As we enter the last holiday weekend of the school year, lawmakers in Springfield are poised to either address our school funding crisis or adjourn for the summer leaving Chicago's public school students in the lurch.
We need a state school funding solution that does not unfairly burden Chicago taxpayers and, in particular, the property owners in our Ward.
CPS faces a $935 million dollar budget deficit that will result in harsh programming and staff cuts. In the 43rd Ward, we give generously to our schools. But the funding inequities exceed the ability of individual parents. And, more importantly, fundraising should be for enrichment, not basic needs.
You may be
reading in the papers that the Illinois House passed a budget that would provide CPS with an additional $400-500 million. While that is, as Mayor Emanuel has just stated, a "welcome first step," Governor Rauner has said he will veto it.
There is a reasonable solution at hand. An overhaul of the state school funding formula has passed the Illinois Senate to change Illinois' funding formula so districts with high concentrations of low- income children would receive a greater amount of money. The bill would fairly contribute to CPS pensions.
CPS CEO Forrest Claypool and hundreds of parents, administrators, and teachers
are in Springfield today pressing for change. I hope you will take a minute to stand up for our public schools by reaching out to your legislators. Click
here to email or tweet your legislators and Governor Rauner. Email the governor
here. Tell them - don't veto the budget and pass fair school funding for all of our children.
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