Consolidation Commitee Report

 The Commission to study consolidation has recently completed a series of listening hearings around the state to gather information regarding consolidation. They have studied the costs if districts were to consolidate.  The attached report provides interesting readable information.

http://www2.illinois.gov/ltgov/Documents/CFC%20Materials/December%205,%202011%20Meeting/ISBE%20Presentation%20on%20Multi-District%20Realignment.pdf

Classrooms First Commission is the School Consolidation Study Group

House Bill 1216 called for a commission to study school consolidation chaired by the Lt. Governor.  Lt. Governor Sheila Simon has formed the study group called, "Classrooms First Commission".  Press Release The first meeting was held in September. On this site you can obtain information on the meeting agendas and materials. The research that the committee has reviewed is available through attached power point presentations on this website.

http://www2.illinois.gov/ltgov/Pages/ClassroomsFirstCommissionOverview.aspx

Summary of Education Forum with Rep. Sente

EDUCATION FORUM

VERNON HILLS HIGH SCHOOL

October 4, 2011

Meeting summary notes taken by Judy Egan, Oak Grove School Board of Education Member

Speakers: Carol Sente, Illinois State Representative

Erica Lindley, Exec Dir., ED-RED

Diane Rutledge, Exec Dir., Large Unit District Association

Dick Ingram, Exec Dir., Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Il

On October 4, 2011, Representative Carol Sente held an Education Forum with other educational leaders, specifically on the topic of state legislative activities affecting education. Representative Sente indicated she plans to hold forums twice yearly. She also invited constituents to become members of Citizen Advisory Committees. There are several advisory committees covering a variety of topics, including education. The advisory committees meet twice a year. For more information, contact Rep. Sente at repsente@gmail.com or 847-478-9909.

The evening’s discussion focused on three pieces of legislation: HB 1216 and SB 7, both signed into law last year; and SB 512, pending legislation related to pension reform.

HB 1216 created a stakeholder commission charged with researching and developing a report and recommendations by July 1, 2012. The goal of the study is to look at how school districts might be better realigned or share resources to improve education in Illinois. In order for any recommendations in the study to be implemented, additional legislation would need to be drafted. Representative Sente is not on the commission; however, Representative Linda Chapa LaVia, one of the bill’s sponsor, is a member.

SB 7 requires principals’ and teachers’ evaluations to include student growth as a significant factor in evaluating performance. Moreover, SB 7 also addresses such topics as tenure and the collective bargaining process. Changes to the tenure process include performance requirements and eliminating seniority as a primary factor in teacher selection for open positions or when reductions in force are necessary.

SB 512 is currently making its way through the legislature. There is a bi-partisan group with stakeholders currently working on reforms.

SB 512 requires current state employees to make a one-time, irrevocable election to  one of the following options:

1.     Teachers would keep the same benefit structure but their contribution amount would increase to 13.77% in the first year and be recalculated every three years thereafter.

2.    Teachers would pay in 6% for a lower level of benefits. All benefits accrued to date would remain untouched.

3.     Defined Contribution Plan (similar to a 401k). Designed to be more of supplemental retirement income; levels of benefits not guaranteed.

It was noted that some senators believe there are elements in pension reform that are unconstitutional because the level of benefits constitute a contractual obligation. Therefore, a constitutional amendment for pension reform might be necessary.

Representative Sente stated she is undecided regarding her support for SB 512, but strongly feels those benefits previously earned by retired teachers should not be taken away or reduced. Neither Rep. Sente nor Mr. Ingram mentioned increased pension funding by school districts. However, Erica Lindley, Executive Director of ED-RED, referenced Senator Cullerton’s plan to increase school districts’ TRS contributions from .58% to 7%. She warned that the State might look to districts if the funding is not worked out with the teachers. She further noted that ED-RED member districts have stated that they cannot afford or absorb more mandated contributions.

Town Hall Meeting with Carol Sente October 4

Join Rep. Carol Sente as she updates us on school issues. Rep. Sente will talk about school consolidation and the progress of the committee established to research school consolidation. She will also talk about Senate Bill 7 which is a recent bill that will affect how school districts evaluate, transfer and layoff teachers. Another major issue is teacher pensions.   When our school communities met with Rep. Sente last winter she promised to return to continue dialogs with the community.

Carol Sente writes:
"A quality education is the cornerstone of future success and I believe Illinois must do all it can to continue improving education while still addressing our budget challenges.  In order to provide an opportunity for concerned parents and teachers to hear updates about education reform in Illinois, I am hosting an Education Forum on Tuesday, October 4,  I strongly encourage parents and teachers to attend and learn about the changes taking place as Illinois implements recently enacted education reforms."

Please come and stay informed.

Date: Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Time:  6:30 p.m. 
Place: Vernon Hills High School Little Theatre, 145 Lakeview Parkway, Vernon Hills

HB 1216 Passes Senate Unanimously

HB 1216 passed the Senate unanimously on May 17.  The legislation creates the School District Realignment and Consolidation Commission to study and make recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly on several subjects, including optimal student enrollment, reducing money spent on duplication of efforts, and lowering the property tax burden.  The commission includes twenty representatives including several educators.  The legislation was amended in the Senate, meaning that the House must concur with the amended version of the bill before it is sent to the Governor.  There is no forced consolidation included in this bill.  If the General Assembly decides to pursue a recommendation made by the commission, it must go through the regular legislative process before becoming law. 

Erika Lindley
ED  RED

Video: Linda Chapa LaVia on ed reform

Video: Linda Chapa LaVia on ed reform
  Linda Chapa LaVia is the sponsor of the Consolidation Bill but here she talks about the School Reform Bill that has passed the House and Senate this week.

Senate Bill 7 SCHOOL REFORM Notes from ED RED (Sen. Lightford, D-Maywood; Speaker Madigan, D-Chicago) includes the education reform legislation, including streamlining teacher dismissal processes, using performance evaluation ratings as part of RIF/recall/placement and tenure decisions, and adding additional steps in the collective bargaining process prior to a strike. It was expected that the bill would be amended in the House to include additional issues; however, the bill passed the House intact. The Chicago Teachers Union raised concerns about two changes relative to the Chicago Public Schools; CTU and CPS are working through language to address these concerns. These changes may appear in a “trailer” bill later in session. SB 7 passed both chambers. ED- RED supports the bill.

Governor Still Interested in Consolidation

GOVERNOR/LT. GOVERNOR STILL PUSHING CONSOLIDATION - From Alliance Report, May 6, 2011

Though several bills that would have mandated school district consolidation were derailed earlier this year, Governor Pat Quinn and Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon are still looking at the consolidation of school districts without local community approval. HB 1216 (Chapa La Via, D- Aurora), which has passed the House of Representatives and was approved by the Senate Education Committee on Thursday, would create a commission to study school district consolidation or reorganization. This bill is by far the most fair and useful proposal submitted this spring on the subject. It calls for a commission, with representation from all of the major educational stakeholders – school board members, superintendents, principals, school business officials, teachers, parents, Regional Superintendents of Schools, and legislators – to study the issue and submit a report to the General Assembly. The report would not have the force of law and would not be binding.

Generally, the commission would try to find the optimal number of school districts that should be in the State, the optimal target enrollment for school districts, and to find where consolidation or reorganization might be the most beneficial.
The proposal by the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, yet again, would go far beyond that. Their plan would be for the commission to establish statewide “reorganization criteria”, then create a list of school districts that fail to meet the arbitrary criteria and direct them to consolidate or reorganize. The commission and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) would then “work with these school districts to identify the form of reorganization and the process, procedures and date by which the organization will be implemented on a voluntary basis”.
Under the Governor/Lt. Governor proposal, commission members would be appointed by the Governor instead of allowing the organizations (such as IASB, IASA, IASBO and IPA) to designate their individual representatives on the commission as is currently provided in the bill. Finally, the Governor’s plan would have the commission issue a report that would include:
 A list of school districts that “the commission has concluded will not benefit from any form of reorganization”
 A “list and status report of school districts that have voluntarily opted” to reorganize/consolidate
 A list of school districts that were targeted because they met the reorganization criteria “but have chosen not to participate in any form of reorganization”. “These school districts will be subject to penalties” for not consolidating.
 Recommended legislation that will include: “penalties for non-compliance with the commission’s recommendations”; amendments to the School Code to give the ISBE the authority to issue regulations to mandate school district consolidation/reorganization; and “any legislative action deemed necessary by the commission to implement reorganization”
This proposal is obviously not voluntary, but a plan for mandatory consolidation of school districts.

You are urged to contact your state representative, state senator, the Governor, and the Lieutenant Governor to oppose this proposal. Let them know that:
1) School district consolidation must be for the purpose of educational improvement 2) School district consolidation must be approved by the affected voters of the school district 3) HB 1216, which studies school district consolidation, must advance with no further amendments
House members: Senators: Governor: Lieutenant Governor:
http://www.ilga.gov/house/ http://www.ilga.gov/senate/default.asp http://www2.illinois.gov/gov/Pages/ContactUs.aspx) http://www2.illinois.gov/ltgov/pages/contactus.aspx

Town Hall Meeting at Oak Grove

The Oak Grove Town Hall Meeting was held on April 19 and included a presentation by Erika Lindley from our lobby group ED RED.  Erika was introduced by High School District Superintendent Prentiss Lea who explained how our districts are working in tandem together and share membership in ED RED.  Erika was very helpful in outlining HB 1216 and explained that the bill now calls for a commission to study the topic of consolidation throughout the state.  She indicated that the legislators do not appear to have an appetite for "forced consolidation".

About 60 community members attended the Town Hall meeting.  All of the participants who completed the evaluation survey, indicated that they "agreed" or "strongly agreed" that the Town Hall Meeting was valuable.

Town Hall Meeting Planned

April 19, 2011
7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
OGS JUNIOR HIGH GYMNASIUM
Join us in this opportunity for two-way communication. Topics will include:

Consolidation Legislation
Special Guest, Erika Lindley, ED-RED
ED-RED is an advocacy organization that monitors and actively influences education policy at the Illinois Statehouse, particularly issues that are priorities for our member school districts.

Brief School District Update
Proposed Idea to Change School Schedule for 2011-12
Dialog on other topics presented by the community

Elementary Consolidation SB 626

Senate Bill 626  http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09700SB0626sam001&ga=97&sessionid=84&doctypeid=SB&legid=55455&docnum=626&gaid=11&session

The amendment to Senate Bill 626 creates one elementary district for each high school district.   

Senator Chris Lauzen (R)
25th District

Consolidation is a Study Now

Forced Consolidation Off the Table    "The group wouldn’t have any powers to force districts to combine."

Read more: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110406/news/704069910/#ixzz1Iqwxv6kS

Linda Chapa LaVia, an Aurora Democrat, is sponsoring a plan to form a 19-member commission to study consolidating school districts.

Oak Grove Committee First Meeting Summary

The Committee to Protect Oak Grove School (CPOGS) had its initial meeting on 4/4/2011. Members at the meeting reviewed options available to the district with regards to opposition to forces school consolidation.  We discussed a proposed framework that addresses five areas:
1) Engaging the community
2) Influencing our legislators
3) Consideration for media relations
4) Shared services opportunitie
5) Preemptive consolidation scenarios

Please check this blog often and watch your email for important consolidation related information and activities.  Make plans to join CPOGS for future meetings and events!

Meetings with Legislators

Here are some of my views on HB 1216 and SB 2134.  I went to Rep. Sente's Coffee in Vernon Hills Saturday morning and I attended Senator Garrett's Forum on April 4.

HB 1216- Rep. Sente confirmed at the coffee on Saturday that forced consolidation seems to be off the table but that her committee's job to study consolidation is still alive and well.  She tried to emphasize that her co-sponsored bill is a study bill and that the only thing that will come from it is recommendations.  The House and Senate would need to accept the recommendations, and then after an acceptance (or rejection) a new bill would have to be written for any action (i.e., actualconsolidation) to take place. 

 SB2134 I am not sure how Senator Garrett's SB 2134 bill works with/against Sente's/Chapa LaVia's 1216 bill.  Garrett said it is a compromise bill.  It would encourage districts to share resources in areas such as transportation, maintenance, personnel (business office, superintendent office, curriculum, testing, staff development, grant writing, instructional programs, etc) in a way that would save money and in turn put the money back into classrooms/student learning.  It would require that districts report to/document their efforts (annually?) to their ROE.  This bill is currently being redrafted/amended and should be finished by the end of the week.

Paula Sterner
Oak Grove School Board Member

Little Support for Forced Consolidation

 Governor Quinn has assigned consolidation to the Lt. Governor Sheila Simon. She indicates that this is just a discussion starter.
Daily Herald 3/31/2011

Shared Services Meeting with Senator Garrett

Last week, the Senate Education Committee approved SB 2134 which encourages districts to engage in shared services with other districts. The sponsor, Sen. Susan Garrett, met with ED-RED prior to the committee hearing and agreed to amend the legislation to address concerns about the scope of the bill. Last week, we met again to discuss the importance of starting with data to determine how districts are collaborating and if policy changes are necessary to help districts coordinate efforts.

Sen. Garrett will hold a forum on Monday, April 4 at 10am at Oakton Community College to hear from local districts on these issues. The meeting will take place in Room 1610 and attendees are asked to park in Lot D. Please RSVP to Sen. Garrett’s office at ilsenate29@sbcglobal.net or 847/433-2002 by April 1st.

Oak Grove School District will be represented at this meeting by Board Members, our Business Manager and a parent from the Consolidation Committee.

The Myth About School Consolidation

Dr. Brett Clark, Executive Director of the Illinois Association of School Administrators wrote this document based on a research report from the National Education Policy Center on school consolidation.   To read Myths about School Consolidation download this document:
http://www.iasaedu.org/images/stories/op%20ed%2032811.pdf

Longer version of this report
IASA Brief on Consolidation Facts and Myths

Chris Koch, Illinois State Superintendent

Click quote to see video
"I doubt there is going to be anything that comes out this year that gives that kind of direction, that says you have to consolidate," Koch said.  

March 31, 2011 Iliniois school chief: Forced consolidation won’t happen this year

http://qctimes.com/news/local/government-and-politics/article_ff14c0f4-5bee-11e0-825b-001cc4c03286.html

Rep. Pam Roth on School Consolidation

Rep. Pam Roth, Full-time legislator 75th District,   certified public accountant since 1999; former board member and President of Saratoga School District 60c in Morris, Illinois.  Rep. Roth supports choice in consolidation, shared services and the need for the ROE (Regional Office of Education).

Message from Rep. Carol Sente

April 1, 2011
Dear Neighbors,

It has been a busy and productive week in Springfield! After many people reached out to my office expressing concerns over the forced consolidation of schools, I am happy to report that those voices have been heard and forced consolidation has been taken off the table.

Yesterday, Illinois State Superintendent Christopher Koch said opposition to the idea came from all over —    local school officials, lawmakers and voters. Koch offered assurance that forced consolidation is all but dead, and that the state would instead focus on incentives, saying, “I doubt there is going to be anything that comes out this year that gives that kind of direction, that says you have to consolidate.”

I want to assure you, that I will continue to fight to ensure that any measure that comes forward in the future that would force our local schools to merge and jeopardize the quality of education and property values in our area should require local taxpayers to approve the measure.

Carol Sente
State Representative, 59th District

Consolidation Meeting at Rondout Summary

Rondout School District 72 and its Board of Education hosted a Community Forum on School Consolidation March 22.  Presenting and answering public questions at the forum were:

Ed Sullivan ( House representative - 51st District )
Jenny Wojcik ( Superintendent )
Keith Gray ( Board President )
Erika Lindley ( Executive Director ED RED )
Carole Sente's AM Assistant

A number of Oak Grove community residents and stakeholders were in attendance and actively participated in the question and answer session.

One of the questions asked of Carole Sente's representative was if she could confirm that Carole Sente will vote against HB 1216 if a voter referendum is not attached to the bill.  Carole Sente's representative confirmed that Carole Sente made this representation during the Forum held at Vernon Hills High School. However, currently there is no amendment pending to attach a voter referendum to HB 1216 and Ms. Sente will now vote in favor of HB 1216 having been unsuccessful in her attempt to convince Representative Chapa LaVia, author/sponsor of HB 1216, to amend the bill.

Representative Sullivan indicated he will vote yes to HB 1216. He indicated he is in favor of some forms of School District Consolidation but would oppose forced consolidation of schools like Rondout and Oak Grove if the studies authorized by HB 1216 recommend the consolidation of these schools. He advised and cautioned vigilance in the monitoring, lobbying, opposition and preemptive actions districts should take to protect against consequences and unintended consequences of legislation like HB 1216.

Please draw your own conclusions about the implications of the foregoing 2 paragraphs.

I took the opportunity to meet and speak with Ed Sullivan, our elected representative, privately before the Forum. I also took the opportunity to meet and speak with Jenny Wojcik and Keith Gray after the Forum.

I hope to be able to share the additional information I learned from these discussions and at the Forum with the Oak Grove Community Task Force on School District Consolidation on April 4 at 7:00 p.m. in the Junior High Library.

Carl Ioos
Oak Grove School Parent

St. Charles Superintendent Discusses Consolidation

St. Charles Superintendent Donald Schlomann agrees we have too many districts in Illinois but combining them is now complicated. http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/stcharles/news/education/x1777814952/Superintendent-says-consolidation-could-save-state-money

Update on Consolidation Bills

School Consolidation continues to heat up in the Capitol. Last week HB 1216 (Chapa LaVia, D- Aurora) passed out of House Elementary and Secondary Committee. This legislation establishes a Commission to make recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly on the number of school districts in this State, the optimal amount of enrollment for a school district, and where consolidation and realignment would be beneficial. On or before July 1, 2012, the Commission must vote on its recommendations and file a report with the Governor and the General Assembly. If the Commission adopts the report by a three-fifths vote, then the General Assembly must, within 14 days after the report is filed by the Commission, vote on whether to accept the report by the adoption of a resolution by a record vote of a majority of the members elected in each house. This is far better than several other legislative proposals that have been suggested. HB 1216 will allow for a thorough examination into school consolidation endeavors. Any effort to force mandated consolidation would have to be voted on by the General Assembly. The Commission is made up of 15 members one from each of the four legislative caucuses and individuals appointed by various educational interest groups including a school administrator, principal, school business official and a school board member. In order to file a report with the General Assembly it would take 11 votes from the members of the Commission. For clarification in Committee it was stated that the Commission recommendations could not unequivocally close or consolidate schools.

In a fast and furious move...Monday of this week Senate Amendment #1 to SB 2134 (Garrett, D-Lake Forest) was filed and posted for Senate Education Committee at 3:00 pm on Tuesday. This amendment would force school districts to consolidate and to eliminate elected regional superintendents of schools. Without major revisions to the bill, chances are it will never see the light of day. (See Senate Bills on the right hand pages of the blog for more information)

Diane L. Hendren Director of Governmental Relations Illinois Association of School Administrators

Rondout Consolidation March 22 Meeting

Panel Discussion open to the public.

Rep. Ed Sullivan, ED RED Director Erika Lindley, Rondout Superintendent Jenny Wojcik, and Board President Keith Gray

28593 North Bradley Rd.
Lake Forest, Illinois

March 22 7:00 p.m.

( Note to Oak Grove parents - This is the night of Race to No Where movie at Oak Grove)

Rep. Roger Eddy Explains Consolidation

This is an interesting video presented by Rep. Roger Eddy, Illinois State Representative and Superintendent of Hutsonville Unit #1.  Rep. Eddy talks about consolidation, and other education issues.   http://iasa.mediasite.com/mediasite/Viewer/?peid=b91b750c1df74c2198edbdfa3a2042781d

Rep. Carol Sente Meeting Summary

Thank you to our community members who attended the Representative Carol Sente presentation on March 14.  Oak Grove was very well represented. A large number of emails are coming to her from our area. We appreciate that Representative Sente agreed to speak with us about this important topic and she said that this was the largest audience of constituents that she has addressed. She spoke and listened well and I think we have made a connection with her. The audience seemed to find the meeting helpful and stayed until 10 p.m. asking individual questions.

Some points from the meeting:

1)   Continue to send in your emails and letters.  Rep. Sente requested that people be specific about how consolidation may affect them.

2)   Rep. Sente agreed to recommend to Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, the sponsor for HB 1216, that a vote of the people be added to the bill.  Rep. Sente said that she would eventually vote against HB 1216 if that were not achieved.

3)   Consolidation could mean dividing up a school as well as adding districts together.

4)   The amended HB 1216 slows the process and adds educators to the commission that will draw school district lines.

5)   A second bill, Senate Bill 1324 is moving through the Senate.

6)   Our school districts are doing well.

7) For information on bills:  http://www.ilga.gov


Thank you to District 128 for hosting the event and Superintendent Prentice Lea for doing a great job as the moderator and Mary Todoric for the photograph.