Chambana Sun

In a May 26 Facebook post, Rep. Mike Marron shared information on what he calls "the ISBE funding flop."

“Rep. Marron joined House Republican Leaders McCombie and Hammond in a press conference today to discuss their disappointment in another partisan budget,” Marron's Facebook wrote. “This budget is not balanced and includes huge funding holes on vital programs like the after-school resources we utilize here in Vermilion County that will now have to shutter.”

Illinois Republicans championed against Governor J.B. Pritzker’s signing of the 2023 Fiscal Budget. Within the budget, the state will give $350 million to K-12 public schools.

In his Facebook post, Marron shared a link to a news release from his official website. In that news release, he said: “ISBE has admitted their fault on this. That agency is hand-picked by Gov. Pritzker. His lack of accountability on this issue continues to be astounding and an incredible disservice to downstate taxpayers. He is choosing to continue to shortchange us and undercut promises—all the while introducing a $50.6 billion spending plan that includes $18 million in ISBE dollars for Democrat pet projects; funds that could instead be used to cover existing promises he made.”

The 45th United States President passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that gave tax cuts for individual tax rates and the highest-income earners. The Balance Money noted that the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation explained the act would add $1 to $2 trillion to the deficit.

The ESSER funds that Marron wrote about are the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds, created as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. They were first created in the CARES Act as part of an Education Stabilization Fund.

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget noted the CARES Act came from $3.4 trillion for COVID relief.

The Illinois State Board of Education said that Illinois received three rounds of ESSER funding. “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (ESSER I), Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (ESSER II), and American Rescue Plan (ARP ESSER), which totaled nearly $8 billion.”

Ballotpedia noted Marron has been in the House Higher Education Committee since 2019.

In an April 11 article, “Education Week” looked at what happens when the ESSER funds used by many school districts for after-school programs run out. The outlet reported that “Bloomington School District 87 in Illinois is also using ESSER funding to provide full-day academic enrichment during the summer, along with camp-like experiences, such as field trips, hands-on learning, and guest speakers.” Bloomington created a three-part program, for academic enrichment, community partnership for after-school programs and a partnership with Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University to bring student-teachers into the after-school programs and give those student-teachers college credit for their efforts.

Votesmart noted Marron voted against increasing Illinois teachers’ salaries to $40 thousand.

Also in April, WAND News reported on the funding issue. They noted that ISBE released this statement: "ISBE awarded 21st Century Community Learning Centers grantees in FY 2019 at $9.7 million per year for five years. The five-year grant cycle for this cohort concludes this year in FY 2023. There is not federal funding available to offer renewals or to offer a new grant competition for FY 2024. Renewals are not guaranteed, and every grantee includes a sustainability plan in their application identifying the resources available to maintain and continue programming once the grant concludes.”