Greenfield CUSD 10

August 29, 2025

Greenfield Community,

Each week, I receive a newsletter from the State Superintendent.  In this week’s issue, he invited superintendents and their communities to give input on the state budget hearings.  This can be in person or in written form.  Here is what we need from you.   Please consider providing input on this through an online form by asking the state to reimburse districts 100% of the transportation costs for both regular and special education transportation.  

Currently, and for many years, the state prorated transportation funding.   Currently, the rates have decreased from 79% to 73% for regular transportation and from 69% to 61% for special education transportation.  We REALLY need 100% funding.  The Transportation Fund for Greenfield CUSD 10 has a deficit as a result of this.  All school districts in West Central Illinois transport a large number of students to school. Transportation is essential to our rural schools.  

We need legislators throughout the state and our Governor to understand this.  Our local legislators support transportation, as superintendents have shared this with them in our annual meetings.  However, we need to get the attention of other legislators throughout the state of Illinois.  For example, many children in Chicago walk to school, so those legislators may not prioritize funding transportation at 100% and that area of the state has a high number of legislators. 

To submit your input, please click on the link above this message.

You will have to submit your name and some information.  Then, you will click on the last option, “I do not plan to attend a budget hearing but still wish to submit written testimony.”  When you get to the narrative, you can say:

“I would request that regular and special education transportation funding be at 100%, rather than prorated.  Regular transportation has decreased from 79% to 73%, and special education transportation has decreased from 69% to 61%.   Students in West Central Illinois need transportation to and from school.  Many school district budgets are struggling because of this lack of funding.   Please make this a priority in the state budget.”     

From experience, I know that the number of contacts matters on legislative issues. Thank you for taking the time to do this.  It will take you about five minutes.  However, we need to speak up as a community and let our legislators and the Governor hear our voices!

 Gratefully,

Andy Stumpf

Superintendent