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Ill. regional ed offices to operate despite cut

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The head of a group representing Illinois regional superintendents says the state's regional education offices will remain open despite Gov. Pat Quinn's veto of funding for salaries.

Bob Daiber (DY'-behr) is president of the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools. He said Friday regional superintendents will fulfill their duties, which include inspecting schools and checking employee backgrounds.

He says the group met with Quinn's staff about how to pay superintendents and their assistants. He says there will be future meetings to work out details.

Quinn used his veto power to eliminate $11.3 million for the superintendents before he signed the budget last week.

The state's budget director has said the 44 superintendents may go without pay for several months until a deal can be worked out with lawmakers.

From the Southern Illinoisan...

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Regional superintendents see glimmer of hope

BY CALEB HALE
THE SOUTHERN

Regional superintendents across Illinois vow they'll continue to work without pay, as officials work with the governor's office to continue funding for the 44 elected education officers.

A statement from the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools issued Friday indicated the governor's administration desires to resume funding for the positions and that there would "be future meetings to work out the details." This after Gov. Pat Quinn vetoed more than $11 million in funding for the offices when signing the 2012 fiscal year budget at the end of June.

Representatives of the regional offices say funding needs to continue because the superintendents oversee vital support services to school districts, including certification of teachers, school employee background checks and training of bus drivers.

Quinn never said how those duties were supposed to be fulfilled without the regional superintendents. The officers, themselves, hope they never have to find out, since the association and governor will be working to find a funding solution.

For the moment, Southern Illinois superintendents say they aren't shutting down anything as the region gears up for the begin-ning of the new school year next month.

"The beginning of a school year is an important time for families, students and educators, so we want to do what we can to be there for them," said Jackson/Perry Regional Superintendent Donna Boros.

Janet Ulrich, superintendent of Regional Office of Education 2, covering the seven southernmost counties, said she and her office are in a similar position.

"I can't imagine walking out this door and telling the schools, ‘We aren't going to serve you,'" she said. "As long as we can stay here, we'll stay here."

Ulrich said she'll continue to work without pay as long as possible. Her assistant will be paid from extra internal funds the office has saved, and other staff, paid largely through grants, can last at least another year.