State finally giving school districts their construction money

SPRINGFIELD - Eight years after promising to help build and repair old schools, the state of Illinois is finally delivering the money.

State officials announced Thursday they're releasing nearly $149 million to 24 school districts around the state.

That means Winfield Elementary District 34 will finally get the approximately $2.3 million the state was supposed to chip in for classroom additions and interior renovations to its former middle school. Local taxpayers ended up covering the state's share. The school board voted in July 2005 to borrow $1.7 million to help pay off renovation of its schools and to build a nest egg against emergency repair projects.

Carol Stream Elementary District 93 is in line for $1.6 million. Eight years ago the district wanted to use the money to convert its old administration building into an early child care facility, but officials ended up not pursuing the project.

Other suburban school districts that had been waiting for construction money are:

• Hinckley Big Rock District 429 - $1.49 million.

• Villa Park Elementary District 45 - $980,000.

• Big Hollow District 38 - $251,800.

None of the local school officials could be reached for comment Thursday night.

The schools were first promised the money under Republican Gov. George Ryan as part of a massive construction program. Some raised local matching funds and launched projects because they were told the money was coming.

But the state ran short and the 24 schools were left hanging.

Hopes of getting the money rose and fell dramatically under Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The Chicago Democrat held a rally at one of the waiting school districts and all but guaranteed he'd pass a public works program to deliver the money. He didn't.

Later, the schools thought they had succeeded in getting legislation passed that included their money. At the last minute, Blagojevich announced he was interpreting the law in a way that would prevent the funds from being released. The schools were told to resubmit their applications and hope for the best.

Now the state is providing the money through a public works program that was approved last year.

The state Capital Development Board felt it was important that the schools finally get their money, said spokesman Dave Blanchette, and "Governor Quinn agreed with us that they had waited long enough."