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Knoxville, ROWVA, Galesburg, Monmouth-Roseville could close schools by winter without budget

The nine school districts that comprise Regional Office of Education 33 held a special joint board member meeting tonight to warn of the catastrophic effects that would be waiting should the state not have an education funding bill in FY17.

Mercer County Superintendent Bill Reese told the roughly 150 community attendees that the panic is not overstated.

“I became a superintendent in 1979 and I’ve seen a lot,” Reese says. “But I’ve never seen it this bad.”

Superintendents of Galesburg, Knoxville, ROWVA and Monmouth-Roseville school districts said that it’s possible they won’t have enough money to open their doors as soon as January without General State Aid.

State funding makes up a large share of revenue for ROE 33 Districts and over half for Knoxville, Galesburg, and Monmouth-Roseville.

But crippling results could await even the districts with a smaller dependence on state money.

Superintendent Jeff Whitsett says United gets 25 percent of their revenue from the state but $1 million of that is for transportation, meaning doors could stay open longer than other districts but getting students to school would be an issue.

Williamsfield, the smallest of the nine, only gets 10 percent of their funds from General State Aid but would be hurt if other districts they rely on for shared student services close down. 

Even districts that can make it through the year say they’ll have to ravage reserves and operating funds to do so.

Superintendents and Regional Superintendent Jodi Scott implored community members to contact the Governor and state legislators.

Tomorrow, ROE 33 superintendents, board members and students are traveling to Springfield to voice their concerns to legislators.

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