Rep. Tryon to sit on SB16 forum panels in McHenry, Kane counties

State Rep. Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake) will join other local legislators this month for two Senate Bill 16 impact forums in McHenry and Kane counties.

A forum will be held in Kane County from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, in the St. Charles North High School auditorium, 225 Red Gate Road, off Route 31, in St. Charles.

The McHenry County forum will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, at McHenry West High School, 4724 W. Crystal Lake Road in McHenry.

"Almost all of the school districts I represent stand to lose a great deal of General State Aid, or GSA funding through SB16, so I am pleased to be participating in these forums," said Tryon. "Taxpayers need to be aware of this dangerous proposal so they can contact lawmakers and urge them to kill the bill."

According to Tryon, District 66 school districts would be impacted in the following ways if SB16 is approved in the House and signed into law:

• Crystal Lake Elementary District 47: Loss of $5.7 million in GSA

• Crystal Lake High School District 155: Loss of $1.4 million in GSA

• Huntley Consolidated School District 158: Loss of $2.1 million in GSA

• Carpentersville-based School District 300: Gain of $2 million in GSA

"School funding reform is an important issue that definitely needs to be discussed, but SB16 is not the answer," said Tryon. "We need reforms that create optimal opportunities for success for all students; not a quick-fix solution that redistributes current money in a way that just creates a new list of funding winners and funding losers."

Those who attend will be given an opportunity to submit questions or concerns to panel participants.