Lake County Gazette

Rep. Sheri Jesiel (R-Winthrop Harbor) hounded school officials testifying in the House recently about the financial difficulties in education and their corresponding support of Senate Bill 1, according to a release from the lawmaker.

“By your testimony, you’ve articulated the challenges that you face in your schools and how desperately you need increased funding,” Jesiel said. "I’m just wondering, if your needs are that desperate, how then are you supporting a bill that would give the majority of new funding to Chicago Public Schools?”

SB1 would transition the state to an education-based model of state funding distribution, which school officials said is desperately needed. The bill would also give significant concessions to Chicago Public Schools. 

Rep. Sheri Jesiel (R-Winthrop Harbor) | http://www.sherijesiel.com/p/about.html

One of the officials argued that SB1 is the closest the state has come to reforms in decades, since it has now passed both chambers. Jesiel pushed the officials to offer their support to alternative bills that would also put the reforms in place.

“(Senate Bill 1124 and House Bill 4069) are the same bill," she said. "The only difference is the big pieces that go to Chicago under those bills are run through the formula, which you all support. ... Why are you not getting behind (SB1124) and (B4069) If it gives you more funding and it’s more equitable and it takes the goodies to Chicago out of the formula and runs it through the formula?”