Lake County Gazette

Rep. Sheri Jesiel (R-Winthrop Harbor) sees the special legislative session as an opportunity to put a budget in place and ensure that equitable education funding distribution reform happens, according to a press release.

“Although I wish the Governor didn’t need to call a special session, this represents a good opportunity to move forward,” Jesiel said in a statement. “The lack of a budget vote at the end of May risked causing irreparable damage to the state, but now we have a chance to reopen discussions and finally do the right thing. It also gives us the opportunity to reestablish school funding reform discussions and ensure that we pass reform that provides fair and equitable funding for all children in Illinois regardless of zip code.”

The special session, which must end before the July 1 start of fiscal year 2018, will see renewed negotiations on House Bill 4069, an education funding reform bill that would put an evidence-based model in place, similar to Senate Bill 1 but excluding the latter’s concessions to Chicago Public Schools, according to the press release.