Message from the IFT on Last Night’s Election Results
We showed up, and we won.
Tonight proved people believe our schools should be funded. Communities all across Illinois had school funding referendums on the ballot, asking local taxpayers to cover what lawmakers have left unfunded. And IFT members delivered. You met with candidates, knocked on doors, made calls and got your coworkers to the polls to elect leaders who will stand with our students.
Take the credit. You earned it. Now there's no more time for the General Assembly to wait.
Our own members won, too.
Jared Ploger, president of Valley View Council Local 604 and a 20-year high school social studies teacher, was elected to the Illinois Senate. He'll walk into his classroom this week as a senator-elect.
Veronica Garcia-Martinez, a former bilingual educator was elected to the Illinois House in the 70th District.
Congratulations to our IFT-endorsed champions:
Juliana Stratton, U.S. Senate
Kwame Raoul, Attorney General
Illinois Senate
Nabeela Syed
Mike Halpin
Doris Turner
Illinois House
Erica Bray-Parker
Jennie Levin
Jessica Dixon-Heitman
Now we can get to the issues that matter.
Our members work from pre-K to PhD, and so does this fight. Illinois schools are $7 billion short of what the state statute says students need. Public universities are owed $1.8 billion. Districts are cutting staff and closing schools right now, and working people deserve affordable health care and a fix to Tier 2. The leaders we elected last night need to hear from us, and so does every lawmaker who wasn't on our list.
Here's how we keep the momentum going:
Attend the House hearing this Thursday, Nov. 5, at 1 p.m. Educators from across Illinois will be at the Illinois House Elementary and Secondary Appropriations Committee hearing on evidence-based funding in Room C-600 of the Michael A. Bilandic Building, 160 N. LaSalle St., Chicago, to share what underfunding looks like in their schools.
Join our all-member tele-town hall this Thursday, Nov. 5, at 6 p.m. We'll talk about the election results and our next steps in the fight for full funding for public education. We'll call you at the number we have on file. Just answer to join.
Come to the Capitol for Lobby Day on Wednesday, Nov. 18. Educators and public workers from across Illinois will be there during veto session to make sure lawmakers fully fund our schools, colleges and public services. Can't make it? Join us on Wednesday, Dec. 2.
We showed up at the ballot box. Now let's show up at the Capitol.
In solidarity,
Stacy Davis Gates
President, Illinois Federation of Teachers
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