Wednesday, March 02, 2011
 
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Schools ask for more money from state

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[March 02, 2011]  SPRINGFIELD -- More money. That's Illinois Education Superintendent Craig Koch's message to Gov. Pat Quinn.

And while Quinn agrees that more money is needed, it's not enough, Koch said.

The governor has recommended an increase from last year's spending of $6,119 per student annually to $6,267. But Koch told a state House of Representatives committee hearing Tuesday that the Illinois State Board of Education would like to see $6,416 per student annually.

"We believe Illinois schoolchildren have waited long enough," Koch said. "It's important to increase this source of funding for schools. We respectfully request that the General Assembly and the governor please consider renewing our commitment to the students in general state aid, the foundation for school aid."

Koch said the ISBE was making this request despite growing calls for belt-tightening from the legislature.

If ISBE gets its way, it would be the first time in the past two years that schools would get a bump in the base level of general state aid. During the five years before general state aid to schools flat-lined, it increased about 7 percent annually, Koch said.

State Rep. Patricia Bellock, R-Hinsdale, asked if the increase was related to the drying up of the stream of federal stimulus dollars that had previously been applied to education funding. Linda Mitchell, ISBE's chief financial officer, answered that yes, the loss of federal funding does play into ISBE's request.

"It's that in part, but it's also based upon the fact that for the last two years there has been no increase in general state aid," Mitchell said.

Koch also told the committee that ISBE believes it is wrong for the governor to cut school transportation funding by $93 million for the next fiscal year. How can the state educate students if it can't get them to school? he asked.

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At least one committee member has firsthand experience in crafting a local school budget. State Rep. Roger Eddy also serves as superintendent of the Hutsonville school district. Eddy on Tuesday warned that the state's money woes could translate into less state aid for schools that have already trimmed millions of dollars from their budgets.

"We may face difficult decisions and not enough revenue to fund even last year's appropriation levels," the Hutsonville Republican said.

William Davis, D-Chicago, chairman of the Elementary and Secondary Appropriations Committee, said that just because Quinn put a cut in his budget doesn't mean it will become reality.

"Those of you who are looking at the governor's introduced budget and saying, 'OK, well the governor's put us in,' that's not necessarily safe, either, because this is going to be a series of negotiations," Davis added.

Tuesday's hearing was the first of several planned to look at school funding. School district consolidation also is on the calendar in the coming weeks.

[Illinois Statehouse News; By ANDREW THOMASON]

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