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Money is nice, but state leaders say it's no solution
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SPRINGFIELD - Illinois will likely need every penny of the money the state could receive from Race to the Top. The state is facing a billion dollar hole in the education budget from the loss of last year's federal stimulus money. And Gov. Pat Quinn is talking about $1.5 billion in further cuts for schools and universities. So the news that Illinois is a Race to the Top finalist is welcome at the Illinois Capitol. State Sen. Kimberly Lightford, D-Maywood, said it took a few years and a lot of negotiating just to get to this point. Illinois had to pass a number of laws to be eligible for Race to the Top, including a controversial plan that will link teacher evaluations to student performance. Schools and teachers understood why that change had to be made, she said. "At the end of the day, the federation of teachers, the education association, the teachers' union, they all want what's best for the children of the state of Illinois. And that's giving them a quality education. They're pretty much involved in the entire process." But not every school district in Illinois is a part of the process. Many, including a number of downstate and smaller school districts, opted not to ask for any of the money. State Rep. Dave Winters, R-Rockford, said there are some schools around Rockford that may not benefit from Race to the Top. But he said as a state lawmaker he wanted to improve all of Illinois schools. "I think the primary goal of education is to get the kids prepared better at the end of the school year than they are at the beginning of the school year. And anything that helps emphasize that throughout the school organization is a great step forward." Not every lawmaker is so excited. State Sen. Brad Burzynski, R-Rochelle, also represents some of the Rockford school district. But he's worried schools will see Race to the Top aid as "free money." "I am very concerned that people might take a look, and legislators in particular, and say 'Hey we got all this money so what's everybody griping about?' [And] Not looking at the long-term impact this has on our school districts to the fact that we're still not making the payments we're supposed to be making to our schools." Illinois State Schools Superintendent Christopher Koch is quick to try and dismiss any notion that Race to the Top is the answer for Illinois education funding woes. "It's all for reforms, we cannot use any of [the money] for the budget." State Sen. James Meeks, D-Chicago, said he worries lawmakers -- and not local schools -- have the wrong idea about the race to the top dollars. "The problem is with one-time revenues. We got one time revenues through the stimulus. Illinois is becoming used to one-time revenues. Even when Race to the Top comes [to an end] we'll have to put some revenue in place to continue those programs." Meeks said the state must take the lead and find its own new money for schools. He's been a longtime supporter of a plan that would push schools off of their reliance on property taxes. But that plan has failed to go anywhere at the Capitol and appears headed for the same fate this year as well. 
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Today is Saturday, Feb. 11, the 42nd day of 2012. There are 261 days left in the year.
1862 -- 150 years ago: About noon on Sunday a cow stepped down to the river's edge to drink, near the gas works where the river is open. She slipped into the swift current and was drawn under the ice. Cows are lost that way every winter.
1887 -- 125 years ago: Rock River is on a rampage and Milan is in danger of a flood. A portion of the north paper mill was damaged by high waters yesterday to the extent of $1,000.
1912 -- 100 years ago: The fear of an epidemic of smallpox in Rock Island has abated, although there are 15 cases reported in the city by Rock Island physicians.
1937 -- 75 years ago: Rock Island's second death within a week from epidemic meningitis in the same family occurred at midnight last night. City health officer Ernest Russ has placed the family in strict quarantine.
1962 -- 50 years ago: Civil defense education classes for teachers will begin Feb. 19 at the Moline Community College building, E. S. Metcalf, Rock Island County superintendent of schools, announced today.
1987 -- 25 years ago: U.S. Rep. Lane Evans, D-Rock Island, received the first Black Hawk College Foundation Alumni recognition award for outstanding service and support of the college.
(More History)