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* Press release…
Governor Bruce Rauner toured Lyons Township High School today to advocate for fully funding education in Fiscal Year 2017. Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno and House Leader Jim Durkin introduced legislation (SB3234/HB6335) in February that would fully fund schools for the upcoming school year. By passing either of these bills, the General Assembly is ensuring schools will receive state funding and open in the fall.
“Our priority right now should be funding our schools for the upcoming school year,” Governor Rauner said. “Since day one, I have been committed to building a world-class education system in Illinois that ensures every child goes to a high-quality school and can go on to a high-paying career. Fully funding our schools is a step closer to making that a reality.”
School districts are already planning for the upcoming year and need direction from Springfield on how much funding they will receive from the state. SB3234/HB6335 ends proration - which benefits every district in the state - fully funds schools for the first time in seven years, and sends a record level of state aid to districts across the state.
“We need to give parents, teachers and school districts the confidence to plan for and to open in September,” Leader Durkin said. “By taking care of our schools, we can build on the bipartisan momentum in Springfield to pass a budget alongside reforms that fund social services, government services and public safety.”
Governor Rauner and the Republican Leaders reiterated they are committed to reforming the current school funding formula. They agree a new formula should send more money to low-income and rural schools without taking resources away from other districts and pitting communities against each other.
“By fully funding schools we are showing the students that they come first,” Leader Radogno said. “School funding is a complicated and emotional issue because of its implications for districts across the state. With funding for the upcoming school year secured, we can continue to work on finding a fair and bipartisan school funding formula.”
* But some folks are starting to catch on to this game. From a Pantagraph editorial…
While many Illinois school districts would welcome additional money from the state, there’s a question whether it’s wise to continue to throw more money into a system that is seriously flawed.
That appears to be what Gov. Bruce Rauner and Republicans in the General Assembly want to do.
The current system is grossly unfair, with rich districts spending up to $30,000 per student and poorer districts getting by on as little as $6,000 per student. The result is students from low-income areas, which several studies have shown need more help in order to succeed, receive the least amount of help. The current system undoubtedly places more value on some students than others.
Rauner threw cold water on the latest bill from Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, claiming it was a bailout for the Chicago public schools. Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington, joined the well-orchestrated chorus.
The day before the scheduled vote, the Rauner administration exploited the politically-charged issue by releasing a report on which districts would gain money and which would lose. The administration has had the bill since February, so the release was obviously politically motivated. If this analysis truly took the Illinois State Board of Education two months to complete, then they need to hire better analysts.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, May 9, 16 @ 12:56 pm
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Schools don’t open…
… Governors take the heat.
Would’ve been the same for Quinn, Rod, Edgar, Thompson.
If it were me, and I was part of the Cullerton Press Shop, I’d pivot off the Pantagraph and blunt the Cullerton Mistake with this new… Twist.
“While Gov. Rauner continues to play games with the School Fund formula for his own political gain, it’s up to the Governor to show his work for a clean bill to be possible, instead of holding hostage analyses that might reflect poorly on Gov. Rauner’s own proposals.”
Or… sumptin’ like that… lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:03 pm
Can we add “alongside” to the banned word list Rich? That’s been Rauner’s current word-du-jour for his union-decimation pre-requisite to beginning to negotiate on a state budjet.
Comment by PublicServant Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:06 pm
Whoever those wizards were that performed such quick work analyzing the school formula should be put to work on the ROI of the Turnaround Agenda.
People should know what the dollar-and-cents benefits will be to all this destruction.
I kid. The governor’s peeps are well aware that they can’t even make up credible economic returns that justify all the economic destruction they’re willfully engaged in for their partisan political agenda.
If they couldda, they wouldda, long ago.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:08 pm
Dear Governor,
Could we please have a “Clean” Balanced Budget Proposal? Without a $3.5 billion plug, and Turnaround items which kick in about year 2030?
Thanks…The Public, Taxpayers and Voters
Comment by Beaner Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:10 pm
This is the ONLY leverage the GA has against Rauner. Bundle property tax reform, the tax increase to pay for, and reform of the school.formula all together … and dare Rauner to veto it.
To repeat OW, Governor’s Own. Rauner’s increased school funding and property tax relief; give it to him. Make him own it if he vetos it.
Comment by RNUG Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:10 pm
Educating our young is extremely important- but so is feeding our senior citizens, caring for our mentally ill, addicted and disabled. “Our priority” needs to be getting a budget that takes all of it into consideration. Rauner needs to consider that rather than pandering to parents of school age children and wearing blinders about the rest.
Comment by Thoughts Matter Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:11 pm
Second paragraph “Rauner wants”
Comment by RNUG Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:11 pm
==“Since day one, I have been committed to building a world-class education system in Illinois that ensures every child goes to a high-quality school and can go on to a high-paying career.==
If that is what Rauner really wants, then maybe he should also be promoting passing higher ed funding ALONGSIDE K-12 funding? For most, only having a high school diploma isn’t really the path to a high paying career.
Comment by Joe M Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:11 pm
RNUG-
Dems would have to be able to pass a school funding reform bill first. Through both chambers. When that happens get back to me.
Comment by m Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:13 pm
After all, how much cleaner can you get than a bill with some turnaround reforms AND the funding to pay for it?
Comment by RNUG Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:13 pm
Maybe Herr Zigfried or whatever his name was from IDOR can come up with some fancy pants numbers to justify things. It sure killed the graduated income tax. Surely he can come up with the numbers. He’s probably a part time magician because he can certainly make numbers appear out of nowhere!
Comment by Honeybear Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:15 pm
== Dems would have to be able to pass a school funding reform bill first. Through both chambers. ==
Never going to get a better chance than now …
Comment by RNUG Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:15 pm
===Dems would have to be able to pass a school funding reform bill first. Through both chambers. When that happens get back to me.===
Only a structured roll call and clean signature will all any school reform to happen.
Please choose, ya willfully ignorant or blissfully unaware?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:16 pm
“Our priority right now should be funding our schools for the upcoming school year,” Governor Rauner said.
What about that whole Annual Budget thingy?
Comment by Gruntled University Employee Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:18 pm
RNUG 1:10 +1
Comment by burbanite Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:19 pm
===Never going to get a better chance than now …===
Agreed, but won’t that need the assurances of 71 and 36, and Rauner willing to own his Veto?
I’m with you - RNUG -, send Rauner K-12, as best can be for the GA to pass it, have Rauner Veto and own the consequences. That’s one card to play yet.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:19 pm
If things were moving along swimmingly in the working groups, this kind of announcement wouldn’t be helpful/necessary. Just sayin.’
Comment by Conn Smythe Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:20 pm
== What about that whole Annual Budget thingy? ==
Almost nobody cares about a complete annual budget.
Almost everybody cares if schools are going to be open.
Comment by RNUG Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:21 pm
===What about that whole Annual Budget thingy?===
Representative?
@RonSandack: I’m frustrated 2, but taking steps towards reforming IL more important than short term budget stalemate. - Ron Sandack, 9/28/15
So, there’s that…
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:21 pm
Rauner has the upper hand on education this year and will probably get what he wants for the most part. There’s just no way the GA lets the schools shutdown on an election year. After all, it’s not Rauner who’s up for reelection this year.
As they say: “Timing is everything.”
If revamping the school funding formula is still an issue in two years, then it will be interesting to watch the tables turn.
Comment by Chicago_Downstater Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:23 pm
Only that Rauner is gonna get cleaned is his clock in November. Republicans will be blown out across the board, and then Madigan will control a true veto proof majority. Rauner is going to go down as the worst governor in the history of Illinois, and that is truly an achievement considering the competition.
Comment by Saluki Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:23 pm
===There’s just no way the GA lets the schools shutdown on an election year. After all, it’s not Rauner who’s up for reelection this year.===
Lots of Raunerites up for election this year too.
Lots.
Including proxy Rauner candidates.
Governors own, that’s why Rauner, in a non-election year last time signed the K-12 Approp after requiring the GOP GA be “Red” during votes…
What else ya got?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:26 pm
=“Since day one, I have been committed to building a world-class education system in Illinois that ensures every child goes to a high-quality school and can go on to a high-paying career.”=
This guy should run a manure farm because he sure knows how to shovel it.
Comment by MSIX Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:28 pm
==Almost nobody cares about a complete annual budget.
Almost everybody cares if schools are going to be open.==
Therein lies the problem.
Comment by Gruntled University Employee Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:34 pm
===Almost nobody cares about a complete annual budget.
Almost everybody cares if schools are going to be open.====
“Meep-Meep!”
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:39 pm
How did Durkin and Radogno vote on the K-12 last year?
Got it.
Thanks muchly.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:40 pm
Let’s face it, school financing in this state has always been a mess if one’s goal is to provide equalized financing. Furthermore, I do not believe that it is a goal that can or even should be achieved. There should be the right to communities to provide more money if they can and wish to do so. To say that there must be the same amount of money spent per student in each and every community is a total disregard for individual communities and is very similar to a statism.
However, can the state come up with a number that is reasonable for education for each student and that that be the base standard with that dollar amount guaranteed by the state? Those communities which can and want to tax more for their schools would be free to do so.
The problem is determining this base amount and having the state provide the funds to do so. Presently the school formula is so complicated that it is virtually unexplainable to anyone except a few experts who have to deal with it.
It is also an issue that a base dollar amount for each student, to be provided by the state, could be a budget buster.
In the end all of present back and forth seems like the ongoing smoke and mirrors discussion that has been going on for decades.
Comment by Federalist Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:40 pm
Holding K-12 funding captive is playing with fire for any politician. Those parents vote, stay active, and will be aware of anyone esponsible for any delay in schools opening.
But if you want to take money from their child’s school district and then delay the opening of schools in the fall so you can take that money away?
The blowback in November would obliterate anyone.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:43 pm
- FKA -
We could very well see a repeat of K-12 of last time, forcing Rauner to make Raunerites in the GA to be “Red”, then Rauner will sign it anyway.
That coujd play out again. Dunno if that WILL roll that way, but Democrats could very well push the issue by repeating the last K-12 Approp and make decisions tough on the Raunerites and Rauner.
Crazy, I know.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:48 pm
== It is also an issue that a base dollar amount for each student, to be provided by the state, could be a budget buster. ==
Change “could” to “WOULD” … THAT is the problem, hence the need for more revenue, bth to support the bad rate AND provide the desired property tax relief.
Comment by RNUG Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:52 pm
“… both to support the base rate …”
Comment by RNUG Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:56 pm
Rich the Pantagraph editorial board is confused if they believe that Sen Manar’s SB 231 will prevent “rich districts spending up to $30,000 per student.” It might however raise the floor for those property value poor districts with low income students that spend “as little as $6,000 per student.” There is nothing in the Manar bill that would prevent the most wealthy districts in Illinois from taxing themselves and increasing their per student expenditures.
Butler School District 53 is one of the more wealthy districts in our state and 91.6% of its revenues come from property taxes, and only 3.3% from the state inclusive of special education funding. All that SB 231 can do is take away that 3.3% and allocate it to other districts. Clearly the Oak Brook residents of District 53 can and likely would easily replace the approximate $356,400 taken away to keep their children’s relative advantage over children in other districts.
The Panhandle Community Unit School District #2 in Senator Manar’s district generates only 45.5% from its own property taxes, and 45.2% from the state, can get more money from SB 231 but it still will not be in the game with Butler School District 53 in terms of per student spending. Panhandle Community Unit School District #2 had instruction spending according to ISBE of $4,995 per student in 2015 whereas Butler School District 53 had an instruction spending of $10,080 per student. The Pantagraph editorial board and Sen Manar are to use Joe Biden’s phrase giving out a bunch of malarkey when they try to make it sound like they are fixing the per student expenditure discrepancies in Illinois with SB 231. The root of the problem lies in our state’s dependency on property taxes to fund schools, and with that system Butler School District 53 will come out ahead. That issue is not being addressed either by the Governor or Senator Manar.
Comment by Rod Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:59 pm
“Those communities which can and want to tax more for their schools would be free to do so.”
One of Rauner’s Turnaround is to freeze all local property taxes. Therefore, the communities can not raise their taxes to support their schools, etc..
Comment by Mama Monday, May 9, 16 @ 2:03 pm
These bills are so clean, they’ve been scoured-
Section 15. The amount of $0, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Public School Teachers’ Pension and Retirement Fund of Chicago for the state’s contribution for retirement contributions under Section 17-127 of the Illinois Pension Code for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2016.
Section 20. The amount of $0, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Education Assistance Fund to the Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Illinois for deposit into the Teacher Health Insurance Security Fund as the state’s contribution for teachers’ health insurance.
Comment by Anon221 Monday, May 9, 16 @ 2:06 pm
==Republicans will be blown out across the board, and then Madigan will control a true veto proof majority.==
I thought so as well at first. But is Madigan going to use that veto proof majority to override a Rauner veto and raise taxes again by himself? On a party line vote?
Respectfully, I do not see Madigan doing so. We could still be stuck at the point of no progress without mutual compromise.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, May 9, 16 @ 2:08 pm
Last time I looked business likes an educated populace with which to hire from. And Republicans have traditionally supported labor unions.
Comment by Chris Hillard Monday, May 9, 16 @ 2:09 pm
===Republicans have traditionally supported labor unions.===
Not all Republicans and not all unions. Republicans have moved away from Labor, but Rauner, isn’t a Republican, but a Raunerite, so all Lobor support under a Republican banner IS moot.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 9, 16 @ 2:12 pm
3 weeks of session to go and Rauner has already shifted to blaming the democrats for its failure. Not good.
Comment by out of touch Monday, May 9, 16 @ 2:24 pm
The K-12 funding bill is the biggest leverage the Democrats have and the Governor knows it. How about just blaming Madigan if the schools don’t open on time. Given the Governor’s demands I don’t think he’s real confident of that, especially given his dropping poll numbers. After declaring war on the Democrats, does Rauner expect that clean bill without any strings attached?
Comment by The Dude Abides Monday, May 9, 16 @ 2:25 pm
Rauner is good at demanding. Working with folks on a solution is not his forte.
Comment by Norseman Monday, May 9, 16 @ 2:27 pm
Imagine if over the past 25 plus years, the minimum Gaming tax had been 50%, rather than having the $200 million point where that rate is applied. Only the Des Plaines Casino pays the top rate. There would have billions more into the Common School Fund.
Comment by Beaner Monday, May 9, 16 @ 2:32 pm
Guv sez: ==“Since day one, I have been committed to building a world-class education system in Illinois that ensures every child goes to a high-quality school and can go on to a high-paying career.==
…even as he starves the universities and strives to turn Illinois into a low-wage state. You people make too much money, the billionaire states over and over.
Comment by IllinoisBoi Monday, May 9, 16 @ 2:32 pm
To really put the needs of children first, Illinois lawmakers have to admit that children’s needs extend to the hours before and after the school bell rings. Then they have to put funding those needs ahead of non-budget related policy agendas.
Children don’t thrive in silos. They thrive in the context of healthy families and communities.
Without a full budget that addresses the needs of the whole child (which includes their families and their communities), the investment in K-12 education will never yield its maximum return.
Comment by Emily Miller Monday, May 9, 16 @ 2:34 pm
Cleanly fund education k-16. Paying for teachers and college personnel are part of educational expenses. The cost of the state share of medical insurance for TRS and SURS is also part of the cost of education. Fully and cleanly fund all education, including higher education!
Comment by DuPage Monday, May 9, 16 @ 2:35 pm
Rich it used to be my job back in the day to run those ISBE models. To run the school funding formula model properly and quickly: you must have staff on board and already trained to run it and tweek it, you must have the model already built in software. Back then the model was in an obscure programming language, it required input data tables from other agencies like Revenue and also federal datasets like the Tiger files (US Census) and county and local data. Once all the current data sets are in and updated, then you can more quickly run the model to look at printouts of hypothetical scenerios (legis changes). Alot of those newest datasets may not have been available yet in Feb. So cut them a break man. To even run that model they have to be quality analysts. Smart people. Don’t blame ISBE staff without actual knowledge of the timing delays and reasons.
Comment by Team Warwick Monday, May 9, 16 @ 2:49 pm
You people make too much money, the billionaire states over and over.
THIS.
Comment by Cheryl44 Monday, May 9, 16 @ 3:08 pm
Words, Words and More Words. Hypocrisy and even more pandering. Yet not a word about Higher Education! Much less fully funding the Social Services Agencies.
Priorities and Choices! We have been seeing this charade far too long - yet some in this State still buy into this pompous self serving rhetoric.
Comment by illini Monday, May 9, 16 @ 3:16 pm
But you’re missing the BIG story!
The Pantagraph editorial actually said something negative about Bruce Rauner! To this point, reading the Bloomington/Decatur editorial page would make you think that he was Bruce Almighty.
Comment by Mister Whipple Monday, May 9, 16 @ 3:18 pm
Nobody talks about how much financial support students really need. $6000? $30,000? Private schools in East Central Illinois do well on a tuition of $6000 per student, without state support.
Comment by OldIllini Monday, May 9, 16 @ 3:20 pm
===Private schools in East Central Illinois do well on a tuition of $6000 per student, without state support.===
Define “well”.
Thanks,
OW
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 9, 16 @ 3:25 pm
@ Oswego Willy
First, I’ve read a lot of your posts over the years and you seem like a knowledgeable political tactician.
You are right there are a lot of Raunerites in the GA that Dems could hold to the fire. And after Rauner’s double-cross last year there might be a lot of Raunerites more than happy to vote with the Dems on Education. I would love to see that move come back to bite Rauner.
However, I still think Rauner has the upper-hand here. He would love to retain his GA backbone, but I wonder how many of the Raunerites come from the Suburban Districts that would take a financial hit on Manar’s bill? I haven’t looked closely enough at that admittedly. If there’s more than a few, then closing schools hurts them less than losing money I would guess.
Also, I would suggest that Rauner would probably be willing to sacrifice a few of his GA pawns in order for the Dems to take the huge losses that closing schools right before an election would probably net them. He’d probably message it has a huge win that demonstrated “the people’s” continued support of his agenda.
On the other hand, what would the GA get by closing the schools? Yes, if Rauner blinked, then they could get a lot. And Rauner has blinked in the past; that’s for sure. I just wouldn’t bet on Rauner blinking before Cullerton in a GA election year is all.
Then again Cullerton has been unusually pit-bullish about Education this year. Maybe that’s a sign that Rauner will cave first. I guess we’ll see.
Comment by Chicago_Downstater Monday, May 9, 16 @ 3:27 pm
- Chicago_Downstater -
First, thank you for your kind words.
Yes, we will see.
The Dems will run an Education Approp that will be a heavy lift for all, and try to get it to Rauner’s desk.
That’s really it. That’s the ball game.
Members are “Red”, Rauner signs… Ugh.
Members are “Green”, Rauner removes Higher Ed and MAP. Rauner owns those choices, Members - Ugh.
Members are “Red”, Rauner vetoes everything. Rauner owns the mess, all Education falls on Raunerites and Rauner. Ugh.
Instead of the “Scooby-Doo” ending, the Road Rauner will have to find one more trick to “Meep-Meep!” his way out of this.
“Fun!”
We will see.
With respect.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 9, 16 @ 3:35 pm
And remember - Chicago_Downstater -…
It wasn’t an accident, Rauner, with no election in the offing, signed the K-12 Approp.
Rauner did it because Governors own, not Rauner owns. Same as it ever was, same as it will be here too.
With respect.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 9, 16 @ 3:38 pm
Lyons Township High School might be the worst school in the state for a governor to visit while a debate is raging about education funding. If I’m not mistaken, I believe LT has more money in cash reserves than any district in the state — and if they’re not at the top, they’re close to it.
It’s a great school, but it illustrates what’s wrong with our property tax-dependent funding system. Well-off communities with high property values like LaGrange literally have more cash than they can handle. Harvey and Cairo? Time for another bake sale.
Comment by Anon414 Monday, May 9, 16 @ 4:10 pm
What is it they say about crisis? Oh, it creates leverage. Much like any weapon, leverage isn’t good or bad on its own, just depends on how you choose to use it. Lots of leverage to be had by many with budget, election and school pressures. Hopefully one of them will step up and do the right things.
Comment by Earnest Monday, May 9, 16 @ 4:34 pm
“I have been committed to building a world-class education system in Illinois that ensures every child goes to a high-quality school and can go on to a high-paying career.”
Brought to you by Charter Schools of America and University of Phoenix. /s
Comment by Huh? Monday, May 9, 16 @ 5:19 pm
“new formula should send more money to low-income”
The only way to do this is via Property taxes.
Comment by Mama Monday, May 9, 16 @ 8:09 pm
==- Joe M - Monday, May 9, 16 @ 1:11 pm: ==
Bingo!
Comment by Mama Monday, May 9, 16 @ 8:10 pm
==- Emily Miller - Monday, May 9, 16 @ 2:34 pm: ==
Emily, you are 100% right, you have to treat the whole child and not just one portion (Educ.).
Comment by Mama Monday, May 9, 16 @ 8:23 pm
–How did Durkin and Radogno vote on the K-12 last year?–
That was the nastiest, un-lubricated rodgering I’ve ever seen a “leader” inflict on his “allies.” Every single one of them, too, including Sam McCann.
Then, a few months later, to bring it back up again, Rauner said his “greatest accomplishment” during his first year was the til-then routine signing of a K-12 approp. bill — the one he made all his peeps vote against.
As I recall, Rich reported that he gave his crew 30 minutes notice before signing the approp.
No word yet whether they got dinner, a movie, or at least a mint, afterwards.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 9, 16 @ 8:37 pm
Rauner demand…. really?
Sounds more like the tables are turned on him as his school funding proposal underfunds some of Illinois most neediest communities.
Rauner brings just more bad news to Republicans for the November election.
Bye Bye!
Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 9, 16 @ 10:27 pm
If you give the Governor any K-12 escape before a signed budget agreement for Fy 16 and 17 you deserve to get shellacked….
Comment by Mouthy Monday, May 9, 16 @ 10:27 pm