By Adam Studzinski
BLOOMINGTON – A Bloomington state senator has joined the newly formed Illinois School Funding Reform Commission.
The commission has been tasked with finding a bipartisan solution to reforming Illinois’ school funding formula. State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) told WJBC’s Dan Swaney the formula hasn’t been changed in 20 years.
“The experience that a child has in a classroom is fundamentally different today than it was 20 years ago,” said Barickman. “Kids are connected to the internet and to the world while they’re sitting in a classroom.”
Barickman said although the commission is bipartisan, this won’t be an easy task.
“At the end of the day, we’re talking about billions of state dollars. Our taxpayer moneys that are going to Springfield today are routed to school districts,” he said.
The commission is being asked to provide a recommendation to the General Assembly by Feb. 1, with the hope that leaves enough time to let legislation pass through both chambers.
Adam Studzinski can be reached at adam.studzinski@cumulus.com.
