Dist. 204 parents pushing for education funding reform

Two months ago, Indian Prairie Unit District 204 officials fought the battle for state education funding with signs in their own front yard.

Now, parents say, they're taking the fight to Springfield.

For three days in February, every sign at each of the district's 33 schools told anyone who passed that "The state of Illinois owes District 204 $7.8 million."

The district was supposed to receive the $7.8 million by the end of the 2009 calendar year. Officials now believe the state's nearly $14 billion debt will force the legislature to further reduce payments to individual school districts by an estimated $500 to $700 per student.

At least two buses full of parents are traveling to Springfield Wednesday morning to meet with House Republican Leader Tom Cross and other legislators to voice their opposition to Gov. Pat Quinn's proposed budget, which includes nearly $1.3 billion, or 17 percent, in cuts from education spending.

"We're going to demand they restore education funding and live up to their constitutional obligation because school boards all over the state are cutting into areas where they have no more room to cut," said trip leader and Indian Prairie Parents Council Executive Committee member Lori Price. "It's up to our legislators to trim the fat, figure our what we can do with less of and put that savings into education."

Price called Wednesday's trip a "grass-roots effort" that started with parents attending school board meetings and eventually rallying together to do their part. Eventually the Facebook page "Caravan to the Capitol - Restore Illinois Education Funding" was created and the effort grew. The page had 422 fans by early Friday.

Price said the group is still accepting RSVPs through the Facebook site or e-mail to caravan2thecapitol@yahoo and will make a final head count Monday.

"We'll make room for everyone but we want to hear from them even if they're driving themselves, so we know who's all there."

Buses will leave from the Westfield Shopping Center in Aurora at 7:45 a.m. and will be returning about 6 p.m.

Indian Prairie schools serve portions of Naperville, Aurora, Bolingbrook and Plainfield.