Rauner right in call for school reform

How often have we heard a person who was too apathetic or lazy to vote attempt to justify their decision by saying, "There isn't any difference between the parties/candidates, so why vote."

Unfortunately, that has too often been the case. But look at the last governors contest. If Gov. Quinn had been re-elected, Quinn would have long ago caved in to Speaker Madigan and Mayor Emanuel and the state would have sunk deeper into debt.

The Democrats submitted a budget with a $7 billion deficit and Gov. Rauner has stated that he would veto the budget bill that did not include spending cuts and reform of public-employee pensions. There is gridlock in Springfield because Democrats have refused to make the difficult cuts and instead want to increase the debt of the state.

For years the state has robbed and underfunded the public-employee pension funds, to the point that the state now is over $100 billion in debt to the funds. Mayor Emanuel and many school officials are saying that Gov. Rauner is hurting students and want him to compromise and pass school funding,

Let me tell you who is hurting Illinois students - it is the school boards. school administrators and sad to say teachers. Half of all graduating high school seniors are unable to meet minimum standards in reading and are unqualified to handle college level courses at our junior colleges The academic achievement of too many students and schools is abysmal, and Gov. Rauner is correct in calling for reform.

Victor Darst

West Dundee