March2020LM

Series Part XV

MakingaDifference: ANewYear,More Progress

FiveMoreSchoolDistrictsShare HowEBFBenefitsTheirStudents

Auburn CUSD #10

North Greene CUSD #3

By Jason Nevel IASA Director of Social Media and Publications

Wabash CUSD #348

In August 2018, we launched our Making a Difference series to better understand how Evidence-Based Funding is helping Illinois students. We profiled 50 school districts and one thing was abundantly clear from our conversations with superintendents. The state’s investment into public education is making a difference. STEM programs were created, social workers and counselors hired, class sizes reduced, electives restored and student safety improved, all as a result of just two years of additional state funding.

Eldorado Unit #4

Johnston City CUSD #1

This month, we continue our series on how school districts across the state are using Evidence-Based Funding dollars to improve student outcomes. The series this time around, however, has a new wrinkle. In addition to learning how the dollars have already made a difference, superintendents share what continued support of the Evidence-Based Funding Formula would mean for their school districts going forward. Telling these stories is important as IASA continues to advocate for the EBF formula to be properly funded over time. You can also find an interactive map on our website with the stories of all 80 schools we have profiled so far.

Auburn CUSD #10

“We are heading in the right direction,” Superintendent Darren Root said. “This formula has proven to prioritize the education of school districts that do not have the local tax base to support equality throughout the state.” EBF dollars have been used to hire a social worker, which has provided students with another level of social-emotional support. The district also hired a librarian to better support student’s reading. In addition, the district has begun replacing outdated textbooks for more modern, digital versions and invested the dollars to add to the district’s technology inventory. Lastly, EBF was needed to help fund the purchase of four new buses in the district’s aging bus fleet.

Enrollment: 1,337 FY18: $427,008 FY20: $346,058 Type: preK–12 FY19: $316,231 How EBF has made a difference The passage of EBF has helped Auburn CUSD #10 dig out of the hole that was created by proration in General State Aid and late payments to school districts. To get by during that time, the district cut 42 employees over three years. Despite the reductions, Auburn CUSD #10 was still living on an annual deficit budget of $500,000 to $600,000 per year. EBF closed the budget deficit, and Auburn CUSD #10 has now begun to invest dollars back into students and district operations.

16 LM March 2020