Illinois superintendents warned of school closures and staff layoffs as they implored state lawmakers to pass a budget to give them certainty for the fall.
Education funding is the only portion of the budget for the current year that Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner signed, meaning schools have largely been spared the consequences of the budget impasse.
But superintendents from districts including Kankakee, Moline, and Streator expressed worry that there's no agreement for next year yet. They say they'll have to deplete their reserves to open this fall and that some might not make it all year.
Senate Democrats say the school funding formula needs to be overhauled this year so it's more equitable. Rauner says lawmakers should pass an education budget and not let the funding formula stall it.
