Judge sides with Quinn on regional school superintendents pay

SPRINGFIELD — A circuit judge has upheld Gov. Pat Quinn’s authority to eliminate salaries for regional school superintendents across Illinois.

Sangamon County Judge John Schmidt says the governor has “broad power” to control state spending. He ruled Friday that it would be wrong to “thrust the court into the appropriations process.”

Quinn vetoed about $10 million in salaries for 44 superintendents and about 40 assistants. They’ve been working without pay since July 1.

They perform a list of duties -- many required by the state -- including certifying teachers, doing background checks and running truancy programs.

But the Democratic governor called them unnecessary bureaucrats. He said if local officials want to keep them, they should come up with local money to pay them.