School Funding Still Up for Debate

CAT Tracks Editor's Note:

First of all, much ado about nothing...

I mean, what relief will it be "to let districts opt out of the unfunded mandates" if the district are admittedly not even aware of the "mandates", not in compliance with the mandates.

And, even where districts are, what windfall will befall if, say, a district doesn't teach about the Holocaust? Such a waiver will simply free up time to teach something else...most likely in today's "accountability culture" how to take the effing high-stakes standardized tests. Won't mean one dime extra in the education coffers.

As for the "bottom line"...

...the final paragraph:

Districts are also worried about whether or not the state will extend the income tax hike. Frankfort Schools have been warned if the state doesn't keep the hike, they're funding could be cut by over a million dollars next year.

"God himself" - IL House Speaker Michael Madigan - has already announced that he doesn't have the votes to make the "temporary income tax" permanent.

Another prime example of Illinois politics...

...smoke and mirrors, elected representatives refusing to deal with the problems that they themselves have created.

Instead, they pass laws that have no effect...

...or scapegoat state employees while trying to take back what said employees worked all their lives to earn, rights "guaranteed" under the Illinois Constitution.