Sandack to Serve on Bipartisan School Funding Task Force

State Representative Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove), a leading voice on education funding issues in the suburban area, has been chosen to serve on a bipartisan task force that will study equity and adequacy issues and propose changes to the school funding formula.

Sandack was a vocal opponent last year of SB16, a bill that would have stripped more than $140 million away from DuPage County schools and diverted the funds toward Chicago and downstate school districts. The bill was refiled earlier this year as SB1, and Sandack said the new bill still has significant problems with regard to fairness. “I have advocated all along that we need to do a comprehensive study into our school funding challenges, so I’m pleased to see this bipartisan task force taking shape,” said Sandack. “I certainly hope Senator Manar will halt efforts to pass his SB1 until our panel concludes with its work and is able to bring solutions to the table.”

The task force will include 13 Democrats and 10 Republicans, chosen by Party leadership in the House. The group will meet for the first time next week on Wednesday, March 11 at 3:00 PM at the Capitol to determine a regular meeting schedule and discuss their objectives.

“No one questions the need for comprehensive school funding reform, and I look forward to working toward a bipartisan solution,” said Sandack. “Above all, the ultimate solution needs to be equitable so that we are not just creating a new list of funding ‘winners’ and ‘losers,’ which was the case with SB16 and is the case with SB1 as it is currently written.”