Regional superintendents' suggestion wouldn't close suburban offices

SPRINGFIELD — A recommendation from the state's regional school superintendents to eliminate nine of their offices likely won't lead to any closures in the suburbs, one superintendent said Wednesday.

As state officials have debated how — or if — they should pay for the offices in recent years, the regional superintendents forged ahead with their own proposal.

Among their suggestions was streamlining the number of statewide regional offices from 44 to 35 in the next several years, and at the same time being guaranteed funding from the state.

DuPage Regional Superintendent Darlene Ruscitti said the nine eliminated regional offices would come in less populated areas downstate. Suburban offices, she said, wouldn't likely be targeted for closure under the proposal.

Last year, Gov. Pat Quinn cut all state funding for regional superintendents, and many worked without pay for months. Then, lawmakers approved a plan to pay for the offices until June 30 via local taxes, taking some money away from other local governments.

Now, the fate of the offices is again subject to the state budget debate in Springfield, which will begin in earnest later this month.

“There are a lot of factors at play here, yet,” said Ruscitti, who sat on the panel that made the recommendation.

Regional superintendents are charged by the state with handling several education services, including local school safety inspections.

Suburban Cook County is handled by three Intermediate Service Centers, which provide some of the same services as regional superintendents, but also wouldn't be affected by consolidation plans.