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Kankakee Times

Saturday, November 2, 2024

Kankakee County educators oppose Illinois school efficiency bill

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More than 130 Illinois public school administrators who signed witness slips in opposition to a bipartisan bill that aims to consolidate Illinois school districts make six-figure salaries, according to an analysis compiled this week.

Ten employees of school districts in Kankakee County were among those who have signed witness slips against House Bill 3053, which would attempt to direct more funds into the classroom. Local school district employees opposing the bill include the superintendent of the St. George Community Consolidated School District No. 258.

School district administrators around the state who have expressed opposition to the bill number more than 400, according to the Illinois Policy Institute.

The bill, authored by Rep. Rita Mayfield (D-Waukegan), is now being reviewed in the state Senate. It passed the Illinois House of Representatives unanimously in March.

HB 3053, the Classrooms First Act, requires the formation of a panel that would review which of Illinois’ 852 school districts should be consolidated to improve efficiency in the public education system. The overall goal would be to reduce the number of districts in the state by one-quarter.

As of last year, the average Illinois school district served 2,400 students, the sixth-lowest level among states with student populations of more than 1 million, according to the institute.

The panel, dubbed the School District Efficiency Commission, would not force districts to merge, but its recommendations would be put before local residents for an up-or-down vote.

Spending on district-level education bureaucracies in Illinois is nearly double the national average, according to the institute, suggesting that a consolidation plan could result in more efficient spending of taxpayer dollars.

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Local School District Employees Opposed to HB 3053

NameFirm, Business or AgencyRepresentingTestimonySalary
Helen Boehrnsen St. George CCSD No. 258Helen Boehrnsen, Superintendent, St. George CCSD No. 258; IASA MemberRecord of Appearance Only$161,264
Megan Langenhorst St. George Elementary School CCSD 258Megan LangenhorstRecord of Appearance Only$5,209
Sara Earling St. George CCSD No. 258Sara EarlingRecord of Appearance Only$33,599
Amber Studyvin St. George SchoolPersonRecord of Appearance Only$46,782
Deena Hilliard St. George SchoolSt. George School 258Written Statement Filed$43,316
Dale Hastings Milford Area Public Schools  124Dale HastingsWritten Statement Filed$177,670
Kathleen Saindon St. George Elementary SchoolSt. George Elementary SchoolRecord of Appearance Only$69,069
LeighAnn Delabre nonenoneRecord of Appearance Only$50,759
Stephanie Koerner St. George ElementaryStephanie KoernerWritten Statement Filed$45,737
Angela Cooper St. George CSD258noneRecord of Appearance Only$128,027
Source: Illinois General Assembly

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