Jontry: Lawmakers seem interested in more K-12 education funding

Mark Jontry
(WJBC file photo)

By Cynthia Grau

PONTIAC – Area school officials are waiting for Springfield to make decisions before a lot of the budgeting process can wrap up before the new school year begins in the fall.

Mark Jontry, Regional Superintendent of Schools for Livingston, McLean and DeWitt counties, with the addition of Logan County July 1, weighed in on the situation in Springfield during Community Forum with Todd Wineburner on Tuesday.

“I guess, from my perspective, we’re expecting to see some kind of a budget sooner rather than later in the next month,” said Jontry. “By all accounts, it seems like both the Republicans and Democrats are interested in putting more money into public education. So what that will actually look like, we’ll see.”

The full interview can be found at WJEZ.com.

Cynthia Grau can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…