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Galesburg school board supports public education roadmap Vision 2030

An alliance of statewide education organizations wants to make sure Illinois students are prepared for jobs that don’t even exist yet.

They want shared accountability that goes beyond standardized tests to measure students’ academic growth and proficiency.

And they want predictable funding for Illinois public schools, which could include advancing legislation to provide multi-year funding.

“One of the things that’s very difficult every year is that we don’t really know how much money we’re going to get from the state,” said John Asplund, superintendent of Galesburg District 205. “So looking at ways to give you a couple of years of forecast to make better planning makes a lot of sense.”

Vision 2030 is a blueprint for advancing public education in Illinois over the next decade, put together with input from teachers, administrators, school board members, and parents.

It is endorsed by an alliance of organizations including the Illinois Principals’ Association and Illinois Association of School Boards.

Under the three main priorities of future-focused education, shared accountability, and predictable funding, Vision 2030 also hopes to improve student safety and give school districts curricular flexibility to meet unique needs in their communities.

There was a Vision 2020 a decade ago as well. Asplund said one very important change that came out of that grassroots effort was evidence-based funding, which allows school districts in need of more funding to get more funding.

“Because prior to 2017, that was not really how it was done. And it's been a big help to our school district for sure,” Asplund said.

Local school boards are being asked to approve resolutions in support of Vision 2030. The hope is legislators will pay more attention if more school boards adopt such resolutions.

The Galesburg board of education approved its resolution Monday.

Board member Maury Lyon said it’s hard to argue with any of the points.

“That’s why we’re sitting here. To see student progress, to see funding for our children, and services,” Lyon said. “We wouldn’t be sitting here unless we agreed with them already.”

Tri States Public Radio produced this story.  TSPR relies on financial support from our readers and listeners in order to provide coverage of the issues that matter to west central Illinois, southeast Iowa, and northeast Missouri. As someone who values the content created by TSPR's news department please consider making a financial contribution.

Jane Carlson is TSPR's regional reporter.