The State of Illinois is now up to date on its General State Aid payments to Danville District 118 Schools. Heather Smith, Director of the District’s Business Office, told school board members last evening (Wednesday) that the district is still awaiting a payment on categorical funding, though.
According to Smith, when you look at the state’s new funding plan for schools it appears as though District 118 Schools will get $1.8 million dollars more than last year. But she says if you look closer, the state now includes Special Education Funding in with General State Aid. She noted the Special Education funds that had been coming last year amounted to $1.8 million dollars. So she says the new funding plan ‘’is a little deceptive.’’
Smith adds the new funding plan has been a learning process, adding the district will just have to wait and see how it goes. ‘’We only believe it when we get the money in our bank account,’’ she added. ‘’They can’t afford the funding model now,’’ Smith told school board members, ‘’but they’re saying they’re going to spend more money toward the new funding model. How do you do that?’’
