Lack of Pay for Regional Superintendents Threatens Start of School

SPRINGFIELD—Any local school with a new building, new teachers, new bus drivers or even new students may be in danger of missing the first day of school because of the ongoing political fight over paychecks for regional superintendents in Illinois.

Because he wanted local communities to bear the costs, Gov. Pat Quinn zeroed-out the state budget line of $11 million intended to pay for Illinois' 44 regional offices of education. Quinn used his amendatory veto power to strip the money, but the constitutionality of eliminating state funding for the elected regional superintendents is in question. 

But local taxpayers have not taken any action and regional superintendents have been working without pay since July 1. 

Valley View doesn't seem likely to be affected too much.

Sharon Hawks, the district's executive director of human resources, said the only area that would affect is probably teacher certification for those graduating or finishing coursework in August to get a new certificate or endorsement.

As of right now, though, Hawks aid she didn't know of anyone in that particular situation.

Without regional superintendents, Madison County Regional Superintendent Bob DaiberDaiber said, no one can legally sign off on new school building occupancy permits, new teacher certification, new bus driver training, GED testing and truancy enforcement, among several other things. 

"If this work isn't done by the regional offices of education, the repercussions that occur in school districts are unforeseen at this time, because this has never happened," said Daiber.

Matt Donkin, regional superintendent for Franklin and Williamson counties in southern Illinois, said working without a paycheck is a "day-to-day" decision.

Donkin insists that most regional superintendents are dedicated to local schools and local students, but they are also realists, and many have families and financial needs. 

"As we get into the end of July, first of August, any jobs that might be available, regional superintendents are going to take," said Donkin. 

Donkin said closing a regional office leaves local schools with only one option—going to the state for help. And Fox River Grove Consolidated Schools Superintendent Tim Mahaffy said the state hasn't been much help to local schools recently. 

"People are asking us questions that we don't have the answers to. We used to refer them to the (regional office of education), now we refer them to the state…and I don't know if people are getting their questions answered," said Mahaffy. 

Mary Fergus, a spokeswoman for the Illinois State Board of Education, said the state can answer some questions but little more than that. 

"We do not have the capacity at the State Board of Education to take on all the responsibilities of the regional offices of education," said Fergus. 

Since the state budget was approved in June, lawmakers have been discussing how to find a new funding source. But the Legislature is not scheduled to return to Springfield until late October for the fall veto session. 

Daiber said schools could operate until late October without a regional superintendent, but a lot of work may not be done or done properly. 

Editor's Note: This article was originally published by Illinois Statehouse News and was written by Benjamin Yount.