North Cook News

Katie Miller said the key to improving education in the state is to assure the money Illinoisans spend actually assists students who need it.

Miller, who is running in the GOP primary in the 53rd House District, discussed SB1, an evidence-based funding formula that assists the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) more than other districts, with the North Cook News, noting it appears to be yet another bailout for CPS.

"I believe education funding is critically important, and we have to make changes to improve the adequacy of funding for our schools, however, this new formula perpetuates the inadequacy by forcing suburban districts to send more money to CPS,” Miller, who is vying for the seat being vacated by Rep. David Harris (R-Arlington Heights), said.

Recent reports by Illinois Policy, "New Education Funding Plan Repeats Chicago Public School Bailout History," and "Evidence Based Education Doesn't Funding Work, Would Cost Illinois Taxpayers Billions," suggest that in SB1 there is financial assistance to CPS’ pensions by rigging the new evidence-based funding formula that “crowds out funding for other districts,” while it also giving CPS $200 million in state funding not offered to any other district.

Miller, a longtime nurse at St. Alexius in Hoffman Estates and case manager at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, said Harris voted for SB1.

“My opponent has said that he believes that this a good example of compromise,” Miller said. “I don’t believe that I would have voted for it due to CPS bail out.”

Miller, who is seeking the 53rd District seat, which covers Prospect Heights and Mt. Prospect, said though she does not favor a CPS bailout, she does favor the evidence-based formula offering scholarships that increase school choice.

“I have a sister-in-law who uses scholarships in Ohio to be able to send her kids to a better school,” Miller said. “My children have access to great public schools. All children should have the opportunity to go to a great school.”

According to the Illinois Policy, the $3.5 to $6 billion dollars a year in “additional taxpayers funding,” will pay for “instructional materials” as well as employee benefits,” however, that doesn’t necessarily mean better classroom results, according to Miller.

“Throw more money at a problem does not fix a problem,” Miller said. “We need reforms.”

She said it is clear special interest are keeping in mind the adults with pension and high administration cost, a notion that must change.

“I believe consolidation would decrease administration,” Miller said. “There would be less overall administration because it would be shared among more schools. There would then have more money for the classroom and students, which is where the focus should be.”