District 200 favors further talks on school funding

On behalf of the 13,400 students we educate in Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 every day, thank you for your advocacy in our recent fight against Senate Bill 16.

If enacted into law, SB16 would have diverted nearly $10 million in state funding away from our district to other parts of the state. The high student achievement and excellent programs we enjoy in our district were at risk with SB16.

In its current form, SB16 was not called for a vote in the recent Veto Session of the General Assembly. It is clear to me that legislators heard our calls, read our letters and emails, and listened to us when we asked them to stop SB16. While this bill still could be called for a vote during the spring session, we are grateful our legislators are stepping back to continue conversations about state funding for our schools.

However, the reality is that something will change as it relates to funding for school districts in our state. For years, funding for education in Illinois has been inadequate. Senate Bill 16 would have exacerbated the funding issue by making it inadequate and inequitable. Funding for education in our state needs to change - our children deserve it.

To continue to prepare for our children's future, the District 200 board of education recently adopted Vision 2018, a strategic planning document that outlines our goals and priorities for the next several years. I invite you to visit our website, cusd200.org, to see the direction we are headed. As you will see, our board has prioritized four main areas for the current year: professional development for staff, integration of technology in the classroom, creation of a master facilities plan and the exploration of alternate sources of revenue.

It's time for educators and members of the community to take back the conversation about public education in Illinois. In my January column, I'll tell you more about a blueprint for the future of public education that has been developed by Illinois educators from all regions of the state.

• Jeff Schuler is superintendent of Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200. His column appears monthly in Neighbor during the school year.