State Senator Steve Stadelman recently announced that Rockford and Harlem public schools will receive $229.8 in additional funding to help address the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“For more than a year now, our teachers have put in countless hours to adapt their classrooms to remote learning,” Stadelman said. “This funding gives schools, students and their parents the relief they need to get back on track for this upcoming school year.”

The funding comes as part of the most recent federal COVID-19 relief packages. Schools, students and parents have overcome challenges that could not have been imagined before the pandemic began, including remote and hybrid learning, digital connection issues and new processes for receiving state and federal aid that normally flow through schools.

Local school districts are set to receive the following amounts:

• Harlem Unit School District 122 - $21,300,984

• Rockford School District 205 - $208,505,504

The districts also received a total of $12,897,380 in CARES Act funding last year.

The majority of the funding comes from the American Rescue Plan, which gives local schoolsflexibility in how theyuse the money over the next 3 ½ years. At least 20% of the funding must be used to address learning loss, but school districts also can use the money to address to better equip schools for safe learning, prevent layoffs, address students’ social and emotional needs, fund summer programs or to ensure all students have access to reliable Wi-Fi and technology.

The State Board of Education, in collaboration with other state agencies that address education, has produced a guide for local school districts to help them decide how to best use their resources. While the guide and other state-sponsored services are completely voluntary, the state aims to support local districts during this difficult time.

“Rockford area schools know what they need to get back to a new normal,” Stadelman said. “But, this guide can help them with that planning moving forward.”

In total, Illinois received nearly $7 billion to support local school districts.

Stadelman bill would give sexual assualt surviviors lifetime no-contact orders

In an effort to protect survivors of sexual assault from being forced to see their assailants, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) passed legislation out of committee on Tuesday that would make a civil no contact order permanent when the assailant is criminally convicted of sexual assault.

“Survivors of sexual assault are forced to live day in and day out with their trauma,” Stadelman said. “The least we can do is not make them relive it.”

Currently, under Illinois state law, sexual assault survivors are forced to see their assailants in court every two years to renew their no contact orders.

“These no contact orders are based on convictions. Those convictions don’t change over time,” Stadelman said. “People should have the right to feel safe in their daily lives without having to endlessly go to court.”

The legislation is an initiative of the city of Rockford. The city worked with the Rockford Sexual Assault Counseling, which suggested the lifetime order of protection. Similar protections are already in place in Illinois for stalking victims.

Senate Bill 2277 passed the Illinois Senate Criminal Law Committee with a vote of 10-0 and now heads to the Senate Floor for further consideration.

Governor joins Stadelman to promote $15.5 million in arena investments

State Senator Steve Stadelman was joined by Governor J.B. Pritzker last week to celebrate $15.5 million in Rebulld Illinois funds being awarded for infrastructure improvements to the BMO Harris Center in Downtown Rockford as part of a deal to sell the Rockford Ice Hogs hockey team to the Chicago Blackhawks.

The state's capital development contribution of $13 million -- plus $2.5 million individually secured by Stadelman -- will help improve visitor experiences through audio/visual and digital technology upgrades, concession area improvements and other modernized amenities at BMO, home of the Ice Hogs. The upgrades come in conjunction with Blackhawks purchasing the Ice Hogs, previously an American Hockey League affiliate of the Stanley Cup-winning Chicago franchise. 

“This is great news for Rockford area hockey fans and downtown businesses,” Stadelman said. “The improvements to BMO Harris Bank Center will ensure the entertainment venue remains a tourist attraction. The state continues to show its commitment to Rockford by supporting the revitalization of downtown.”