 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.
[to top of second column] |
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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