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Payment plan for regional school chiefs fails in House

BY KURT ERICKSON
The Southern Springfield Bureau

SPRINGFIELD - Illinois lawmakers rejected Gov. Pat Quinn's idea for paying regional school superintendents Thursday, leaving the administrators hanging without paychecks for at least another 10 days.

In June, Quinn vetoed more than $11 million earmarked for the salaries of the 44 regional superintendents, saying they should be paid out of a fund currently dedicated to local governments.

In action Thursday, legislation designed to mirror Quinn's concept received just 59 of the 71 votes needed for approval in the House after cities, counties and local school districts launched an intense lobbying campaign to keep lawmakers from dipping into the special fund.

Supporters said they hope to convince some of the "no" votes to switch their positions when the fall veto session resumes Nov. 8. They say the money for the superintendents represents less than 1 percent of the special fund.

"We will keep working with legislators to find the votes for a reasonable solution for our very serious funding problem, and we remain hopeful that resolution will happen in this veto session," said Bob Daiber, president of the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools and Madison County regional superintendent.

State Rep. Roger Eddy, R-Hutsonville, said Quinn's actions have been tough on the regional adminis-trators, who have not been paid since July 1.

"This is wrong. This is an injustice," Eddy said.

Opponents said Quinn should have negotiated with the legislature during the months-long budgeting process last spring, rather than use his veto pen to strike the salaries after lawmakers had left town for the summer.