Post by Arch on Mar 5, 2010 11:36:14 GMT -6
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/napertalk/2080271,6_1_NA03_PAGE2COL_S1-100303.article
March 3, 2010
Have you heard the news, Naperville?
If you've picked up the newspaper, received an e-mail from your school district or simply driven around town in the last few weeks, then it should be no surprise the state is experiencing a severe education funding crisis.
With Gov. Pat Quinn proposing a state budget that calls for a 15 percent cut in education spending, school districts throughout Illinois are finding themselves in dire straits. And to make matters worse, the state is months behind paying its bills to the districts.
Consequently, many districts, including Districts 203 and 204, have become more vocal about the mess that is Springfield and the impact cuts would have their schools.
But that has left some to wonder: Are the districts publicizing? Or are they politicizing?
"The question is, where do you cross the line?" District 203 board President Mike Jaensch said. "I believe it's absolutely appropriate to point out the delays in funding."
During a recent District 203 Board of Education meeting, the board heard a presentation outlining the effects of state budget cuts on education spending. Those in attendance also heard how late the state is in paying its bills to the district: an average of 103 days. Later that week, Superintendent Mark Mitrovich sent a Talk 203 message to district residents in which he said the cumulative impact of late, unpaid and/or future cuts could total $8 million to $11 million.
He also said area representatives are aware of the situation, and that "the issues that plague this state are a direct result of the actions or lack thereof of the most senior leadership in the House and by the governor. If there is a place to focus your concerns, those offices would be a good place to start."
"If it goes no further, I think it's OK," Jaensch said of 203's actions.
The district is simply telling residents if they have concerns, they should direct them to Springfield. District officials are not telling residents what to say.
"When you start lobbying, personally, I think that crosses the line," Jaensch said. "And I don't think you'll see the district cross the line."
In District 204, board President Curt Bradshaw agrees. A couple of weeks ago every school posted on its sign how much the state owes the district: $7,834,215.
"Really the signs were designed to heighten the awareness of what's happening in Springfield," Bradshaw said.
District 204 Superintendent Kathy Birkett also recently sent a message to residents asking them to contact officials in Springfield to let them know the impact of the state budget cuts on education.
Bradshaw said "by and large," he got much more response from residents who were appreciative of the district bringing their attention to the issue than from those who were critical. There were many, he said, who were very unaware of how the state has been funding education for not only the past year, but the past decade.
In 2000 the district received almost 26 percent of its funding from the state. This year, it's 9 percent. If funding next year for the state was the same as in 2000, the district would be getting $50 million more, he said.
"That's $50 million more of a burden that's being shifted to the taxpayers," Bradshaw said.
Last week District 204 estimated it will get $12.2 million less funding next year from the state.
"Frankly, the delay we've received in funding is a secondary issue compared to what's happening next year," Bradshaw said.
But putting the amount of the state's debt on the district Web site and school signs draws attention, he said.
Now if only those in charge would start paying it.
Contact Kathy Cichon at kcichon@stmedianetwork.com.
===================================
I may be mistaken, but I thought some D204 employees were using district computers during work hours to email out to people telling them to support SPECIFIC HOUSE BILLS in the legislature...
If true, that would be politicizing... and crossing 'that line'.
March 3, 2010
Have you heard the news, Naperville?
If you've picked up the newspaper, received an e-mail from your school district or simply driven around town in the last few weeks, then it should be no surprise the state is experiencing a severe education funding crisis.
With Gov. Pat Quinn proposing a state budget that calls for a 15 percent cut in education spending, school districts throughout Illinois are finding themselves in dire straits. And to make matters worse, the state is months behind paying its bills to the districts.
Consequently, many districts, including Districts 203 and 204, have become more vocal about the mess that is Springfield and the impact cuts would have their schools.
But that has left some to wonder: Are the districts publicizing? Or are they politicizing?
"The question is, where do you cross the line?" District 203 board President Mike Jaensch said. "I believe it's absolutely appropriate to point out the delays in funding."
During a recent District 203 Board of Education meeting, the board heard a presentation outlining the effects of state budget cuts on education spending. Those in attendance also heard how late the state is in paying its bills to the district: an average of 103 days. Later that week, Superintendent Mark Mitrovich sent a Talk 203 message to district residents in which he said the cumulative impact of late, unpaid and/or future cuts could total $8 million to $11 million.
He also said area representatives are aware of the situation, and that "the issues that plague this state are a direct result of the actions or lack thereof of the most senior leadership in the House and by the governor. If there is a place to focus your concerns, those offices would be a good place to start."
"If it goes no further, I think it's OK," Jaensch said of 203's actions.
The district is simply telling residents if they have concerns, they should direct them to Springfield. District officials are not telling residents what to say.
"When you start lobbying, personally, I think that crosses the line," Jaensch said. "And I don't think you'll see the district cross the line."
In District 204, board President Curt Bradshaw agrees. A couple of weeks ago every school posted on its sign how much the state owes the district: $7,834,215.
"Really the signs were designed to heighten the awareness of what's happening in Springfield," Bradshaw said.
District 204 Superintendent Kathy Birkett also recently sent a message to residents asking them to contact officials in Springfield to let them know the impact of the state budget cuts on education.
Bradshaw said "by and large," he got much more response from residents who were appreciative of the district bringing their attention to the issue than from those who were critical. There were many, he said, who were very unaware of how the state has been funding education for not only the past year, but the past decade.
In 2000 the district received almost 26 percent of its funding from the state. This year, it's 9 percent. If funding next year for the state was the same as in 2000, the district would be getting $50 million more, he said.
"That's $50 million more of a burden that's being shifted to the taxpayers," Bradshaw said.
Last week District 204 estimated it will get $12.2 million less funding next year from the state.
"Frankly, the delay we've received in funding is a secondary issue compared to what's happening next year," Bradshaw said.
But putting the amount of the state's debt on the district Web site and school signs draws attention, he said.
Now if only those in charge would start paying it.
Contact Kathy Cichon at kcichon@stmedianetwork.com.
===================================
I may be mistaken, but I thought some D204 employees were using district computers during work hours to email out to people telling them to support SPECIFIC HOUSE BILLS in the legislature...
If true, that would be politicizing... and crossing 'that line'.