SPRINGFIELD, Ill., April 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Approximately 1,000 Illinois Education Association (IEA) members came to the State Capitol Wednesday to tell Gov. Blagojevich to keep the promise that state funding for school districts would arrive during June, as scheduled.
The governor's administration has suggested final payments for FY 2007-08 could be delayed until after the new fiscal year begins July 1. The threat is already causing bookkeeping nightmares for districts statewide.
According to IEA Vice president Robert Blade, the threat adds insult to injury for cash-strapped districts that already are having a tough time negotiating employee contracts due to inadequate school funding.
"Some districts are considering taking out loans to ensure cash flow, which would mean spending money on interest instead of on classroom needs. Too many of our schools are already in financial crisis; they don't need the fiscal rug pulled out from under them as well," Blade said.
Officials are considering delaying the last two general state aid payments, due in late June, because the state has its own cash flow problems. While the delay could be just be a matter of weeks, delaying payments anticipated in the current fiscal year until FY 2008-09 plays havoc with cash management and the budgeting process for the districts.
"Our leaders seem to be in denial about an obvious fact: Illinois can't afford to pay for current programs," Blade said. "We want a commitment from the governor that our underfunded school districts will not be further damaged. The state needs to keep its promise," he added.
Approximately 1,000 IEA members were among the thousands of education employees at the statehouse for education Lobby Day on Wednesday.
The Illinois Education Association is the state's largest education employees' organization, representing more than 130,000 elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty and staff, educational support professionals, retired educators and college students preparing to become teachers.
Illinois Education Association
