Governor hopeful vows more school funds, board change

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Highlighting his six years running Chicago schools, Democratic candidate for governor Paul Vallas offered a broad and costly education plan Wednesday, but said little about how he would pay for it.

Vallas promised annual increases in the base amount of money the state provides for the education of each child. The $4,560 "foundation level" should climb 5 percent or the rate of inflation, depending on budget circumstances, he said.

He also proposed making the State Board of Education part of the governor's cabinet and letting each new governor appoint a new board.

Vallas proposed new offices or agencies to prepare at-risk children for school, help districts borrow money for new buildings and provide tuition assistance to college students who agree to teach in underserved areas.

$480 million cost

He placed the first-year cost of all his proposals at $480 million and said he would find the money by cutting expenses elsewhere. But Vallas would offer no examples of programs he believes could be cut.

He said $480 million amounts to just 1 percent of the state's overall budget. But it also is most of the new revenue the state can expect to take in every year. One estimate places general fund growth at $644 million for the current fiscal year.

"The violent attack on our nation has made the future for all of us less secure," Vallas said at a Statehouse news conference. "Make no mistake: Now more than ever, the future must be about taking care of our children."

Vallas, former budget director for the city of Chicago, ran the city's school system from 1995 until earlier this year. His accomplishments in that troubled school system are sure to be a major part of his campaign.

Asked about reports of teachers repeatedly failing competency tests, Vallas said it was a complex problem that cannot be solved simply by limiting how often would-be teachers can take the tests. He said universities must ensure teaching students can pass before they graduate.

Vallas' opponents immediately began criticizing his plan and his record in Chicago.

"If Paul Vallas does for Illinois schools what he's done for Chicago schools, that's a mixed bag at best," said Pete Giangreco, an aide to U.S. Rep. Rod Blagojevich of Chicago.

Giangreco said Vallas should have spelled out what he would cut to pay for the education plan. Blagojevich did that when he offered a $45 million plan for recruiting more teachers and said it would be funded by cutting funds for lawmakers' projects, Giangreco said.

Billy Davis, spokesman for candidate Roland Burris, called the plan "thin at best."