No news reporters turned out for District 300's annual meeting with state legislators today, but 10 times more parents did than ever before.
The audience for the annual meeting in the D300 Board Room usually brings out a couple of parents and a handful of staff. This morning, two dozen concerned parents from various schools, some of them visibly upset, and several staff members came to listen - and also to be heard.
"The time is now," parent Cathy Hoster insistently told the legislators. "It's not 'maybe next year we'll work on the pension system,' or, 'maybe next year we'll work on Medicaid.' Our needs in District 300 are right now. Next month we're cutting. We can't wait."
Hoster was referencing the $6.4 million in cuts that D300 administration has recommended for 2010-2011, which the School Board will vote on Feb. 22 to address the state's current deficit to D300 and likelihood of worsening state funding over the next year. She followed by asking the lawmakers whether they had combed through their own state budget for potential savings to the extent that D300 has done locally.
While they noted examples of savings they had fostered, such as foregoing travel expenses to/from Springfield, their general response was that the Governor controls spending.
There are seven state legislators that represent the D300 area. (Click here for a map, and here for contact information.) Those attending today were Sen. Chris Lauzen, Sen. Michael Noland, Rep. Michael Tryon, and Rep. Keith Farnham. Absent were Sen. Pam Althoff, Rep. Fred Crespo, and Rep. Tim Schmitz.
Impending D300 cuts were not the only topic at today's Legislative Update. Board members and administrators thanked the state leaders for actions they took in 2009 that helped D300, such as press box legislation, wellness grants, and the construction bill (the timing of which is still unknown for D300's remaining projects).
Legislators were updated on D300's overall progress in 2009. Superintendent Ken Arndt noted D300's vastly improved credit rating and higher public perceptions of the District's accountability, fiscal responsibility, transparency, and quality of education. Arndt also discussed the District's participation in the state application for Race to the Top federal funds, as well as the Board's commitment to improving high school performance and accountability through efforts such as AVID, Freshman Academy, and division heads.
District leaders asked the state officials whether they would renew the Sears TIF when it expires in 2013. The Sears TIF, located in Hoffman Estates within D300 boundaries, strips several million dollars of property taxes each year from D300 and other local public bodies. Three of the legislators indicated they would not support renewal of the TIF.
But not surprisingly, the state's bankruptcy - and its impact on D300 students - dominated nearly an hour of the lively and sometimes heated discussion. The conversation included hard questions and candid comments from D300 Board members, parents, and administrators.
"We politicians have to face the music no matter how sour the notes," Senator Noland said. "We can't hear those notes unless you the public strike the chord."
There was sometimes stark disagreement among the legislators. However, there was somewhat of a consensus on the need for comprehensive reform of Illinois government, and also the need to strike a balance between cutting spending and raising taxes. Senator Noland polled the audience to see how many would support an increase in revenue, traditionally achieved through higher or restructured taxes, with roughly 90 percent raising their hands. One parent yelled out, "Whatever it takes to ensure that the education of our children doesn't suffer."
Representative Tryon suggested that the state Department of Natural Resources should become self supporting, and he called for an overhaul of Medicaid following the Indiana model. "A tax increase alone won't do what we want it to," he said. Tryon also bemoaned the extent of state money that goes to support Chicago Public Schools at the expense of other school districts.
Staff and parents said the current Illinois education funding system unfairly favors students in wealthy areas, such as the North Shore, while shorting poorer areas that are more reliant on state aid, such as D300. Senator Lauzen challenged this notion and stressed that the state must somehow find a way to pay its bills with its current revenue.
D300 spokeswoman Allison Strupeck closed by urging the legislators to work faster and with more focus after too many years of deficit spending and stalemate.
"I've heard a lot of commonality today in your comments," Strupeck said. "You said, 'the state needs to find a solution. We need to restructure the system. We need to work together.' But what I didn't hear was a sense of urgency. I truly hope that you leave today with a much greater sense of urgency than you did when you walked into our doors."