Springfield, IL – January 10, 2008 – School districts across Illinois will finally begin to receive the $600 million increase in education funding authorized in November by lawmakers.
Illinois Education Association (IEA) President Ken Swanson had a mixed reaction to the legislature’s approval today of Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s amendatory veto of Senate Bill 783, known as the Budget Implementation (BIMP) bill, since it authorizes the spending of Fiscal Year 2008 education money.
“Finally, the desperately needed funding is going to start reaching our schools. That’s the good news,” Swanson said. “The bad news is this money is a one-time Band-Aid and not a systemic fix to the broken system of education funding in Illinois.”
“This can’t be allowed to happen again – for school districts to wait halfway through the school year for their expected money,” Swanson said. “The state budgeting process starts again in a few weeks, and we want to work with the governor and all the members of the legislature to develop a systemic solution to the inadequate and inequitable education funding system that is hurting students throughout Illinois.”
With 130,000 members, the Illinois Education Association is the largest education employees organization in the state, representing teachers, educational support professionals, higher education faculty and staff, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers.
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