Lake County Gazette

Rep. Sheri Jesiel (R-Winthrop Harbor) wants the General Assembly to focus on one of its most important tasks before the current session ends in less than two weeks: schools.

“What we know for certain, Illinois has the most inequitable school funding system in the nation,” Jesiel wrote in a letter sent to media recently. “Due to this, students are essentially forced to play a zip code lottery that determines whether they learn in a classroom equipped with an iPad for every student or one where students share decades-old textbooks.”

Jesiel used Lake County as an example, pointing out that the needs of a Gurnee school are not the same as those of a Zion school, and arguing that the current allocation formula does not address those differences.

“Our goal is to develop a system that works for every student in this state,” Jesiel wrote. “We also need to be sure that we are requiring the state to contribute a more appropriate funding level in order to relieve the very high property tax burden that far too many communities in this state are forced to bear. I believe getting this crucial reform passed is within sight… . We cannot continue with the broken patchwork of a system that fails the students, families and taxpayers of this state.”

The General Assembly's spring session ends on May 31.