Consolidating school district administration is one way to save taxpayers' money, according to Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris).
At an April 17 Senate Education Committee hearing, Rezin presented SB3418, which allows school boards to share superintendents and other administrators either by resolution or a citizen-initiated referendum, a bill the sponsor said could bring more money into the classrooms.
Opposing witness Zach Messersmith, with Illinois Statewide School Management Alliance, said though the measure may save money, the notion of the question going to ballot disturbs the coalition.
Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris)
“We do not feel that an additional referendum for one specific personnel item is the right way to go with school leadership,” Messersmith told Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-Shorewood), who questioned how Rezin’s bill would change the present process of district sharing.
Rrezin disagreed with Messersmith.
“These are the taxpayers that we hear from each and every day, talking to us about their high property taxes and wanting some resolution or relief,” Rezin said.
The measure is one of many ideas GOP lawmakers are putting forth, according to Rezin, who said it gives citizens a choice to consolidate administration.
“You still get to keep your school, your teachers, your levy and your school board,” Rezin said.
One region that would benefit from Rezin’s bill would be Union School District 81 in Joliet, supervised by Tim Baldermann. As reported in December 2017 by the Will County Gazette, the very existence of the district and superintendent, whose salary has almost doubled by $100,000 since 2012, is in question.
Rezin said what it would take for the question to even be printed on the ballot would involve a process that entails a petition be signed by 8 percent of voters from the prior consolidated election.
“If it is on the ballot and a large school district wants a smaller school district to be part of it, we want to make sure voters from both school districts have a proportional representation,” Rezin said of keeping the referendum fair.
Rezin said the referendum would have to pass in 51 percent of both school districts to become law; however she is open to any suggestions on how to consolidate school district administration. After further explaining more referendum specifics to Sen. Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill), Rezin found herself at a loss for words when questioned by Sen. Daniel Biss (D-Evanston).
“My question is if you are a person in the public who is spearheading this referendum, why not just run for the school board?” Biss asked.
“That’s a good question, but I don’t have that answer,” Rezin said, adding time could be an issue.
Biss said he asked because, “where do you draw the line” when it comes to putting forth issues on the ballot.
“I think this bill is what it is," Rezin said. "It is not only giving school boards the ability to make the decision to enter into an agreement about administration, but it also gives the taxpayers, through referendum, a voice.”
SB3418 passed through committee by a 9-3 vote and moved to the Senate floor for debate.
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