By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – Amid a rare spirit of bipartisanship, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed into law a school funding bill that the state’s chief executive said will bring more money to school districts based on the needs of children.

Rauner signed the bill in Chicago, but on his way to the city, the Republican Governor met with students and educators at Bloomington High School.

“Teaching is the key to a better life for everyone. And we are very blessed that we have wonderful teachers here in Bloomington, but across the state of Illinois. But we need to get them more resources. We need to get them more support.”

The bill includes a $75 million scholarship fund that would help pay for kids in under-performing public schools to attend private schools, a provision opposed by District 87 Superintendent Barry Reilly, but was added to the bill to bring Republicans on-board.

Republican State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington, one of the school funding bill’s principal architects, said the legislation represents a “historic shift toward a new education funding system where the quality of a child’s education will longer be dependent on where they live.”

Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan said the bill is a “victory for compromise.”

“Democrats and Republicans have created a plan where every school district wins,” the speaker said.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]