By Andy Dahn
BLOOMINGTON – District 87 Superintendent Barry Reilly was hoping to feel a sense of optimism and change after listening to Gov. Rauner’s State of the State address Wednesday.
But Reilly said until he sees Rauner’s comments take shape, he isn’t getting his hopes up.
“The Legislator, Governor and House Speaker have not really moved along very well,” Reilly said. “Despite the optimism that he was showing in the address today, I’m not real optimistic that we’re any closer to anything.”
Reilly said Rauner’s call to increase state support for education, as well as to provide more resources to low income and rural school districts while not taking money away from other districts sounds positive. However, Reilly said Rauner’s recent actions towards education prevent him from being optimistic.
“If you go back about a year ago, that’s just completely the opposite of what he did,” said Reilly. “I don’t have a lot of confidence that those changes will happen given the history that he’s already shown us. Hopefully that’s not the case.”
Reilly said he has heard the talk from both sides but is ready to see real change. He believes that starts with bipartisan agreement, something that he said is starting to look impossible.
“The Governor keeps saying that the only way he’s going to do certain things is if he gets parts of his agenda,” Reilly said. “However, Speaker Madigan has been pretty clear that that’s not the way he’s going to play. I just don’t really have a whole lot of optimism that things are going to change at this point.”
With changes to pensions and property taxes still in question, Reilly said it will be business as usual for his district, though he will keep in contact with state legislators if need be.
Andy Dahn can be reached at [email protected].