Democratic legislative leaders and Republican Governor Bruce Rauner failed to reach a budget deal in the spring legislative session. If the gridlock drags through the summer, public schools could be forced to start classes without funding from the state.
Roger Eddy, with the Illinois Association of School Boards, says the effect would vary widely across the hundreds of school districts in Illinois.
“There are school districts that are absolutely dependent on receiving money from the state in order to make payroll and start school. …It’s very difficult to put a school budget together. To have this type of uncertainty just makes it more difficult.”
Eddy says schools should plan to open their doors in the fall to avoid disrupting the lives of students, parents and employees.
