HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTIONS-1998-014-R-9814-R-98
• A RESOLUTION
Authorizing the City Manager to' Sign a Joint Resolution
for Equitable State Funding of Evanston/Skokie Schools
WHEREAS, the Boards of Education of Districts 65 and 202, the Evanston City
Council, the Evanston Chamber of Commerce, and the Evanston Township High
School Student Council have determined that House Bill 452 is detrimental to Evanston
schools by decreasing state funding; and
WHEREAS, the Boards of Education of Districts 65 and 202, the Evanston City
Council, the Evanston Chamber of Commerce, and the Evanston Township High
School Student Council request the Illinois Legislature to' -pass legislation to remedy the
loss of local control embodied in House Bill 452; and
WHEREAS, the Boards of Education of Districts 65 and 202, the Evanston City
Council, the Evanston Chamber of Commerce, and the Evanston Township High
School Student Council have proposed a Joint Resolution for Equitable State Funding
for Evanston/Skokie Schools,
is NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED By The City Council of Evanston, Cook
County, Illinois:
SECTION 1: That the City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to sign, on
behalf of the City of Evanston, a Joint Resolution for Equitable State Funding of
Evanston/Skokie Schools attached as Exhibit A.
SECTION 2: That this Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after
the date of its passage and approval in the manner re uired by law.
Mayor
ATTEST:
C4"
• it Clerk
Adopted: Y t&t J,- 1998
MAR-17-1993 1S:44 : R'OM EJPN.STOr•! HI3H SCHOO_ TO
93290267 P.02
EXHIBIT A
JOINT RESOLUTION FOR EQUITABLE STATE FUNDING
OF EVA.NSTON/SKOKIE SCHOOLS
i
f Districts 20 Evanston City Council, th •�
'JVe she Boards o. Education of pest cis 65 and 2, the E y Go e 1
Evanston Chamber of Commerce, and the Evanston Township High School Student
Council do hereby submit.the foilowing_resotution_
i
House Bill 452 (HB 452) contains a one year hold harmless provision which
freezes State support of District 65 and District 202 at the 1997-98 level. Taxpayers in
Evanston and Skokie are paying 92% of the cost of funding Evanston Township High
School (ETHS) and 80% of the cost of funding District 65 schools. The possibility of
reducing State support of Evanston/Skokie schuchi ve hiie increasing the taxes paid by
Evanston/Skokie residents calls for immediate redress. Therefore, we strongly
encourage YOU -to propose-, support -and, pass, a -permanent-hold harm less -provision
which increases with the Cpl.
The continued deficiencies in the State's share of special education funding
create hardship for District 65 and District 202. Therefore, we strongly encourage you
to draft legislation to end the practice of the proration of special education categoricals.
Further, we encourage you to increase the personnel reimbursement from $8,000 to at
least $9,300 and to increase the amount for extraordinary claims students from $2,000
to at least $2,500 over a two year period.
Under HB 452 the State of Illinois continues to allocate poverty funds using the
inaccurate and discredited Title I numbers. 2.9.5% of ETHS students and 36% of
District 65 students receive free or reduced lunch. Therefore, we encourage you to
use the free or reduced lunch numbers which present an accurate picture of poverty in
our community. Please make the money allocated for Illinols' children suffering from
the effects of poverty available to Evanston/Skokie students.
HB 452 contains many examples of loss of local control. Please propose, support
and pass legislation to remedy this. Locally elected school boards are more
responsive to the needs of Evanston/Skokie students than the State Board of
Education or the Illinois State Legislature.
District I202 Board 'of duration
l
District 65 Board of Education
ETHS Student 10 66cii
Evanston City Council
Evanston Chamber of Commerce
TOTAL P.02
0
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