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South Central Reporter

Thursday, November 21, 2024

Over 130 high-paid administrators oppose Illinois school efficiency bill

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More than 130 Illinois public school administrators who signed witness slips in opposition to a bipartisan bill that aims to consolidate Illinois school districts make six-figure salaries, according to an analysis compiled this week.

Seven employees of school districts in South Central Illinois were among those who have signed witness slips against House Bill 3053, which would attempt to direct more funds into the classroom.

School district administrators around the state who have expressed opposition to the bill number more than 400, according to the Illinois Policy Institute.

The bill, authored by Rep. Rita Mayfield (D-Waukegan), is now being reviewed in the state Senate. It passed the Illinois House of Representatives unanimously in March.

HB 3053, the Classrooms First Act, requires the formation of a panel that would review which of Illinois’ 852 school districts should be consolidated to improve efficiency in the public education system. The overall goal would be to reduce the number of districts in the state by one-quarter.

As of last year, the average Illinois school district served 2,400 students, the sixth-lowest level among states with student populations of more than 1 million, according to the institute.

The panel, dubbed the School District Efficiency Commission, would not force districts to merge, but its recommendations would be put before local residents for an up-or-down vote.

Spending on district-level education bureaucracies in Illinois is nearly double the national average, according to the institute, suggesting that a consolidation plan could result in more efficient spending of taxpayer dollars.

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Local School District Employees Opposed to HB 3053

NameFirm, Business or AgencyRepresentingTestimonySalary
Juletta Ellis Pana Junior High SchoolJuletta Ellis--Pana School DistrictWritten Statement Filed$82,333
Tom Siegler Bartelso School District 57Bartelso SD 57Record Of Appearance Only$95,604
Stephen Phillips Mulberry Grove SchoolsselfWritten Statement Filed$79,670
Brad Turner Nashville CHSD 99Nashville CHSD 99Record Of Appearance Only$129,252
Brad Detering Salem Community High SchoolSalem Community High School District #600Record Of Appearance Only$129,553
Kent Stauder Okaw Valley CUSD  302Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA)Written Statement Filed$123,950
Tami Kampwerth Aviston Elementary

School District 21

Aviston Elementary

School

Record Of Appearance Only$124,664
Source: Illinois General Assembly

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