North Greene Schools In Jeopardy

White Hall - North Greene Schools have been patient for a long time waiting on state funds, but the time has come where the district has a matter of weeks and it will be out of cash if the state doesn’t pay its bills.

North Greene Superintendent Mark Scott said recently if the district doesn’t receive state funding within 2.24 months or about 10 weeks it will be out of cash.

Scott cited many problems with a lack of payments that extend to all areas. Special education, transportation, state breakfast and lunch are all impacted by the school funding impasse. For example, the state free breakfast and lunch program at North Greene that hasn’t been received totals $41,000. Transportation funding for both special ed and general transportation totals into the thousands of dollars that hasn't been received.

“We spend this money to offer programs to our kids,” Scott added. 

Scott said political action committees have been active in trying to get the state to approve an education budget.

Ongoing building renovations for the North Greene District have come through property taxes, Scott said.

The cost to renovate the North Greene grade school in Roodhouse, a long-term project, will be in the $5.7 million range.

“We have $4.9 million in health life safety and another not quite $700,000 in additional bonds,” Scott said in regard to the renovations. This will include roofing, doors, interior, exterior doors, air conditioning units, and many cosmetic things.. It is a big project and people will see a big difference with our students.”

Scott said he believes with more up-to-date facilities, it presents a better environment for students.

Right now, North Greene and Superintendent Scott will remain in a holding position to see what happens with the state education budget with hopes something is negotiated soon.

A town hall meeting involving Carrollton, Greenfield and North Greene is set for 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 14.

Local superintendents Scott, Cox (Carrollton) and Bowman (Greenfield),  will host the meeting at Carrollton Grade School Commons at 721 Fourth St. in Carrollton to talk about the current school funding crisis. 

The town hall meeting will review how the evidence-based model in Senate Bill 1 works and the implications of the Governor's veto amendments. Governor Rauner issued an amendatory veto of SB1 on August 1. The town hall will share facts about the bill and how it provides fair funding for all school districts in Illinois.

The Illinois Senate has just voted to override Governor Rauner's Veto of SB1 and it now needs to be voted on by the house with a three fifths majority to take effect.

The 38-19 vote had one lone Republican, Sam McCann, cross party lines to join the Senate's 37 Democrats. The bill now heads to the House, where an override is not guaranteed.

Without a new education funding system in place, the state is cannot send money to school districts. Schools are expected to open on time, but the pressure is on the house members to override before districts have to cut hours, shut down, or slash programs in the coming months.

It will take 71 votes to override the SB1 veto, but there are just 67 House Democrats and some Republican votes are needed. 

If the override fails, lawmakers would be left to negotiate a new plan as schools wait for funding.

The Illinois House goes into session this coming Wednesday but has up to 15 days to vote on the override.