Governor gives schools more budgetary flexibility

WINDSOR, ILL. - During a stop at Windsor Grade School in Shelby County, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today signed legislation that gives schools much-needed budgetary flexibility to meet emergency or one-time expenses.

House Bill 765, sponsored by state Rep. Robert Flider, D-Decatur, and state Sen. Vince Demuzio, D-Carlinville, was recommended by the Education Funding Advisory Board as a means to help school districts better manage the various funds they are required to maintain.

"Boosting our education system means more than increasing funding, it also means giving our schools the flexibility necessary to address their individual needs," Blagojevich said.  "We did that when we consolidated grant programs and funneled the money into general state aid, which allows schools more discretion in using the funds, and we're doing more today by giving schools room to transfer resources when a specific need arises."

The new law gives school districts the ability to offset deficits or spending pressures in one fund with money from another, an option that already has been enjoyed by Chicago Public Schools.

The Governor was joined at today's bill signing by Flider as well as Windsor Mayor Eric Bennett and Windsor Superintendent of Schools Sharon Keck. The Governor's stop in Shelby County was his eighth during a three-day tour through eastern Illinois.