In the News

Pioneer Press, August 3, 2006

Standing with state legislators and local officials, U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin announced at Highwood's Oak Terrace School Friday that federal legislation has gone to the U.S. Senate floor to protect $8 million of aid to educate military dependents in schools in Highland Park, Highwood Glenview and North Chicago.

Parallel legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Rep. Mark S. Kirk, R-10th, of Highland Park.

Construction of U.S. Navy housing at Fort Sheridan in Highwood and in Glenview will bring new students to local schools and now, new federal and legislation, if passed, assures funds will be available to pay for their education. The Navy, with its private-public venture partner Forest City Military Communities, LLC, will build 209 homes at Fort Sheridan, 1,100 in North Chicago and 230 in Glenview.

"What we've achieved in Washington, so far, is important," Durbin said. "We're going to work hard to convince our colleagues (to pass this legislation)."

Opposition to the bill, he said, can be anticipated from the floor of the Senate as well in the budget's conference committee.

"It's not going to be easy," he said.

The financial impacts of the legislation will vary in each community.

* Instead of receiving $800 per student a year to educate 100 students in North Shore School District 112, Durbin's legislation will provide about $4,000 per student. Separate Illinois legislation under consideration may add more funds to raise the total aid closer to the $12,000 per student. This would be true for other districts too, but at varying amounts.

* Glenview presently receives about $121,000 for 151 students, about $800 per student. The change per student will be similar to North Shore District 112 schools.

* North Chicago will lose $7 million of existing federal impact aid if fewer than 30 percent of the school district students are from Great Lakes Naval Training Center. The district presently receives $6,100 per student for aid, now protected to 2010 by Kirk's efforts. Were it to be lost, the aid per student would be $570 per student. The proposed legislation would protect aid levels at about current levels.

In spite of world problems, Highland Park Mayor Michael D. Belsky said, Durbin has been able to bring attention to this issue.

"Education is what allows people to be understanding and tolerant," Belsky said.

At the July 24 City Council meeting, Belsky had described Durbin's work and said the proposal represented a way to reduce local taxpayer subsidies of education for children of military families.

"This is a fair way to fund education," Belsky said. "Sen. Durbin recognized that. That is good for the community."

Glenview Village President Kerry D. Cummings said the effort to achieve these improvements for local education funding has been collaborative. She said Glenview and school officials very much appreciated these efforts.

State Sen. Terry Link, D-30th, of Lake Bluff said the bi-partisan legislation passed in the General Assembly does not meet the funding needs of school districts, but it does add to what will happen at with the federal legislation. State Sen. Susan Garrett, D-29th, of Lake Forest, said, everyone intends to work with Kirk on a bipartisan basis to help the schools.

"This has been a long time coming," she said.

State Rep. Karen S. May, D-58th, of Highland Park, said Durbin's work on this "huge issue" was responsive to local concerns. She said Durbin's approach let's the federal education "money follow the child." Regardless of where military families choose to live, the financing will go to the affected districts.