Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for March 13, 2009 IEA RA NEWS

Quinn says he'll push to boost education funding in Illinois

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ROSEMONT, Ill. — Gov. Pat Quinn didn't have any real specifics to share with hundreds of teachers Thursday, but his assurances that he was on their side and would fight for more funding for education brought them to their feet.

"What a difference a real governor makes, huh?" Ken Swanson, president of the Illinois Education Association, yelled over the standing ovation Quinn received.

As Quinn prepares to present a budget plan next week in which he needs to address a deficit of at least $9 billion, he stressed to teachers that it won't come at their expense and that he will push for at least a little more money for education.

"I think you will see from the budget address next week that I'm willing to stick my neck out and take big chances on behalf of the kids of Illinois, their parents, their teachers," he said.

That was music to the ears of the crowd, which cheered loudly as Swanson sounded more like a kid in a schoolyard standing up to a bully than the president of an education association.

"If you're willing to stick your neck out and take the lead, we'll have your back," he promised.

Quinn also told members of the audience he agrees with them about changing the way education is funded in the state — that the current system in which property taxes account for most school funding is unfair to rural and poor school districts.

"People in this room are on the front line of helping us raise our kids, so we have to put the proper investment through the proper tax system," he said.

Quinn vowed to push for more money for higher education and repair school buildings.

He also dismissed any talk of consolidating pension systems, something the crowd was nervous about, particularly since earlier this week Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias said he wanted to lump the management of five pension systems.

"I don't believe that that will go forward, the part about consolidation of pensions," he said to loud cheers.