Superintendents throughout Illinois serving on the Illinois Association of School Administrators Board of Directors, the IASA/Illinois State Board of Education Advisory Committee, the IASA Resolutions/Position Statements Committee and the IASA Legislative Committee recently discussed and reviewed several methods of communicating school funding issues with legislators throughout the state.

IASA President and Sandwich School District Superintendent of Schools Rick Schmitt said, "Due to the collaborative efforts of IASA members and the IASA professional staff, an education funding toolkit for communicating with legislators was developed and informational meetings with legislators throughout the state are progressing very well. In our region, we were please that Rep. (Robert) Pritchard spent time with us to discuss school funding issues and that Sen. (Brad) Burzynski's schedule allowed for him to meet with superintendents serving the Northwest region."

Pritchard commented, "The Illinois Association of School Administrators under the strong leadership of President Rick Schmitt of Sandwich, has assembled a helpful toolkit for understanding the interplay of various state laws, school funding, and mandated programs with the needed outcomes in the classroom. The ongoing dialogue with school leaders and this document will help guide efforts to update the school code, set appropriate policies and provide funding to achieve our common goals of every student learning to their ability."

Schmitt went on to say, "We are in the middle of the largest state budget deficit in Illinois history and school districts are concerned about the impact this will have on school funding, not only for FY 2010 but the challenges school district's will face in FY 2011 and beyond. Therefore, our mission is to provide every legislator throughout the state with the same information at the same time; while also explaining how certain types of legislation impacts planning and ultimately sustaining the types of programs and services our students deserve on a daily basis."

Hinckley-Big Rock Superintendent Jim Hammack said, "The education funding toolkit prepared by IASA and provided to legislators explains specific information regarding various funding challenges faced by school districts. In addition, the toolkit establishes specific talking points for legislators and superintendents as we work together to improve schools for all students and community members."