State Representative Blaine Wilhour (IL) | Representative Blaine Wilhour (R) 110th District
State Representative Blaine Wilhour (IL) | Representative Blaine Wilhour (R) 110th District
In a late-night hearing at the State Capitol, Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City) took a stand against the proposed allocation of $35 million for migrant students in Illinois. Leading the questioning of the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), Rep. Wilhour expressed his concerns about the budget request for the next fiscal year.
"I am appalled that the State Board of Education is asking for another $35 million to deal with the crisis of 25,000 unexpected migrant students in their new Fiscal Year 2025 budget request," stated Rep. Wilhour. He criticized the challenges faced by unprepared schools in handling the influx of migrant students and questioned ISBE's budgeting decisions.
Rep. Wilhour raised doubts about ISBE's estimation that migrant students could be educated for only $1,400 a year, highlighting the linguistic and cultural barriers faced by these students. He called into question the transparency of the state's sanctuary policies and urged the Governor and the legislature to reveal the true costs associated with these initiatives.
The debate over the allocation of funds for newcomer students in Illinois continues to spark discussions regarding educational resources and budget priorities in the state.
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