Lawmakers vote to send money to superintendents

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois lawmakers are sending Gov. Pat Quinn a plan to pay the state’s regional school superintendents, who have been working without compensation since July.

The Senate approved a plan Thursday 38-16 to take approximately $12 million from a tax stream sent to local governments to pay the elected schools chiefs and their assistants in 44 regional education offices. Quinn supports the legislation.

“When someone takes the oath of office, they should be paid,” said Sen. William Haine, an Alton Democrat.

The money will come from personal property tax replacement funds, which are shared with local governments. That had been a strong point of opposition, even though the legislation allows siphoning the money for this year only.

“My county, my municipalities are struggling. They’re cutting people; they’re cutting services,” said Sen. Suzi Schmidt, a Lake Villa Republican. “Three or four thousand dollars for a municipality might not sound like much to some people, but that might be some snow plowing I know we’re going to need pretty soon.”

The elected superintendents provide services such as certifying teachers and bus drivers, inspecting schools and offering alternative education programs for truant and troubled youths.

Quinn said in July there wasn’t money in the budget to pay them and canceled funds for their salaries. He said the offices weren’t needed and local governments should decide whether they want to keep and fund them, but didn’t offer other plans for assigning their duties.

The legislation would also form a committee to study the superintendents’ duties and how best to deliver the services.

Most of the superintendents have been working without pay since July 1. At least four have resigned. In some cases, county boards or other local government bodies picked up the salaries.

“If Gov. Quinn by fiat wants to make a major policy change like abolishing the regional offices of education, he has to talk to the General Assembly before going home for the summer, rather than waving a magic wand and creating chaos,” said Sen. Kirk Dillard, a Hinsdale Republican.