Beloit Daily News

Email this story

Printer friendly version

Hononegah students lobby state reps
Posted: Thursday, May 03, 2007 - 12:01:02 pm CDT
By Holly Myers
Daily News staff writer

ROCKTON - Around 40 students from Hononegah High School and Harlem High School took a trip to the Capitol building in Springfield on Wednesday to make a difference.

The students attended the “March on Springfield” rally to voice their opinion and concerns regarding the current education funding system in Illinois and to support a comprehensive school funding reform this year.

The students went to Springfield to speak with legislators about funding bills, such as House Bill 750. The bill is being spearheaded by Rep. David Miller, D-Calumet City, and other supporters including the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, A+ Illinois, Voices for Illinois Children, the Illinois Federation of Teachers and Council 31 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

This particular legislation would raise the individual income tax rate in Illinois from 3 percent to 5 percent. The corporate income tax rate would rise from 4.8 percent to 8 percent.

It would also expand the state sales tax to cover consumer services and calls for $2.7 billion of property tax relief throughout Illinois.

While in the state capital, the students were split into smaller groups. Some groups attended speeches pertaining to the different funding options, while others spoke with state legislators.

Hononegah High School board member Sandy Fordell was interested in the bill as a taxpayer. She said the plan for the students to attend the march stemmed from a referendum the school attempted to pass years ago.

“Property taxes are not the way,” she said. “The students just want to encourage everyone to understand that it is time to change.”

Claire McIntire, a co-founder of the Fair Funding for Schools Organization, became very interested in funding and began educating herself on the subject. McIntire is a private citizen who has been very vocal about the state's need for change.

“This is an issue that has been near and dear to everyone's hearts,” McIntire said. “The way the schools are funded in Illinois is a problem. You need to find a compromise. Something that will work. Something that is fair ... that will create a sustainable revenue.”

McIntire, who also attended the march, said this was the kids' show.

“We want the kids to speak,” she said. “They're meeting in small groups with each of the legislators and are sharing their perspective.”

The students who attended went on a voluntary basis. Teachers in government and history courses approached their classes looking for those volunteers.

Lisa Much, a junior at Harlem High School, said she participated because she thinks the way schools are funded is ridiculous and unfair.

“Hononegah and Harlem are well off, but some schools in Chicago don't have the same privileges and it's unfair,” she said. “It's been like this for a long time.”

Comments