Delivered via email: April 28, 2023
The Senate Executive committee heard “subject matter” testimony on Senate Bill 2225 (Glowiak-Hilton, D-Oakbrook Terrace) which would create a commission to make recommendations on school consolidation. IASB strongly believes any effort to reorganize school districts should be initiated locally. SB 2225 is still in the Assignments Committee in the Senate, and no further action on this bill is expected.
The Senate moved House Bill 3442 (Crespo, D-Streamwood) out of committee and on to the floor this week. HB 3442 is an IASB initiative to allow for greater flexibility for substitute teachers and provide more consistent teaching for students. The bill is now on Third Reading in the Senate and could be voted on for final approval anytime the Senate is in session.
In the House, among all the bills that moved through committee this week, one truly stands out. Senate Bill 990 (Curran, R-Lemont) would restrict a school district’s ability to sell property and would require a special set of rules that others would not be beholden to. SB 990 would force a school district to offer any property for sale first to the municipality or township in which the school is located. The school could not seek maximum value for the property but would be required to sell it at the lower current zoning rate. Districts would also have to secure three appraisals for the property; these increased costs would use funds that could be used to increase student performance. IASB and other aligned educational entities are continuing to negotiate SB 990 to remove the barriers to property sales.
Bills in Progress a Mixed Result
The Illinois General Assembly moved several bills forward in the legislative process this week and those actions had mixed results for school districts across the State of Illinois. In the Senate, the package of teacher tenure bills discussed in IASB Report 103-14 passed out of committee on April 25 and then passed the entire chamber on April 27. Senate Bill 1352 and Senate Bill 1872 will now head to the House where they await assignment to committee. Please continue to watch your inbox for “Calls-to-Action" on these and other bills that impact school board functions.The Senate Executive committee heard “subject matter” testimony on Senate Bill 2225 (Glowiak-Hilton, D-Oakbrook Terrace) which would create a commission to make recommendations on school consolidation. IASB strongly believes any effort to reorganize school districts should be initiated locally. SB 2225 is still in the Assignments Committee in the Senate, and no further action on this bill is expected.
The Senate moved House Bill 3442 (Crespo, D-Streamwood) out of committee and on to the floor this week. HB 3442 is an IASB initiative to allow for greater flexibility for substitute teachers and provide more consistent teaching for students. The bill is now on Third Reading in the Senate and could be voted on for final approval anytime the Senate is in session.
In the House, among all the bills that moved through committee this week, one truly stands out. Senate Bill 990 (Curran, R-Lemont) would restrict a school district’s ability to sell property and would require a special set of rules that others would not be beholden to. SB 990 would force a school district to offer any property for sale first to the municipality or township in which the school is located. The school could not seek maximum value for the property but would be required to sell it at the lower current zoning rate. Districts would also have to secure three appraisals for the property; these increased costs would use funds that could be used to increase student performance. IASB and other aligned educational entities are continuing to negotiate SB 990 to remove the barriers to property sales.