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School districts throughout Illinois are warning their employees that layoffs are coming as a result of the state budget crisis.
Just last week, hundreds of school employees and community members in the southern Illinois community of Piasa turned out for a forum on the proposal to cut $2.3 million from the District budget. That proposal would lay off one fourth of the teaching staff in the Southwestern School District, including at least one teacher with ten years experience. Further evidence of a crisis is seen throughout the state.
Already, they’re talking RIFs in Carpentersville, in the Maine Township High School District in the Chicago suburbs, and in nine counties in western Illinois, to name just some of the troubled areas.
Thousands of education jobs are threatened and many more thousands of students, as well as their communities will suffer, unless the state legislature finds the money to save programs and positions.
Unfortunately, the key player in this real-life drama appears to have little interest in using his power to bring about a solution. House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), as seen in this video clip, is rejecting tax hike talk, even though the revenue increase is the key element of Gov. Pat Quinn’s economic platform as Quinn seeks election.
Madigan appears to be sticking to his long-held position that, unless there is some Republican support, the House won’t be voting on a tax increase in the spring session.
It’s sad to say that, there are people holding office in Illinois who won’t lift a finger to help people until the neediest among us are suffering. It’s sadder to say, that is happening now. One example, 5-year-old Caylee Warpehoski of Bartlett.
Caylee is hearing-impaired, and she also suffers from facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, a progressive muscle weakness and loss of muscle tissue. Over the last two years, her muscular dystrophy has become progressively worse, her mom said. Her back is C-shaped from the disease, making it difficult for her to stand up and walk around upright. She has a one-on-one special education aide with her at all times during school “more for safety issues, because she has to be watched,” Diane said. “She has a tendency to lean and fall.”
In November, Caylee’s parents were told that their daughter’s 3 ½ hour school day would be cut by one hour, another casualty of the state budget crisis.
“She’s hardly in the classroom — there goes her education,” her mom said. Diane noted that five hours of her classroom time each week have been lost, along with four hours of her services each month. “There’s not enough time in the day to receive all of her therapy and education.”
Caylee’s school district, U-46, is facing a budget deficit of nearly 47 million dollars and the special education cuts are part of a plan to reduce the deficit. More pain is on the horizon,
“We do not know if, or how many, special education staff will be cut as we reduce the budget,” said district spokesman Tony Sanders. “We will be taking to the public some of the ideas of the Budget Advisory Task Force to receive input before reductions are made.” If special education staff is reduced, those layoffs will be announced in March, according to district officials.
What you can do
IEA is part of a coalition that is fighting to convince legislators to pass a budget that addresses the state’s financial problems and adequately funds crucial state programs including human services and public education.
The Responsible Budget Coalition will hold a statehouse rally next Wednesday, February 17. Since most IEA members will be working and unable to attend in person, they are urged to make their feelings known by sending a email to their legislators through the IEA Website.
In addition, it’s easy to send a “I can’t wait for a responsible budget” message to lawmakers. Click here.
Don’t forget the IEA Lobby Day is April 21st. Visit the IEA Website regularly. Become an IEA facebook fan . Follow IEA on Twitter.
We’re in a fight for our lives. It’s never been more important that IEA members stay connected.