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Quinn: Slash regional school offices

BY KURT ERICKSON
THE SOUTHERN SPRINGFIELD BUREAU

SPRINGFIELD - Gov. Pat Quinn's budget speech had a familiar ring to it for some Illinois' educators.

Although the Chicago Democrat wants to boost overall spending on education by 3.2 percent in the fiscal year beginning July 1, he outlined a proposal to cut state funding that pays the salaries and office costs of regional school superintendents.

"The $13 million annual savings will be spent in the classroom, rather than on administration," Quinn said.

That same concept was floated in 2003 by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. The idea was later rebuffed by state lawmakers who said cutting the regional education offices would leave gaps in services, ranging from reduced screening for bus drivers to fewer high school equivalency exams.

In addition to cuts to the regional offices, Quinn is forming a commission to study ways to consolidate some of the state's 860-plus school districts - a move that has been pushed by a number of his predecessors.

The governor also wants to reduce the subsidy local school districts get for transporting students to and from their classes. The $95 million cut would have to be absorbed by local schools, potentially resulting in higher local property taxes.

"We think the districts and the parents can handle that on their own," Quinn budget chief David Vaught told reporters during a briefing on the budget.

Like the busing grants, Quinn chief of staff Jack Lavin told reporters that the programs at the regional superintendent offices affected by the cuts should be paid for at a local level.

"If the locals elect them, they can pay for them," Lavin said.

Kevin Van Meter, the regional superintendent in Charleston who oversees programming in Coles, Clark, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Moultrie and Shelby counties, had not yet seen the official budget proposal and could not comment Wednesday.