81st House candidates 'vehemently' disagree on school funding

Education funding is just one of many issues that divide the Republican incumbent and the Democratic challenger running for the 81st state House District in the Downers Grove area.

Republican Ron Sandack said he disagrees “vehemently” with Democrat Elizabeth Chaplin that Senate Bill 16, which proposes education funding reforms, can be a conversation starter about the topic of how the state's schools should be supported financially.

Changes proposed in Senate Bill 16 would distribute money based much more heavily on a school district's local wealth or poverty, with poorer districts receiving more. Proposed adjustments also would give districts different amounts of funding based on how many students they have in categories such as low-income, special education, gifted or English language learners.

Chaplin, a 49-year-old accountant and DuPage County Board member from Downers Grove, said she opposes the bill as it's written because it would be “disastrous” for many suburban school districts, which stand to lose millions under the proposed funding formula.

“I don't support Senate Bill 16 and I really think that we need to leave our schools with that local control and with the option to levy when they need to,” Chaplin said.

But she also said the bill could prompt discussions about other funding sources for schools, such as new revenue from a progressive income tax.

“The one good thing about this Senate Bill 16 is it's a good conversation starter. We can look at other options to help the school districts that are struggling financially, but this isn't the way to do it,” Chaplin said. “There are options, but unfortunately some people are just closed to them.”

Sandack said Senate Bill 16 isn't a “conversation starter” because it's further along than that in the legislative process. It could be called for a vote in an coming session. And the problem with it, he said, is the bill tries to adjust how education funding is divided without adding more money to the pot.

“This is going on as we speak and this is the danger of one-party rule,” said Sandack, a 50-year-old attorney from Downers Grove. “There is a real, palpable fear that it might be brought up during a veto session.”

Sandack said school superintendents, teachers and education advocates all are “screaming for” a real discussion about comprehensive education funding reform, but first, state lawmakers from DuPage County need to unite to stop Senate Bill 16.

Sandack, who has held the 81st District seat since 2012, is running against Chaplin in the Nov. 4 election. The district includes parts of Darien, Downers Grove, Lisle, Naperville, Westmont and Woodridge.