No savings in school consolidation

Gov. Quinn has proposed that approximately 600 school districts be consolidated to reduce costs by $100 million. There are currently two pieces of legislation, HB 1216 and SB 1324.

Illinois residents need to quickly address their local representatives and senators on two issues. First, this proposal is likely unconstitutional. The state does not have the authority to control municipal districts, including schools. These are decisions local districts and voters should decide. In that role I do see some benefit in consolidating primary and secondary districts into unit districts, but that should be at the purview of local citizens not mandated from Springfield.

Second, the governor’s process is at best not thought out well and at worst corrupt. Though the proposal would reduce administrative costs and trustee expenses, it would also wind up eventually consolidating the teachers unions from as many as six different districts into one. All the unions consolidated would then be required to have the same salary and benefit structure. There is only one way this will end up. The salary and benefits will be pushed to the highest level of all the districts for salary, health care and pensions. So instead of a $100 million savings to districts and the state it be a $200 million increase.

The governor isn’t equipped to make these kinds of decisions. I would hope some one in his own party would deliver the head slap he needs. He doesn’t seem to listen to anyone else.

Richard Francke

Bartlett