In a recent op-ed, Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno talked candidly about Democrats’ proposed bailout of Chicago Public Schools. Following is an excerpt from her column:
In an interview earlier this [month, Illinois] Senate President John Cullerton gave school districts around the state ample reason to be nervous when he said, “I don’t think any schools should be funded until Chicago schools are funded fairly.”
Now, Republicans fear legislative Democrats plan to hold funding for downstate and suburban schools hostage in an attempt to bail out Chicago Public Schools with nearly $500 million in additional funding.
CPS currently faces a $480 million budget shortfall, and is looking for the state to pick up the tab.
We cannot bridge the gap for the ailing CPS at the expense of downstate and suburban communities, and they certainly should not be held hostage.
You can read the rest of Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno's column here.