Lawmakers must get agreement on SB1

As president of Millburn District 24 Board of Education in Lindenhurst and a concerned parent, I've witnessed firsthand the effect of partisan wrangling on our school's finances and our community's morale.

Despite the erosion and unpredictability of state funding over the past decade and the reckless lack of governance shown by some in Springfield, our School board, staff and property owners have all worked together to improve our district's financial position.

Republicans and Democrats have agreed, and all available research has indicated that Illinois has the most inequitable public school funding in the country, which is why the creation of an evidence-based school funding bill (SB1) has been a three-year bipartisan effort that passed both chambers in July.

Though a balanced budget has also passed, the appropriations portion of it is tied the disbursement of school funding to an evidence-based funding formula. As no other evidence-based formula exists, it is incumbent upon our elected officials to forge an agreement on SB1.

Without funding, our District would either have to close school in April or borrow from another district (costing us millions). Many schools even more dependent on state funding would not be able to open at all.

Please contact the governor and your local representatives to let them know that the time for partisanship is long past.

Our children and families need them to work together. Governments run on character and compromise.

Ideology does not fund schools.

Carissa Casbon LaTourette

Millburn