County educators react to GSA proposal

For the most part, Randolph County's school districts would receive a little more general state aid next year under Gov. Bruce Rauner's proposal.

But they also feel it's not enough.

According to data from the Illinois State Board of Education, K-12 school districts in the state's southernmost 16 counties would receive an increase of 2.2 percent in GSA under Rauner's proposal that was released April 12.

Randolph County's seven K-12 districts would receive an average increase of $72,937.31 in GSA dollars, but that is affected by large amounts to Sparta and Steeleville.

The proposal is an attempt to fully fund GSA for the first time in seven years and would have to be approved by legislators in Springfield.

"It tells me that they're still not at 100 percent GSA, but I'll take what they give," said Sparta District 140 Superintendent Larry Beattie - whose district could receive an increase of $184,488.23 in the FY 2017 proposal - on what the numbers tell him. "Yes, it's good they're heading in the right direction, but we can't lose sight of the fact that they're still prorating state aid."

100 percent GSA funding means an average of $6,119 spent per student in instructional spending state-wide. Sparta currently spends $5,684 per student, according to Illinois Report Card.

"Education is the best tool in a democracy for people to better their lives," Beattie said. "If you want people to better their lives, you have to invest in education, not cut education."

Steeleville District 138 could benefit the most of all the Randolph County districts under the proposal with an increase of $229,597.49 - 18.4 percent more than FY 2016.

"We can take a look at possibly reinstating things we had cut," Steeleville Superintendent Stephanie Mulholland said on what the district could do with the increased state aid. "Our music program, elementary physical education, home economics at the high school."

Mulholland said she feels the GSA increase reflects the district's recent increased enrollment. Previously, she told the newspaper that a district-wide enrollment of 420 students was Steeleville's highest level "in quite some time."

"I think part of what the 229 reflects is the increased enrollment the past couple of years," she said. "I can't attribute that (increased enrollment) to any one thing, but when you're up 30 or 40 students, that affects your state aid.

"I'm anxious to see how it plays out."

The news is harder to swallow at Chester District 139, which is under a deficit reduction plan mandated by the Illinois State Board of Education and recently dismissed two teachers in a cost-cutting measure.

Chester would receive an increase of only $13,779.44 under Rauner's proposal.

"Obviously, I'm very disappointed if that's going to be what we're going to get," said Interim District Superintendent Rick Goodman. "I'm grateful that we're getting something because there's a lot of schools not getting anything.

"It's just hard for me to discuss it because I can't even find the words."

Red Bud ($33,787.24), Prairie du Rocher ($22,212.31) and Chester District 122 ($29,308.33) all could see minor increases in their allotments, but Coulterville District 1 could find itself with $2,611.84 less in GSA next year.

Further down, the funding list shows Cahokia District 187 and East St. Louis District 189 taking massive hits.

Cahokia could lose more than $664,000 in general state aid, while ESL District 189 could have to deal with more than $880,000 less.

"We don't want to take from another school, we want Springfield to do their job," Beattie said.

For a full breakdown of the proposal district-by-district, visit www.isbe.net/funding/html/gsa.htm.