Gov. Blagojevich signs major education reform; appoints new members to Illinois State Board of Education

 

 

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the classroom to pursue the policy side of education and participated in the Sangamon State University (now University of Illinois-Springfield) Legislative Staff Intern Program, serving as the Senate Republican legislative education staff analyst. In 1987, Holmes joined the Illinois State Board of Education, serving in a number of capacities; chief of which was the legislative liaison and key contact for legislators, legislative staff, Governor's office, constitutional officers and educational organizations and civic groups.  Holmes joined the Blagojevich administration in 2003.  

 

 

The seven new members join two remaining members on the state board, Dean Clark (R-Glen Ellyn) and Joyce Karon (D-Barrington).  Clark, a member of ISBE since January of 2003, is the president of Graphic Chemical and Ink Company.  Clark has extensive background in education policy.  He served on the Glen Ellyn District 41 School Board and on the Education Funding Advisory Board.  Karon has also served on the state board since January of 2003.  She served as an affiliate instructor at Northern Illinois University and an independent consultant for school and public libraries. As a library-media specialist in Barrington schools, Karon designed and implemented library media curriculum, created staff development activities to integrate technology into classrooms, chaired local and state committees focused on education and technology and served on state library task forces.

 

The members' appointments require confirmation from the Illinois Senate, but the members are permitted by statute to begin work immediately.  The new law reduces the length of ISBE members' terms from six years to four years and allows governors to remove board members for incompetence, neglect or malfeasance.  Future governors will appoint five board members at the onset of their terms and four more appointments two years into their terms.

 

"We began the last legislative session looking to create a Department of Education.  That would have meant even greater accountability.  The bill I signed today is a compromise, but it gives the newly appointed State Board of Education a chance to do what we sought from the beginning - bring more accountability and take the State Board of Education in a new direction. This board has been given the authority to work with local districts to help them save money and every extra dollar saved is an extra dollar that can be spent on textbook, a computer, or to help pay for a new teacher.  Saving money and investing it in the classroom is a big part of what I expect the new State Board of Education to be about," said Gov. Blagojevich.

 

"But, I am asking the board to focus on three main areas.  First, the State Board has to immediately work to reduce the backlog in teacher certification.  I've already signed legislation

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that gives the board more time to clear the backlog.  Second, the board has to reduce the number of rules and regulations that burden local school districts.  For years, the board seemed to have been more focused on making it harder for local districts to do their job.  It's time the board started making it easier for local districts.  And, third, I'm asking this board to come back to me by the end of the year with one major idea for a new policy initiative we can focus on in 2005.  I'm asking them to bring me one realistic and affordable initiative that allows us to do something real, something that tangibly improves the way we educate our children here in Illinois."

 

 

 

SB 3000 gives the Governor and legislature more control over the board's financial management by subjecting the State Board to line-item budgeting for the first time.  Line-item budgeting and new agency divisions specifically outlined in SB 3000 allow the board to better focus on helping schools educate children and improve services such as early childhood education. 

 

SB 3000 provides for the creation of shared service centers, allowing school districts the option to pool their resources to save on administrative costs and a new purchasing program to allow local schools districts access to statewide contracts where they might find lower prices.  To assist local school districts with their health care costs, the law authorizes districts to participate in the state's prescription drug purchasing plan.

 

"I am proud to have sponsored this critical legislation to move Illinois education in the right direction.  This law will ultimately make the system of education more accountable to the Governor and to lawmakers, for the benefit of the children of this state.  I believe the reform that the Governor signed today puts us on the right track to help us determine how we fund education in Illinois," said Rep. Calvin Giles (D-Chicago), chairman of the House Education Committee.

 

The reform also takes several steps to reduce the 2,800 pages of rules and regulations imposed on local school districts by the Illinois State Board of Education.  The law makes ISBE more accountable by requiring the board to follow statutory rule-making procedures when it makes new rules. And, one of ISBE's statutory tasks is to further reduce the number of existing mandates.