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Rauner picks Galesburg-area educator to help craft school funding reforms

“We really need reform in order to move forward,” Regional Superintendent Jodi Scott, on her appointment to the Illinois School Funding Reform Commi...

GALESBURG, Illinois -

A local educator will help Illinois find better ways to pay for schools.

Jodi Scott is the first regional superintendent on the Illinois School Funding Reform Commission.

The recent budget crisis is prompting the search for long-term solutions.

"It's a big mountain to climb," she said.

The budget battle forced schools to think about "doomsday" plans.

Tough decisions about starting classes late, graduating early and jeopardizing the future.

"What we're finding out is the formula we have in place is very unfair," she said.

Scott, who serves schools in Henderson, Knox, Mercer and Warren Counties, knows all about the drastic situation.

Several districts in her four-county area didn't have enough money to last the year.

"We are the worst state in America for funding schools," said Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner.  "We overly rely on property taxes."

Scott will work on funding reforms with the 30-person team.

She's the first boots-on-the-ground educator to serve on the commission.

"Looking at the commission, I think it's a task that we can do," she said.

The commission will look at ways to improve school funding in places like Galesburg.

"We believe right now is the time to work on that in a bipartisan spirit," said Illinois Secretary of Education Beth Purvis.

The report is due on February 1, 2017, with target implementation for FY '18.

While Illinois schools recently got a one-year deal to operate, long-term challenges linger.

"This isn't a fix," Scott said.  "It gets us through the year. But we really need reform in order to move forward."

Scott's rural districts tangle with an outdated formula that's driven by property taxes.

Illinois lawmakers have made several attempts at fixes, but it's even more urgent now.

"Let's not talk about one school district," Scott concluded.  "Let's talk about every school district and every child in the state of Illinois."

 

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