Those poor relatively well off suburban districts are getting screwed under the plan by the mighty downstate districts.
My ass. Places like Unit 5 might qualify under this complaint, but not the vast majority of Districts downstate.
ut Blagojevich has a political price to pay as well: At first blush, this plan does nothing to address fast-rising property taxes that enrage many voters. And it appears that relatively few of its benefits would go to the suburban school districts that state funding already short-changes. Blagojevich may have just torpedoed the suburban support he’ll need against Topinka.
If Illinois schools receive more funding, some of it should go to teaching the rudiments of economics. That’s where this plan really falls short. Blagojevich argued Tuesday that accountability is a big part of his plan. But mostly it’s about spending more money. As is, many Illinois school officials (especially Downstate) cry poor rather than convince their property taxpayers to shoulder a heftier burden. They cry poor rather than consolidate districts to shrink the number of highly paid local officials. They cry poor rather than show anyone that their real priority is spending smarter, rather than spending more.
Downstate rural schools don’t have tons of administrators and, frankly, in many cases could use more so there is some actual curriculum reform. The best way to pay for that is through consolidation where possible. Too many downstate districts create a situation that is unsustainable.
The inner ring districts in the suburbs are hurt by the current system because their property values are largely stuck without new development, but it’s hardly a crisis across all Districts. Suburban districts can vote for the schools they want for the most part–they actually have the resources to tax. While a property tax-income tax swap might make good sense as a horse trade, it isn’t because of those poor poor people out there in relatively well off communities.
Many downstate Districts that are rural in character don’t have the wealth to tax. Unit 4 and Unit 5 are perfect examples of what the Trib might complain about, but frankly they are the exception. Take even District 87 in Bloomington that is exactly like inner ring suburban districts which are landlocked and face relatively little growth in assessed valuation. Other rural districts don’t even have that.
Consolidation helps the problem, it doesn’t solve it for most rural districts. They need a higher foundation level and they desperately need technical help in the areas of finance, curriculum and help in building modern buildings.