Legislature needs to fund school aid plan
It's time we give all Illinois children - from our youngest preschoolers to our high school students getting ready to graduate from our high schools, St. Charles East and St. Charles North - access to high quality educational options.
By supporting these young scholars, we are laying a stronger foundation for the future of our state.
The General Assembly in Springfield needs to work together to fully fund General State Aid (GSA), which would end proration and provide our school district the financial relief it needs.
Education is the most important thing we can do as a society. That is why I support Governor Rauner's proposal to fully fund PK-12 at the General State Aid foundation level for the first time in seven years - a record investment in our schools and increase funding for early childhood education by $75 million - nearly a 25 percent increase.
Instead of arguing and stonewalling, legislators of both parties need to come to the table. It's time for them to get to work and act quickly to pass the governor's proposed PK-12 education funding bill.
As a former educator, I would like to see the end of uncertainty in planning for our next school year. In addition, as the mayor of St. Charles, I join numerous colleagues in calling for an end to the budget impasse that creates uncertainty in a city's ability
to provide fiscal stability to its residents.
Raymond P. Rogina
Mayor of St. Charles