Quinn’s veto hinders DuPage educators

We teach our students that one of the primary responsibilities of the executive branch of government in the United States is to enforce the law. Our students and teachers, like us, will surely doubt that based upon Governor Quinn’s recent actions.

On June 30, at a major press conference, he announced his amendatory veto of the fiscal year 2012 budget passed by the state legislature. Specifically, he vetoed the line item for state support of our 44 regional offices of education.

His action in this matter not only shocks us, but it also makes our ability to serve the students of DuPage County effectively much more difficult. Article 3 of the Illinois School Code (105 ILCS 5/3 et seq.) clearly outlines the state’s expectations for duties of regional superintendents and their assistants. It also clearly defines the state’s responsibility for funding the salaries of those individuals. Their duties are related not to local laws but to state regulations.

Those individuals have now worked for one month without pay. It would appear the fate of their continued existence now lies with the state legislature in its veto session. However, that session will not convene until late October. How many Illinois workers in other fields would continue to work without pay for four months?

In DuPage County we are blessed to have a regional office of education that is a true partner in improving public education for our communities. Leadership makes a difference, and our regional superintendent, Dr. Darlene Ruscitti, has created an office that not only ably handles regulatory duties, but also provides high quality educational support services. According to state law, that is the state’s responsibility.

We strongly encourage the governor to work most expediently with the legislature to rectify this matter.

Kim Perkins

Superintendent,

Bloomingdale Elementary District 13

and the 38 other public school superintendents of DuPage County