D112: Proposed State Funding Law Would Cost District $2.6M

The following is from District 112 Superintendent Michael Bregy:

Dear North Shore School District 112 Community Members:

I’m writing to let you know that a proposed law under consideration by the Illinois state legislature could have significant negative consequences for our district and many neighboring districts.

If enacted, Senate Bill 16 (SB16), which has already passed the State Senate and is currently under consideration by the State House of Representatives, will make sweeping changes in how the state funds education.

How will SB16 impact North Shore School District 112?

If the bill is passed, our district will lose approximately $2.6 million a year, or 55% of the total state funding currently received. This translates to about $600 per student per year. As currently written, the cuts would be phased in over a four-year period. Beginning in year five, there will be a full $2.6 million reduction in funding to the District.

This loss would almost certainly result in a reduction of programs and services to our students.

The proposed change in the funding formula would devastate about half of the school districts in Illinois, especially in the northern portion of the state. Overall, school districts in Cook County and the collar counties would lose about $228 million in State funding, and the rest of the state would gain that amount.

Generally, school districts with higher assessed property values will receive less state funding under the new law, and those with lower assessed property values will receive more state funding. While this is an attempt by the state legislators to provide greater equity among school districts across the state, it fails to address the real issue: inadequate state funding for education. Year after year, Illinois consistently ranks second-to-last or dead-last in education funding for its students.

The bill does not increase the overall level of state funding for education, nor does it address the current issue of unfunded obligations to school districts. Additionally, it does NOT take into account factors such as regional differences in cost-of-living, real estate prices, or percentages of low-income or special needs students in each district.

What can you do?

SB16 has already passed the State Senate. Our district’s senator Julie A. Morrison, voted NO to this bill. It is expected that SB16 will be voted on by the House sometime in November, following the fall election. Our State Representative Scott Drury has said he plans to vote against it. If you are concerned about the dramatic effect it will have on North Shore School District 112, please contact Representative Drury and thank him for continuing to oppose this bill.

Springfield Office: District Office

250-W Stratton Office Building Sheridan Road

Springfield, IL 62706 Highwood, IL 60040

217-782-0902 847-681-8580

Email: repdrury@gmail.com Email: repdrury@gmail.com

For More Information

Illinois State Board of Education fact sheet

Sincerely,

Dr. Michael Bregy, Superintendent

North Shore School District 112