Tillman Pushes State to Release $4.7 Million OK’d to Fix Dolton 149 Schools Board Chief Pledges to “Deepen Engagement” with District Parents

Tillman Pushes State to Release $4.7 Million OK’d to Fix Dolton 149 Schools Board Chief Pledges to “Deepen Engagement” with District Parents

(Calumet City, IL) ­– In the $46.4 billion Illinois state budget signed by Governor JB Pritzker in April was $4.7 million for south suburban Dolton School District 149 to provide structural upgrades to the district’s schools, and Dolton 149’s top school board official is pushing the state to release the money as soon as possible.

“The Dolton 149 Board of Education is deeply grateful to Governor Pritzker for approving the $4.7 million to upgrade our schools and to State Senator Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) for his leadership to ensure that our students can learn in modern school facilities equal to their peers in other regions of Illinois,” said Dolton 149 Board President Wilbur Tillman. “We are eager to begin the work to improve critical health and life safety upgrades throughout our buildings, so we are asking the state to expedite the release of the money so we can begin immediately to improve our 2,267 students’ learning environment.”

According to Tillman, $3.5 million will be used to replace windows in the district’s school buildings that are more than 50-years old and $1.2 million will be used to upgrade the electrical systems at the schools.

“Replacing the 50-year-old windows in the school buildings will ensure that each classroom has circulation of fresh air, that classrooms are warm in the winter and cool in the early summer months,” said Tillman. “And a modernized electrical system will guard against unexpected loss of power to schools or the risk of fire. This is a safety issue for us.”

The Dolton 149 board voted unanimously at its regular, monthly board meeting on Wednesday, December 14, to authorize Superintendent Dr. Maureen White to work with the district’s government affairs consultant, former State Senator Donne Trotter (D-Chicago), to get the money released from the state.

“I have told Superintendent White to tie herself to the hip of our lobbyist to get this money in the door,” said Tillman. “I am dogmatic about this. I want the Superintendent to chase down the money.”

In addition to his quest to quickly secure the $4.7 million approved by the state legislature, Tillman also pledged at Wednesday’s board meeting to “deepen engagement” with the district’s parents and grandparents.

“At our recent ‘Breakfast with Santa event, I had the opportunity to speak with many parents and grandparents and to listen to their concerns regarding deepening engagement with the district,” said Tillman. “I heard you, parents and grandparents, regarding engagement. I will do all that I can for more engagement and strive to create a deeper partnership with the district.”

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