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Regional school chiefs question cuts of $9 million in office salaries

By Kurt Erickson
The Southern Springfield Bureau

SPRINGFIELD - Regional school superintendents appear ready to keep their offices open in the coming days even though Gov. Pat Quinn eliminated state funds for their salaries Thursday.

Gil Morrison, the regional superintendent of DeKalb County who serves as president of the superintendents' statewide lobbying group, said his colleagues should continue with their duties while officials investigate how to react to the governor's decision.

"I am telling them to keep the offices open and keep doing the things they were elected to do," Morrison said Friday.

On Thursday, Quinn used his veto pen to cut $9.1 million set aside to pay salaries at the offices, which assist local school districts with a number of administrative tasks like bus driver certifications and GED testing.

The governor had asked for the cuts in February, but lawmakers refused to go along with his proposal in the budget they approved in May. The General Assembly could overturn the governor's reductions, but the legislature isn't due to return to Springfield until the fall.

In the meantime, officials were scrambling Friday to investigate what to do.

Mark Kiehna, regional superintendent for Monroe and Randolph counties, said he's unsure if he will be classified as an employee or a volunteer if Quinn's move strips him of his salary.

That potential change in status could imperil his ability to sign off on school construction projects, teacher certification renewals and school aid claims.

"I'm not closing my doors today. We just have a lot of questions about the legal issues this raises," Kiehna said.

Matt Donkin, superintendent of the Franklin and Williamson regional office, said he plans to keep the office open for the time being in hopes a solution is found.

"I was elected by the people in these two counties to do a job," Donkin said.