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Naperville
Friday, March 29, 2024

Open Letter to the Community from Naperville School District 203 Superintendent

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education_schoolDear Community Member,

Naperville Community Unit School District 203 educates students to be self-directed learners, collaborative workers, complex thinkers, quality producers, and community contributors. The District celebrates the belief that in order for us to be an exemplary school district and to fulfill our mission, we must do so through a collaborative partnership among students, staff, parents, and our community.

I am pleased that the students in our school district, including my own two children, are able to access a high quality education, including a wide variety of services, support, and opportunities. District 203 is able to provide the best possible educational experience to each student thanks in part to the financial support we receive from local, state, and federal sources. As a taxpayer in District 203 myself, I am aware of the significant contribution we receive from our local taxpayers and I am grateful to the ongoing support we receive from the community.

Like so many other school districts in Illinois, District 203 does depend on the limited resources it receives from the state and federal government as well. In recent years, the financial support District 203 receives from the state of Illinois has become less and less reliable. The School Funding Reform Act of 2014 (Senate Bill 16) would eliminate even more of the limited dollars available to support the students of District 203.

Senate Bill 16 does not provide any new funding for schools in Illinois; instead, it redistributes the already inadequate amount of funding the state currently provides. In its current form, Senate Bill 16 would drastically reduce the amount of funding for school districts, like Naperville 203, that are determined to have higher available local resources. Existing funding would be redistributed across the state to districts that collect less income from local property taxes.

Senate Bill 16 has already passed in the Senate. If it passes in the House in its current state, annual revenue provided to Naperville Community Unit School District 203 by the state would be reduced by $9.45 million, which is a 76 percent loss of state revenue. Naperville 203 would experience the 3rd largest reduction in state funding in DuPage County and the 6th largest reduction in Illinois.

Senate Bill 16 alone would be harmful to our district, but when added to other recent reductions made by the state, the impact would be dramatic. Illinois has fallen short on its current obligation to fund education by 11 percent through a reduction in general state aid funds. Prorating general state aid to school districts resulted in a reduction in state funding to District 203 of $781,204 in fiscal year 2014 and will result in an estimated reduction of $760,252 this year. Legislators have also discussed shifting the state’s portion of the cost of the pension obligation to local school districts, which would further challenge our ability to provide support and services to our students.

School funding in Illinois needs to be discussed and addressed, however the redistribution of inadequate resources and funding is not the answer. If education is truly a priority in Illinois, like it is in our community, legislative leaders must first address the inadequate financial commitment our state government makes in supporting the school children throughout Illinois.

To learn more about the School Funding Reform Act of 2014 (Senate Bill 16) and the impact it would have on Naperville 203, please visit our website:www.naperville203.org. You will be able to access video and information from the September 24 legislative breakfast we hosted and the November 12 Focus 203 Community Engagement session. You will also find information on how to contact your legislators so that you may inform them of the impact Senate Bill 16 would have on our community.

Thank you for your continued support of District 203 and its students. I am grateful for all you do and we do together to ensure our children receive the best educational experience possible.

Sincerely,

Dan Bridges
Superintendent of Schools

RELATED STORIES ABOUT SENATE BILL 16 / Saved in the PN Archive

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Naperville Community Unit School District 203
Naperville Community Unit School District 203http://www.naperville203.org
Naperville Community Unit School District 203 is a nationally recognized pre-K-12 school district of 17,500 students in two high schools, five junior highs, 14 elementary schools, and one early childhood center. The educational program of the Naperville 203 school district is designed to provide excellence for all students, and founded in the mission of educating students to be self-directed learners, collaborative workers, complex thinkers, quality producers, and community contributors.

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