Woodland Officials Join Task Force on Charter School Funding

Dear Community and Key Communicators,

Thank you for taking the time to contact your legislators regarding House Bill 2660.  During this short two week period, over 2,948 people visited the district website and sent a combined 274,164 emails to our state legislators. Please pass on our thanks to your friends, neighbors and relatives who assisted us in this cause. Your efforts have helped create an awareness throughout the state which made House Bill 2660 stand out among the hundreds of Bills that are under consideration for the Spring 98th General Legislative Session.

We also wish to thank our Illinois Association of School Board (IASB) legislative advocate Zach Messersmith, the House Bill 2660 sponsor Representative William Davis (D), Co-Sponsor Representative Anthony DeLuca (D) and Co-Sponsor JoAnn Osmond (R) for their efforts in bringing an awareness to the way the State of Illinois funds the state-chartered schools.

With these efforts we were able to move this bill through the Elementary and Secondary Education Rules Committee.  Unfortunately, the bill did not make it to the House floor for a vote during the spring 98th Legislative Session.

We are committed to our efforts to make a change in how state-chartered schools are funded.  The General Assembly will meet through May 31st.  We will continue our efforts to help them understand the issues and how this may eventually impact all school districts in Illinois.

Because of our work this spring, we have been invited to provide input on a task force created by Senate Joint Resolution #33 that will look at Charter School funding issues.  One of the three main goals of the task force will be to "review the effects of State - authorized charter schools on the students served by the charter, the students in the home district, and the home school district's budget;” A legislative advocate from IASB will be part of this task force and they are seeking representation from the effected schools.

Please know that your efforts made a difference and we will call on you again in this effort.

Sincerely,

Dr. Joy A.  Swoboda

Superintendent Woodland School District #50