Schools Tell Lawmakers “There’s Nothing Left to Cut” Monday at School Funding Conference

Superintendents and lawmakers met Monday at Illinois Valley Community College to talk about the effects a budget impasse would have should it continue into the fall.

The news conference was led by Mike Struna and Dan Marenda, the Hall High and La Salle Elementary superintendents, respectively. Marenda called out state lawmakers, saying that among other things they had “abandoned higher education this year.” Struna explained the cuts he’s had to make at Hall, along with further cuts he is proposing to the board this week, before saying “we have nothing left to cut.”

The conference brought lawmakers from both parties to the table as well. 76^th District State Representative Andy Skoog said his goal isn’t just to get more money allocated to Illinois Valley schools, rather to get more money put into education as a whole.

State Senator Sue Rezin brought up a bill currently in Springfield that would use more than $13 billion to “fully fund” schools for next year. She said the bill would “pass unanimously” if there were a vote but blamed Democratic leaders in Springfield for the lack of a vote.