SPRINGFIELD - A largely party line vote blocked a bill to provide financial and regulatory relief to local school districts in yesterday’s Elementary and Secondary Education Committee. State Representative Tom Morrison’s (R, Palatine) bill had backing by the Illinois School Management Alliance and provided schools with more options when coping with the state’s perpetual late payments.
“Illinois is in a fiscal mess, and it trickles down to our local governing bodies,” said Morrison. “We need to dramatically cut the unfunded mandates on our schools. When the state mandates that a school district meet certain standards but then fails to fund them, the school district should not be obligated to pick up the tab.”
House Bill 4850 allows school districts to discontinue certain state mandates when faced with delayed or nonpayment by the state of Illinois. Morrison claims his bill would allow local school districts more authority in allocating their budgets, and he vows to continue for its passage despite this set back.
- State assessments for writing
- Requirements to track dropouts who have re-enrolled in school
- Requirements to use 5% bio-diesel fuel in their buses
- Requirements to have the designated Integrated Pest Management Person attend training
- Requirements that districts provide summer breakfast or lunch in each school that has at least 50% of the students eligible for free lunch
- Requirements for districts that apply for school construction grants receive certification from a “green building” rating system
- Requirement to grant 30 additional sick days for any employee that serves as a trustee on the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund Board of Directors
- Requirements for driver education
The Regional Offices of Education can currently review and approve school district requests for exemption on a host of unfunded mandates. This process does not make the same exemption for mandates on which funds from the state are promised, but not delivered, however.
“Watchdogs in Illinois want to mandate how school districts spend their money. However, if the state can’t pay its bills on time, locals should be given the latitude to adapt,” said Morrison. “Though it failed this time, I will continue to pursue this measure.”
As of March 15 of this year, the state of Illinois owed $809 million to local school districts, with the oldest vouchers dating back six months.
