Gov. Quinn mentions nothing about education funding during State of the State Address

At Governor Pat Quinn's State of the State Address yesterday, he mentioned nothing about funding for school districts.

Yet many schools districts are facing major budget shortfalls, and preventing cuts without state funding is near impossible.

To some it might sound odd that Governor Pat Quinn wouldn't bring up how the state should pay for education moving forward, but to district leaders it's no surprise he said nothing.

"He said nothing, that doesn't say something," asked North Boone School District superintendent Dr. Steve Baule.  "That's saying a lot."

Dr. Baule says the North Boone School District is like many others, running out of money and options and getting less help from lawmakers.

"If I'm waiting for leadership from the Governor, I'm probably looking in the wrong direction," said Dr. Baule.

But it could be worse for this rural school district of about 18-hundred students.

"Believe it or not, our district comparatively, is probably in the top 25 percent of districts state wide," said Dr. Baule.

Meaning if projections pan out, they will go broke in 2019, not 2017 like many other Stateline school districts.

"We're making cuts," said Dr. Baule.

In three years, the district has lost one million dollars in state aid, cut bus routes as well as almost half of the custodial staff.

"At some point, there aren't that many other options," said Dr. Baule.

Dr. Baule has been very proactive in trying to keep his district from going broke.  He sent out a survey to parents to get their ideas on what they would like to see cut, and what they wouldn't.

"It's which is more important to you," said Dr. Baule.  "Neighborhood schools as oppose to grade level centers, or are extracurricular activities more important?"

The North Boone School District has to draft its budget by April, without knowing how much state aid they'll get. Dr. Baule says layoffs are inevitable.

"Well, unfortunately we have to [make cuts]," said Dr. Baule.  "To protect ourselves from getting even less state money."

The district is budgeting to receive 20-percent less state aid this year then the state should be paying, and Dr. Baule doesn't see much hope in the future.

"Until somebody provides some leadership to get us out of dysfunction, we're just going to continue to wallow in the situation we're in," said Dr. Baule.

Dr. Baule is encouraging people with in the district to fill out the surveys by February 15th so the administration can give the board its best options by the February 21st board meeting.

The surveys can be found on the district's main website:  www.nbcusd.org