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 11:38 am
#BestTeamInAmerica

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 11:45 am
Why Rauner’s people would say that the veto wouldn’t delay implementation of 100-465 is beyond logic. 444 fixes a problem that would deny funding to 178 schools.

BTIA all day, every day.

Comment by JS Mill Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 11:50 am
=== Just wait until his amendatory veto is approved … ===

We’ll see. Don’t bet your firstborn on it.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 11:54 am
====== Just wait until his amendatory veto is approved===

Rauner vetoed his cornerstone legislative trailer bill… and you think it should be an easy-peasy task?

“We’ll see”…

What honesty and goodwill will Rauner use to secure it?

Keep in mind, it’s Rauner’s AV that will halt monies to schools, that’s on Rauner.

It’s now a different kind of bailout… for Rauner to save face.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 11:58 am
I love the smell of disruption and confusion in the morning . . . smells like . . . victory.

Lt. Colonel Bruce Kilgore.

Comment by Henry Francis Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 12:05 pm
Looks like ISBE does not want to be GovJunk bagman on this one.
The AV will work like this. Suppose the Bank of CaptFax decides to open CaptFax Academy so their investors can snag some tax breaks and scholarships. Now privates must be recognized — that means real. GovJunk now just wants the cash to flow to “schools” that are only registered at ISBE. CaptFax Academy can be a one desk deal in the lake front garage. In rolls more cash.

Comment by Annonin' Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 12:12 pm
My hunch is that the BTIA, like in other situations, really didn’t understand all the implications of doing the AV. ISBE has to move forward as though those 178 school districts will get less money because, right now, there is no law that tells them otherwise and there is real doubt as to whether there will be.

Aside from lying a lot and not caring very much about, oh, people, they are just really bad at their jobs.

Comment by Montrose Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 12:16 pm
Good ole Bruce, screwing with school funding yet again. This type of “act before he thinks” mistake has occurred repeatedly for 3 years now, and he and is people arent going to stop making them just because this is an election year.

But please, tell me more about how the blago commercial is going to allow this moron to get re-elected.

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 12:25 pm
I looked for the ISBE press release and couldn’t find it on the ISBE Press Release web page. Has it been taken down?

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 12:34 pm
=== Has it been taken down? ===

It was never there.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 12:40 pm
Good for Tony Smith. He was bait-and-switched by Rauner when he took the job. He’s responded by keeping his nose down and building respect locally. But funding reform was his top priority and this move by Rauner deserves public rebuke. Dr. Smith and ISBE are in the best position to deliver that rebuke.

Comment by Lurker Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 12:44 pm
=Rauner vetoed his cornerstone legislative trailer bill… and you think it should be an easy-peasy task?
“We’ll see”… =

There’s still a new formula in place. If Chicago is one of the 178, the repercussions are big dollars. You either need to override, accept or get a new “clean” bill signed into law asap to get the money flowing. The quickest route is to override or accept, and accept will likely be the easiest to get the votes, as you would say, 60 and 30.

Comment by m Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 12:56 pm
===There’s still a new formula in place. If Chicago is one of the 178, the repercussions are big dollars. You either need to override, accept or get a new “clean” bill signed into law asap to get the money flowing.===

Why?

It’s Rauner’s AV that stopped the flowing money.

Only a governor can AV.

Finding 60 and 30 or 71 and 36… why help the governor?

Choices. Rauner made a choice to hurt others… again.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 1:00 pm
=Finding 60 and 30 or 71 and 36… why help the governor?=

The formula still functions without the trailer. The money for the 178 doesn’t disappear, it gets distributed differently. Who wins who loses?

If you think Democrats will let Chicago miss out on their new money, then you haven’t been paying attention.

Comment by m Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 1:23 pm
===If you think Democrats will let Chicago miss out on their new money, then you haven’t been paying attention.===

lol

I am paying attention.

“Rauner veto could cause ‘disruption and confusion for all 852 school districts’”

That’s the headline.

Why help the governor, he caused this? lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 1:27 pm
=Why help the governor, he caused this? lol=

This isn’t that complicated. Not getting the trailer into law is akin to changing the new formula. Everyone still gets tier funding, but the distribution changes.

You can bet the leaders know how the distribution would change.

I would reiterate: they won’t let Chicago miss out on the new money.

Comment by m Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 1:49 pm
The Senate does not return until January 30. May not be until mid-February until this is resolved by both chambers. Then, it will still take some time until ISBE finishes doing the math. School districts may not see the new cash until the school year is nearly over.

Sigh.

Comment by Dance Band on the Titanic Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 2:33 pm
Why is ISBE waiting for the law to change instead of following current law?

Comment by Left foot Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 3:05 pm
Dance- I think the 15 day decision clock for the ILGA has already started with the AV. The Senate and House nay need to reconvene sooner rather than later to effect an override.

http://ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con4.htm

Comment by Anon221 Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 3:09 pm
=== I think the 15 day decision clock===

You think wrong.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 3:16 pm
Anon221, the 15 day deadline doesn’t start until the message is read into the record of the originating chamber.

(c) The house to which a bill is returned shall immediately enter the Governor’s objections upon its journal. If within 15 calendar days after such entry that house by a record vote of three-fifths of the members elected passes the
bill, it shall be delivered immediately to the second house. If within 15 calendar days after such delivery the second house by a record vote of three-fifths of the members elected passes the bill, it shall become law.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 3:21 pm