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Another education funding snafu

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Illinois

State legislators on Wednesday overrode Gov. Bruce Rauner’s amendatory veto of Senate Bill 444, a trailer bill to the state’s new evidence-based funding formula that passed last year. But school districts awaiting new state equity funding will still have to wait to get those dollars, according to one bill sponsor. […]

SB 444 included a couple tweaks to the funding formula, like modifications to school districts’ equalized assessed value and property tax levies. But the Illinois State Board of Education has since identified about two dozen other technical discrepancies that need fixing in the funding formula bill, according to spokeswoman Jackie Matthews. She said SB 444 becoming law will address some of the larger issues, but another trailer bill will likely still be necessary to iron out the rest.

State Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, said he sees the list of discrepancies as a delay tactic by the governor.

“To produce a list that is as substantial as this is stunning to me,” he said. “So we are no closer to starting the march toward equity then we were five months ago when Gov. Rauner signed the bill into law.”

“For the near future, what appears to be several weeks, if not months, schools should expect continued delay,” he added.

* Public Radio…

In an email, ISBE communications director Jackie Matthews characterized the 23 items as “discrepancies between legislative intent and the language codified in” the bill. She said the items were identified by staff and by stakeholders who participated in community meetings and webinars hosted by ISBE over the past several months. Matthews wrote that ISBE is on schedule to submit vouchers for this new money to the comptroller in April.

Manar — chief sponsor of the reform legislation — is skeptical.

“I have no belief today that that’s going to be their final list of what they refer to as ‘tweaks,’” he says. “I want to know when they’re going to be done.”

Asked if he’s suggesting some sort of malfeasance, Manar said “not quite, but close.”

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 4:09 pm

Comments

Where o where are Mr. Barickman and Ms. Bourne?

I saw today Ms. Bourne’s twitter works “again”, that’s fun.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 4:16 pm
No FY 18 MCATs and no EBM funding. That is historic alright.

People need to understand the complete scope of Rauner’s lies. He talks about funding but he isn’t doing it.

He talks tax reduction and property tax reform but he is doing everything he can to force “middle class” school districts to keep tax rates and levies high. Rauner.

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 4:24 pm
==But the Illinois State Board of Education has since identified about two dozen other technical discrepancies that need fixing in the funding formula bill==

Didn’t they help write it to begin with?

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 4:24 pm
Perfidy that harms
Our children’s educations
Infuriates me.

Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 4:32 pm
==Oswego==
Bourne and Barickman are going to lose it’ll be okay

Comment by Katniss Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 4:33 pm
===… are going to lose… ===

Really.

Who is going to beat them?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 4:38 pm
How many do-overs does ISBE get on this thing?

AA has always gotten a kick out of people outside the legislative branch opining freely on “legislative intent.”

Andy Manar is being a gentleman here.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 4:43 pm
===Andy Manar is being a gentleman here.===

Bourne and Barickman are being complicit(?)

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 4:44 pm
May 31st SB 1 passes- language sits at ISBE substantially as “written” and “intended”- NOT A WORD from ISBE, four caucus staffs, or the governor’s office regarding all of these “tweaks”….then in November’s veto session a “clean up” bill (SB444) is passed, then AV’d and then overridden. Four legislative caucus staffs, the governor’s office and a state agency couldn’t figure this out between May 1st and the end of August when the compromise language (SB1947) was passed? C’mom man!

Comment by Elliott Ness Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 4:47 pm
I get it.

It was a phony concern by Bourne and Barickman to get this done.

What’s happened since, meh, what do they care?

They just needed to pretend to be engaged to make it seem Rauner was engaged.

See, it’s on me. I shoulda realized that back when Bourne had no idea what schools in her district got compared to “Chicago” schools… I shoulda known when Barickman had his own statement walked back and rewritten…

It’s my bad.

Lesson learned.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 4:49 pm
If only ISBE had more storytellers …

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 4:55 pm
Fromthe Rauner for Gov. website:

–We’ve fully-funded education for the first time in years, increasing K-12 education funding by nearly $1 billion, and we brought early childhood education funding to historical levels. And this year, we signed a historic education reform law that provides tax credits for scholarship programs, provides more funding for school districts most in need and removes onerous state mandates to give local communities more control.–

That is, right now, all a lie. It’s February. Rauner signed the original bill last August.

Quite a railroad Rauner, BTIA(TM) and their ISBE are running here.

Malfeasance or incompetence? Incompetent malfeasance, perhaps?

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 5:00 pm
Rauner’s trying say this is one of his accomplishments, even though he got rolled, and now he’s sabotaging one of his own re-election talking points. What’s the opposite of a superstar?

Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 5:07 pm
Word - you are exactly right. No EBM funding yet, no FY 18 mandated categorical payments yet, and ISBE just announced the following “prorations” for FY18 payments (wouldn’t want to call them cuts; that’s too honest):

Final 2016-17 School Year Mandated Categorical Prorations Now Calculated

The 2016-17 school year programs reimbursed in fiscal year 2018:
• Special Education Private Facility – 90 percent
• Special Education Transportation – 91 percent
• Regular/Vocational Transportation – 84 percent

Comment by Disgusted Downstate Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 5:10 pm
=increasing K-12 education funding by nearly $1 billion=

What a load of you know what! It was an additional $350 million. And they manipulated the formula to try to run that cost down. And that $350 million is only guaranteed for two years if I remember the legislation correctly, with so many changes to the bill I may have missed something.

Again, MCAT’s are not getting to schools and neither is the EBM so they are no better off today than they were a year ago.

Bourne and Barickman ought to be embarrassed. Barickman knows/knew the financial issues facing schools especially in his district. We spent a lot of time educating him. His silence is a clear indication of what he is really about.

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 5:25 pm
Ms. Bourne is, and always has been, clueless. She will have her hands full this fall with Mr. Clark. Let’s hope the voters of the 95th remember this defining silence.

Comment by Blago's Hare Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 6:09 pm
How about a little less squawking an a little more cooperation? Rather than immediately squawking without seeing what the ISBE is talking about? I know the atmosphere in Springfield is toxic x 12 but come on now! Look at it and see if it is a problem. If so, fix it.

Sheesh!

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 6:41 pm
The legislature used to give the agencies administering the legislation adequate time and the opportunity to review/comment on proposed legislation BEFORE it was finalized. I don’t think that is happening now. Very poor policy

Comment by justacitizen Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 6:51 pm
=How about a little less squawking an a little more cooperation? Rather than immediately squawking without seeing what the ISBE is talking about? =

Maybe take your own advice. You are definitely out of your depth on this topic versus those of us working in it everyday.

The ISBE was privy to legislation and funding models be (including changes) before they became public or went to the full ILGA and then Feb 1 we here about this stuff? Please.

This is only the tip of the iceberg.I cannot wait to see what happens to Early Childhood money when those grants are approved. Care to bet on who gets a massive funding windfall?

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 6:54 pm
===Malfeasance or incompetence? Incompetent malfeasance, perhaps?===

Malfeasance, misfeasance, nonfeasance. Whatever. It is all incompetence.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 7:07 pm
–It is all incompetence. –

It’s going to be Rauner Trailer Park pretty soon.

Did they just sound out the words the first two times around, and discovered the two dozen “discrepancies” when they read it a third time for comprehension? That’s not what “third reading” means, BTIA(TM).

Seriously, Rauner started taking a victory lap on this in August. He’s put campaign spots on the air touting it, for crying out loud.

And nothing has happened.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 7:14 pm
===”The ISBE was privy to legislation and funding models be (including changes) before they became public or went to the full ILGA and then Feb 1 we here about this stuff?”===

Oh, the old ‘you should have known earlier’ argument. If the ISBE is correct and considering the tumultuous period of time the bill was enacted, you will continue to dismiss any legitimate problems that surface? Wasn’t that the point of the trailer bill to begin with?

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 7:22 pm
===Wasn’t that the point of the trailer bill to begin with?===

Why was there even a need for a trailer bill?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 7:26 pm
–Wasn’t that the point of the trailer bill to begin with? –

No, it wasn’t. These 23 “discrepancies” are new and have been there since the Rauner signed the bill in August.

The original trailer bill was something else, and Rauner’s veto was overridden yesterday by bipartisan votes.

It’s been five months, Louis, since Rauner signed the bill. How much more time do you think they need to read it carefully? Do they need someone to read it to them?

Rule of thumb: You don’t get to cut TV spots bragging about historic reform, until they’re actually done. Not if you’re honest, anyway.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 7:31 pm
Louis, the point isn’t that they should have know because they did know.

Do you really believe they had this info for 5 months and only now found issues? That is a serious indictment of the agency that the governors hand picked state supt Dr. Smith runs.

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 7:43 pm
If you voted to uphold the Governor’s veto should you stop taking credit for “reforming” education funding?

Comment by Highland IL Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 8:57 pm
@JS Mill, the legislature bears no responsibility at all? Again, if there are problems, fix them and stop squawking about it. My complaint is the squawking started before they even reviewed the new problems. They already ran through one trailer bill which “fixed” prior problems identified in that bill. Other than pointing and blaming, the toxicity in Springfield these days is breathtaking.

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Friday, Feb 2, 18 @ 5:59 am
===the legislature bears no responsibility at all? Again, if there are problems, fix them and stop squawking about it.===

Rauner’s veto set these things in motion, as the bill Rauner vetoed and those consequences are the ill-prepared Rauner not fully grasping his job.

===My complaint is the squawking started before they even reviewed the new problems.===

Why is that? Was it the veto? Was it the veto that brought more attention, and then more problems “arose”? lol

===They already ran through one trailer bill which “fixed” prior problems identified in that bill.===

This was Rauner’s crowning achievement. It “solved” so much, but even that needed a trailer bill?

Bruce Rauner is a failure, the worst Republican governor in America, 7th from the bottom in popularity of all governors and 25 points under water in polling… and Rauner’s crowning achievement was vetoed by him putting school funding in danger… what’s confusing about this - Louis G Atsaves -… this is just another Rauner governing misstep

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Feb 2, 18 @ 6:37 am
Isn’t this a form of his previous declaration that “They can’t make me spend it”?

Comment by PublicServant Friday, Feb 2, 18 @ 6:58 am
Does the Governor and his entire administration, have a thread of credibility left. How do they keep up with their own lies? Just do the funding, and do us all a favor, and shut up. No one is buying any of this nonsense. “BTIA” you really stink at your job.

Comment by Retired Educator Friday, Feb 2, 18 @ 8:32 am
Louis, you obviously have not been following this issue, at all, and are not reading or comprehending the post or the comments, at all.

Yet you have a lot to say about it. Strange choice to get your Raunerbot timecard punched.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Feb 2, 18 @ 8:41 am
*Oswego and Hare*

=Bourne definitely will lose against Clark, Barickman will still probably hold on

Comment by Raunerbot 5000 Friday, Feb 2, 18 @ 9:25 am
==the legislature bears no responsibility at all==

You should know that in the case of most legislation it is written by the subject matter experts.

== the old ‘you should have known earlier’ argument==

You are either being disingenous or you haven’t been following what has been going on.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, Feb 2, 18 @ 9:27 am
(Sigh)

===Barickman will still probably hold on===

Who Is Barickman running against? lol

====Bourne definitely will lose against Clark===

Meh. I’ve seen this movie before…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Feb 2, 18 @ 9:31 am