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* From the Southern Illinoisan…
Early childhood education services in Williamson County’s five school districts may not be available next year unless the state releases all or most of the funds owed to the program in short order, according to Sheila James, program coordinator for the Williamson County Early Childhood Cooperative.
If the state has not released funds owed to the cooperative by Aug. 1, Pre-K will not begin in the fall, James said.
* The Rauner administration response…
Upon being informed of the concerns of the Williamson County early education cooperative, Rauner’s administration slammed Comptroller Susana Mendoza for failing to release the funds, even though there was no indication that Mendoza was holding the funds hostage.
“Unfortunately, the comptroller is putting high-quality programs at risk for closure by refusing to release these funds,” said Education Secretary Beth Purvis, in a statement provided via email. “We urge Comptroller Mendoza to prioritize the needs of young children and their families so that every child, regardless of community wealth, is given the opportunity to thrive.”
* Mendoza’s response…
[Abdon Pallasch, spokesman for Comptroller Susana Mendoza] said that in the two years Rauner has been in office, the state’s backlog of bills has doubled to more than $13 billion as he has failed “to fulfill his constitutional duty to propose a balanced budget.” As a result, payments to schools all over Illinois have been delayed despite of the full year funding increase agreed to by the General Assembly and governor. There’s simply not enough money to make all the payments on time, he said.
“Our office just released $1.2 million for Williamson school districts last week, including $270,000 for pre-K programs,” Pallasch said, noting the remainder of funds were for special education and other services. “In response to a hardship plea the cooperative sent our office, we were able to advance them a $115,000 grant last week ahead of schedule, but delays will only get worse as Gov. Rauner holds up a budget deal for his pet projects, using Illinois’ school children as political pawns.”
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, May 1, 17 @ 3:03 pm
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The Illinois State Board of Education informed the school business officials that there would be NO more categorical payments to schools this fiscal year.
Comment by winners and losers Monday, May 1, 17 @ 3:11 pm
Rauner is approaching “Trump-Level” deception here.
Please stop the games Governor. People lives are literally on the line.
Comment by Try-4-Truth Monday, May 1, 17 @ 3:12 pm
The Comptroller’s office is way to politicized with the last 2 comptroller’s in office. Your job is to pay the bills as you can with the revenue that comes in. Both Munger and Mendoza have interjected themselves into the stalemate between Rauner and the Democrats. Mendoza’s hammering at Rauner is just as annoying as Munger’s “wingman” to Rauner’s attacks on the Democrats were for 2 years. Like Rich and most others, JBT is missed everyday in this mess.
Comment by OurMagician Monday, May 1, 17 @ 3:17 pm
From the article: “Upon being informed of the concerns of the Williamson County early education cooperative, Rauner’s administration slammed Comptroller Susana Mendoza for failing to release the funds, even though there was no indication that Mendoza was holding the funds hostage.”
The last 13 words say quite a lot about Team Rauner.
Comment by Anon221 Monday, May 1, 17 @ 3:18 pm
I never thought anyone could annoy me more than Mike Madigan but Ms Mendoza has won the prize. Way past time for her to shut up and do her job. Pay the bills, pay them fairly and pay them on time. If she hasn’t got enough money then be honest and call out everyone. Back to my regular rant, we need a budget-nothing more and nothing less will do.
Comment by NeverPoliticallyCorrect Monday, May 1, 17 @ 3:20 pm
=== and pay them on time===
lol
With what money, genius?
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, May 1, 17 @ 3:23 pm
==If she hasn’t got enough money ==
What rock have you been living under? If she hasn’t got enough money? Seriously? You think she’s currently holding $11B in bills just for the heck of it?
Comment by Demoralized Monday, May 1, 17 @ 3:30 pm
So, a $250K salaried NEW position Secretary of Education is now a political mouthpiece? Superstar indeed!
Comment by Yo Monday, May 1, 17 @ 3:32 pm
I guess Dr. Purvis would have a stronger case on budgetary responsibility if Mendoza had $14, or so, billion to pay the $13 billion of bills outstanding… but… that would mean Doctor Purvis understands math.
Given her created role and pay, you’d think Doctor Purvis would know about math, like adding her job. That’s on me, my bad.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 1, 17 @ 3:34 pm
Well she had no trouble finding $32,000 for a used SUV for herself!
Comment by Lech W Monday, May 1, 17 @ 3:37 pm
==So, a $250K salaried NEW position Secretary of Education
Funny, I was wondering why the Comptroller needs a spokesperson !
Comment by T Sowell Monday, May 1, 17 @ 3:43 pm
**Mendoza’s hammering at Rauner is just as annoying as Munger’s “wingman” to Rauner’s attacks on the Democrats were for 2 years.**
Uhh… go back and read the post. Rauner hit Mendoza first, not the other way around.
Comment by JoeMaddon Monday, May 1, 17 @ 3:45 pm
Rauner’s mendacity knows no bounds. Cmon Bruce. “…even though there’s no indication the funds are being held hostage.”
Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, May 1, 17 @ 3:47 pm
Why is Mendoza seemingly the only Democrat consistently pushing back against the Rauner administration’s deceptive messaging? Why has most of the rest of the Democratic party been AWOL in the ongoing war of words these past few years, when it’s long been clear that conciliation helps nothing and is apparently seen by the frat boys as a sign of weakness? It’s just plain strange.
Comment by Crispy Monday, May 1, 17 @ 3:49 pm
=== The last 13 words say quite a lot about Team Rauner. ===
Yep. Truth is not a something they worry about.
Comment by Norseman Monday, May 1, 17 @ 3:50 pm
@LechW - very predictable. Read my comment today about the ’sweetheart leases” and Vala.
Comment by illini Monday, May 1, 17 @ 3:50 pm
Comptroller Mendoza spent $32,000 for a used SUV? Whoopee. Heartless Rauner is responsible for putting Illinois $14 BILLION In debt.
Comment by DeseDemDose Monday, May 1, 17 @ 3:52 pm
School funding or ERP?! Rauner’s Comptroller Leslie Munger made sure to pick ERP with her last minute transfer to DoIT…
Comment by Short-term memory Monday, May 1, 17 @ 3:53 pm
@Lech - 3 hours ago I said this - “If only the self righteous guardians of our states well-being would be as outraged about this scam as they were about the Comptroller buying a used SUV.”
Comment by illini Monday, May 1, 17 @ 3:59 pm
Norseman @ 3:50 == Truth is not a something they worry about.==
On the contrary, they seem absolutely fixated on avoiding it.
Comment by Whatever Monday, May 1, 17 @ 4:03 pm
== Heartless Rauner is responsible for putting Illinois $14 BILLION In debt
the flip side of that coin is MJM and his failure to negotiate !
Comment by Texas Red Monday, May 1, 17 @ 4:10 pm
What part of GRANT funding is misunderstood here? We aren’t talking about funding models - we are talking about GRANT money that was allocated to this district. If you didn’t have it, you shouldn’t have offered it to them in the first place….
Comment by KIDS FIRST Monday, May 1, 17 @ 4:19 pm
How many people live in that county?
Comment by Ron Monday, May 1, 17 @ 4:29 pm
Well, Williamson County has all of 67,000 people and FIVE school districts.
This state is toast.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 1, 17 @ 4:30 pm
How many administrators are in this 5 school districts?
Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 1, 17 @ 4:31 pm
==How many people live in that county?==
What difference does that make?
Comment by Demoralized Monday, May 1, 17 @ 4:50 pm
Instead of cursive class, Ron can go to Internet class to learn how to Google.
Comment by Norseman Monday, May 1, 17 @ 4:51 pm
— “How many administrators are in this 5 school districts?” —
And your point is…..?
Comment by illini Monday, May 1, 17 @ 4:56 pm
–“We urge Comptroller Mendoza to prioritize the needs of young children and their families….–
Why, do they have IT contracts or something? Empty warehouses and a connection to Cellini? Those guys get priority payment in the Rauner administration.
There’s no irony with this crew. They send out a ghost payroller with a pretend title to get all political and self-righteous about priorities.
There’s already a Superintendent of Education, Dr. Purvis. What is it you do at DHS to earn your $250K a year? Do you know what DHS stands for?
Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 1, 17 @ 5:01 pm
The State has tons of cash to pay bills. Not enough, no where near enough, but tons she ceased paying as she swooped the funds in December 2016 from funds that do in fact have cash in them.
Comment by sharkette Tuesday, May 2, 17 @ 5:45 am
Mendoza is a true success, not at learning her own constitutional duties or the duties of her office, but wow, talk about making it a press pop
Comment by Rico Tuesday, May 2, 17 @ 8:56 am