ROCK ISLAND, Illinois — After a year of state budget battles, parents, students and staff of the Rock Island Milan School District #41 look forward to starting the school year, with funding secure from the Illinois stopgap budget.
"Oh yeah its definitely put a better attitude in all of us and makes us a little happier. I can't say that if that weren't the case it would be kind of a strain," said Holly Sparkman, Communications Director for the Rock Island Milan School District.
On Sunday afternoon, the district's students and families were invited to a free event named, 'Ready to Rock the School Year'. It's purpose is to gather the community and families before the school starts August 3.
"We want to get kids excited about the school year, and it's a harsh reality for them when there's financial strains on everybody, and yet we still have to make it work for them in the classroom," said Sparkman.
"Last year it was, we didn't have enough of this, we didn't have enough of that, this year I think we're going to be a little more at ease," said Jacque Allison, her grandkids go to Earl Hanson Elementary School. She says it's nice knowing her grandkids, whom she raises, are going back to a school that has funding secure.
"I can feel assured that I am going to have quality teachers who are going to want to come to work knowing that they`re going to have all the funds necessarily to be appropriated for them to teach," said Allison.