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
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