SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois superintendents warned of school closures and staff layoffs as they implored state lawmakers to pass a budget to give them certainty for the fall.

Education funding is the only portion of the budget for the current year that Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner signed.

But superintendents from districts including Kankakee, Moline, and Streator expressed worry Tuesday that there’s no agreement for next year yet. They say they’ll have to deplete their reserves to open this fall and that some might not make it all year.

Their message came on the same day the Democrat-led Senate passed a major overhaul of the school funding formula they say needs to be more equitable. The House will now consider the bill.

Rauner says passing an education budget shouldn’t be stalled by negotiations over the formula.

 

 

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