Wake up, Springfield. Bring back school savings

As a 12-year school board veteran and former president of Barrington District 220, I want to speak out regarding public school funding in Illinois.

Illinois remains one of only a handful of states that allows schools in the same area to be divided into elementary districts ("feeder districts") and high school districts. Most states require all schools to be in unit districts - kindergarten through 12th grade under one administration.

There are currently almost 900 separate public school districts (and thus separate public school taxing bodies) in Illinois. For feeder districts, superintendent compensation is more than 400 percent higher. Administrative costs are more than 150 percent higher.

Why the cost disparity? Simple - redundancy of administrative costs, duplicative operating costs, and multiple headquarters' office buildings - all outside the classroom environment.

How much savings are we talking about? Utilizing per pupil statistics, if every school district in Illinois were required to be a unit district, the savings would total roughly $1.5 billion annually ($1.1 billion local property tax relief and almost $350 million in state funding savings) - more than $2,000 per pupil saved.

Illinois should mandate the formation of unit districts and bank these savings immediately as a first step. This structure would save administrative costs, reduce local tax rates, and save state funds.

Educationally, unit districts foster more continuity in curriculum between elementary, middle, and high schools.

Plus harmonization of teacher salary schedules between K-8 and the high school will facilitate a level playing field for teacher recruitment and retainment.

Jeff Nordquist

Barrington