Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

My reason for running for office is I have seen too many missed opportunities for our children and education in the State of Illinois. My career has span 35 years of educational policy making, at the Federal, State, and local level. This expertise and voice is needed in the General Assembly.

Nothing determines the future of our state more than the quality of education of our youth. Each school district in Illinois accepts on a daily basis, every child that appears at its schoolhouse doors regardless of national origin, economic status, mental ability, race or citizenship. A good education begets a good job, and a good job begets a stabilized economy.

Education is at the core of a vibrant and productive citizenry.

One of the most distressing facts about education in Illinois is that in some districts the per pupil spending exceeds $15,000 per student and in other districts less than $6,000 is spent per pupil.

This disparity exists mostly because of the way education is funded. A student's zip code determines the resources provided due to the heavy reliance on property taxes to fund education in Illinois.

This also places an unfair burden on property owners to fund education locally. Several Blue Ribbon committees created by the General Assembly have researched this funding inequity and made recommendations to correct the system.

The General Assembly did not act upon these recommendations due to political considerations. The next General Assembly must have the courage to act on this issue and reform the way public education is funded.

Why must we do this? As George Washington said before the battle of Trenton, "This is our land, this is our country." The education of our children is our greatest challenge. It is our greatest responsibility. The future of our state depends on it.

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