A delegation of four students and school officials waited excitedly at the Lyons Township High School North Campus to greet an important visitor.
“The governor’s coming. That doesn’t happen everyday,” said J.P. Remijas, 17, a junior from Western Springs.
Remijas and three other students Marissa Kural, 16, and Nicholas Fuentes, 17, both of La Grange Park, and Kayln Harris, 17, of Brookfield, shook hands with Gov. Bruce Rauner as he entered the school Monday to talk about education funding and to meet with students.
“I’m excited to meet him,” Fuentes said. “He’s a hero of mine. “
Fuentes said he likes Rauner because he believes he is defending the Illinois Constitution and trying to put the state on a better financial footing.
Harris said she thinks her school’s quality reputation attracted the governor.
“We’re just excited he wanted to come here — that we have such publicity or (good) image that he’d want to come here,” she said.
Rauner toured a jewelry and metal working class and then held a question-and-answer session with members of a history class. He talked about the budget stalemate, school funding and pension reform. He encouraged students to ask him questions, but they seemed a bit timid. Fuentes asked him what he thought of candidates from outside government, such as Donald Trump, getting involved in the political sphere.
Rauner said he’s tried to stay out of the recent political fray, but added, “because we’re in volatile times. It requires real change.”
Remijas asked Rauner, who earned his fortune as a venture capitalist, what was his big frustration as a business person with the state’s policies
“Because of the regulations here, the paperwork, the red tape and restrictions. It was pretty high cost,” Rauner said.
Nathan Evans, 17, of La Grange Park said he enjoyed Rauner’s visit.
“He definitely explained a lot of interesting information. Some things I didn’t know,” he said.
After meeting with students Rauner held a press conference in a hallway at the school where he answered questions from the media about some of issues he’d already covered with students and others such as whether he favors allowing Chicago Public Schools to file for bankruptcy.
He said the Chicago schools and other districts throughout the state should have the option to restructure their debt particularly if they are mismanaged financially or face some other crisis.
“I believe bankruptcy should be an option if it’s absolutely necessary,” he said.
Snapping pictures for the school yearbook as the governor spoke, Bridget Kirby, 17, of La Grange, said the governor’s visit eclipsed the events she usually photographs like club meetings or sporting events.
“Having someone like this is pretty awesome,” she said. “Getting someone bigger at our school is pretty cool.”
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