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Rock Center in financial straits again - Chicago Tribune
The state's sole public facility serving children who are both blind and deaf is in dire financial straits again.
Three months after the state issued $1.3 million to keep afloat the Philip J. Rock Center, officials at the Glen Ellyn facility said Friday that they may close in early August because of the state's financial crisis.
"There's no tomorrow after July," said Gary Ofisher, director of operations for Keeneyville Elementary School District 20, which contracts annually with the State Board of Education to administer state funds for the center. "We don't know what to do."
The last-second funding from the state comptroller's office in April covered operations at the Rock Center through the middle of June, said Peggy Whitlow, the center's chief administrator. Last month, the Rock Center made payroll with a $250,000 bank loan.
But the state hasn't paid the vouchers it owes the facility dating back to Feb. 1 because of the financial crisis, Whitlow said. More than 23,000 education vouchers totaling $1.3 billion are unpaid statewide, said Mary Fergus, a spokeswoman for the Illinois State Board of Education. The state is only expediting payments for general state aid, Fergus said.
Fergus said the agency is aware of the Rock Center's funding crisis but could not expedite voucher payments to the facility. Fergus said the agency would not allow students to be sent anywhere without making sure their individual programs are going to be met.
"We understand the unique services (the Rock Center) provides, and we're concerned about their struggle," Fergus said. "But there are 869 school districts across the state, many of which are struggling. This is part of a gradual unraveling of state services."
The Rock Center houses 14 students ages 6 to 21 who are legally blind and deaf, as well as severely disabled. Many students at the Rock Center are so profoundly disabled they rarely go home because their parents are unable to care for them. The center also offers support and training to 428 deaf and blind children, many of whom live at home and receive educational services through local schools or special education co-ops.
Though traditional school districts are able to fall back on property tax revenue, the Rock Center relies entirely on the state. In recent days, Rock Center officials have tried to access another line of credit, but banks are skeptical of giving out loans to institutions that are owed money from the state, Ofisher said.
If the Rock Center does not find enough funding by Aug. 1, "we would be in a real emergency," Whitlow said.
"Unfortunately these children are powerless," she said. "And at this point, I'm powerless to help them."
The state's sole public facility serving children who are both blind and deaf is in dire financial straits again.
Three months after the state issued $1.3 million to keep afloat the Philip J. Rock Center, officials at the Glen Ellyn facility said Friday that they may close in early August because of the state's financial crisis.
"There's no tomorrow after July," said Gary Ofisher, director of operations for Keeneyville Elementary School District 20, which contracts annually with the State Board of Education to administer state funds for the center. "We don't know what to do."
The last-second funding from the state comptroller's office in April covered operations at the Rock Center through the middle of June, said Peggy Whitlow, the center's chief administrator. Last month, the Rock Center made payroll with a $250,000 bank loan.
But the state hasn't paid the vouchers it owes the facility dating back to Feb. 1 because of the financial crisis, Whitlow said. More than 23,000 education vouchers totaling $1.3 billion are unpaid statewide, said Mary Fergus, a spokeswoman for the Illinois State Board of Education. The state is only expediting payments for general state aid, Fergus said.
Fergus said the agency is aware of the Rock Center's funding crisis but could not expedite voucher payments to the facility. Fergus said the agency would not allow students to be sent anywhere without making sure their individual programs are going to be met.
"We understand the unique services (the Rock Center) provides, and we're concerned about their struggle," Fergus said. "But there are 869 school districts across the state, many of which are struggling. This is part of a gradual unraveling of state services."
The Rock Center houses 14 students ages 6 to 21 who are legally blind and deaf, as well as severely disabled. Many students at the Rock Center are so profoundly disabled they rarely go home because their parents are unable to care for them. The center also offers support and training to 428 deaf and blind children, many of whom live at home and receive educational services through local schools or special education co-ops.
Though traditional school districts are able to fall back on property tax revenue, the Rock Center relies entirely on the state. In recent days, Rock Center officials have tried to access another line of credit, but banks are skeptical of giving out loans to institutions that are owed money from the state, Ofisher said.
If the Rock Center does not find enough funding by Aug. 1, "we would be in a real emergency," Whitlow said.
"Unfortunately these children are powerless," she said. "And at this point, I'm powerless to help them."