SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) issued the following statement in response to the ruling on Chicago Public Schools’ lawsuit against the state:“Governor Rauner has made it clear that Chicago’s children are just pawns in his political game, but I am hopeful that enough members of the General Assembly will come together to provide Chicago Public Schools with the same level of funding that every other school district receives. It’s time to put politics aside and put our children and their education first.”