In the News ~ Feb. 21

in-the-news

Uncertainty still looms for regional superintendents  Sangamon County Regional School Superintendent Jeff Vose does not want a repeat of last year. A year ago, Vose could only watch as Gov. Pat Quinn reduced the money allocated to his office to zero. “I just want to focus on my job, and for the last year, it [...]

In the News ~ Feb. 17

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Rockford Teachers Union Votes for Authority to Start Strike Process if Negotiations Sour  WIFR (CBS) 23 Rockford – The Rockford School Board met in closed session tonight to discuss the REA’s last contract offer. Last Thursday the Rockford Education Association gave the district a new proposal–that’s when administrators canceled yesterday and today’s bargaining sessions so [...]

In the News ~ Feb. 16

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Rockford education, community panels to meet today   Rockford Register Star – The Rockford School District’s Education Committee is hosting a joint meeting today with the Community Input Committee to review the district’s middle school planning guide and course offerings for the 2012-13 school year.  Rockford School Board Rejects Offer from Teachers’ Union   WIFR – The [...]

In the News ~ Feb. 15

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Schools Say They Can’t Absorb Pension Costs Chicago News Cooperative – Even though one-third of Illinois’ schools have been placed on financial watch lists by the state Board of Education, leading Democrats are moving closer toward a plan that would shift teacher retirement costs from the state to schools. The new plan–which gained ground after [...]

In the News ~ Feb. 13

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Officials Concerned About State Budget Cuts and Impact to School Districts WGIL AM Radio 14 (Galesburg) – Local school districts like Galesburg may have to do something they don’t want to do if Governor Pat Quinn and some Democratic leaders get their way. Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Guy Cahill told the school board’s [...]

In the News ~ Feb. 10

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Obama frees 10 states from ‘No Child’ law, not Illinois yet Bloomington Pantagraph – Illinois’s chance for exemption from the federal law is coming. It is among the states applying in the second round of waivers with a deadline of Feb. 21. Illinois State Board of Education spokesman Matt Vanover said the state is almost [...]

In the News ~ Feb. 9

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Schools pay for teacher pensions? They say no   Chicago Daily Herald –  Top Illinois Democrats are thinking about shifting billions of dollars in teacher retirement costs onto local schools to help save the state’s crippled finances, but suburban education officials say they don’t have any Record number of students take advanced placement exams  The State [...]

In the News ~ Feb. 8

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Schools pay for teacher pensions? They say no  Chicago Daily Herald – Top Illinois Democrats are thinking about shifting billions of dollars in teacher retirement costs onto local schools to help save the state’s crippled finances, but suburban education officials say they don’t have any room in their budgets, either. Suburban officials say they can’t [...]

In the News ~ Feb. 7

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Cullerton: Pension changes likely to mean frugal teacher contracts Springfield State Journal Register – Downstate school districts could pay more toward their teachers’ pensions by negotiating more frugal contracts with teachers, Illinois Senate President John Cullerton told The State Journal-Register editorial board on Monday. State pension system: It ain’t no show car Belleville News-Democrat – [...]

In the News ~ Feb. 6

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Pension switch could lead to teacher layoffs, superintendent says Springfield State Journal Register – One local school superintendent predicts that massive teacher layoffs will be the result if legislators decide to shift the cost of paying for teacher pensions from the state to local districts.  Schools criticize Quinn idea to shift pension costs Springfield State [...]