Swine flu won't cost schools state funding

SPRINGFIELD - Suburban schools won't lose funding for swine flu closures under a plan headed to the governor's desk.

The Illinois legislature approved a proposal that would allow schools that closed because of swine flu to use their average daily attendance from the three days after the closure to figure their state aid payments.

The schools that could be affected include Batavia High School, Rotolo Middle School in Batavia, Algonquin Middle School and Larkin High School in Elgin.

Because only individual schools were closed and not entire districts, the days do not have to be made up. The legislation states that during health emergencies when schools consulted with local health departments and must close individual buildings but not entire districts for one day or more, state aid funding will not count those days for attendance. State Sen. Deanna Demuzio, a Carlinville Democrat, proposed change given the recent health scares.

"In the future if there is swine flu or a catastrophe and there are days where school buildings have to be closed, they won't lose their days," said Demuzio.

The legislation, once signed by the governor, would apply to all closures in concurrence with the health department that occurred after April 1, 2009 and in the future.