Representative
Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake) has praised the people of the 64th District
for their tireless efforts that put a halt to Senate Bill 16. Senate Bill 16
would have made major changes to the state education funding formula, shifting
millions of dollars in state funding away from McHenry and Lake County schools.
Wheeler noted that without the combined engagement of so many community
members, both from within the education system from outside it, putting a halt
to SB 16 would not have been possible.
“Senate
Bill 16 was a bad bill, based on arbitrary distribution methods that would have
done major damage to our suburban schools,” said Wheeler. “Without the
involvement of so many members our community, stopping this bill would have not
been a reality. I want to thank the thousands of concerned parents and citizens
that attended the public forum in McHenry or signed the petition online. The
school districts also did a tremendous job in communicating with the parents on
just how damaging this bill would have been for our children’s education.
Without these combined efforts, our schools would be headed down a path to a
shambolic redistribution of funding.”
Wheeler
also noted that the six-thousand plus slips of opposition presented during last
month’s joint hearing of the House Elementary & Secondary Education
Committee and House Appropriations – Elementary & Secondary Education
Committee played a pivotal role in quashing SB 16. During the hearing, hundreds
of parents, school officials, and financial officers appeared in person to
voice opposition to the bill. Those appearing noted not only the damage that
would be done to the education system, but also the fact it would further
exacerbate undue pressure already placed on the backs of over-stressed property
taxpayers.
During the
hearing, Wheeler also signed on as chief co-sponsor to House Resolution 1335,
which would have created a House Education Funding Advisory Committee. The
primary purpose of the advisory committee would have been to conduct a thorough
review of the existing school funding formula and make recommendations for
reforms that would create a funding system that would be adequate, equitable
and which prepares students for achievement and success after high school.
While the creation of the committee now stands in limbo due to the death of SB
16, should new legislation come about in the upcoming 99th General Assembly to
re-write the state education funding formula there will undoubtedly be a call
for the formation of such a committee to prevent a similar bill to SB 16 being
jammed through the legislature.
“Ensuring
our children have the best education possible is one of the most important
things our community must do,” said Wheeler. “Rushing into a drastic overhaul
of our state’s funding distribution would have done irreparable damage to our
children’s future and thanks to the efforts of so many we were able to prevent
this catastrophic legislation from taking effect.”
