Representative Mike Tryon and Senator Karen McConnaughay to Partner on Senate Bill 16 Impact Forum

State Representative Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake) and Senator Karen McConnaughay (R-St. Charles) will partner on October 30 for a community forum about SB16, a controversial rewrite of the school funding formula. As written and approved in the Illinois Senate, SB16 would divert millions in General State Aid (GSA) dollars away from hundreds of Illinois school districts.

The event is open to the public and will take place from 6:00-8:00 PM at H.D. Jacobs High School, 2601 Bunker Hill Drive in Algonquin. The forum will focus on Crystal Lake Districts 47 and 155, on Huntley’s District 158 and on School District 300. Area superintendents and school finance officials, as well as other area legislators, will join Tryon and McConnaughay for the informational event.

“Crystal Lake, Huntley and District 300 schools stand to lose a combined $12.1 million per year in General State Aid if this law is passed and signed into law,” said Tryon. “This would be a game-changer for how kids in this area are educated. We need to kill this bill, and take the necessary time and effort to create equitable and fair reforms that allow all students to succeed. This reallocation of funds is punitive to suburban districts and I will do everything in my power to stop this legislation.”

SB16 passed in the Illinois Senate in May but was not called for a vote in the House of Representatives. However, House Democrats have been meeting throughout the summer and fall with education advocacy groups to determine how to best resurrect the bill. It is possible that a revised version of the bill will surface during a January Lame Duck Session of the General Assembly.

“The drastic decreases in funding for education locally would have a devastating effect on school districts in this area,” said McConnaughay, who voted against the measure in the IL Senate. “School Districts would be forced to consider widespread teacher layoffs and tax increase referenda. The taxpayers I represent are already overtaxed and stretched to their limits, so further increases to their local tax bills is not a realistic solution.”

A brief presentation will be followed by a question and answer session. Those who attend will also receive a Call to Action sheet that lets them know how they can help stop SB16.