Legislators discuss education funding cuts

Mar 6, 2010 — Mt. Vernon Register-News

Kandace McCoy

Mar. 6, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- MT. VERNON -- Legislators say they've been hit with calls from area superintendents regarding lack of payments from the state and concerns of how much the governor intends to cut from education in his budget proposal.

"I have had several superintendents call me or e-mail me and most are saying, 'I know we're in tough times, but tell me how much you're going to cut education. Then pay me what you're going to pay me,'" said Sen. John O. Jones during a media teleconference Friday morning.

"The RIF (reduction in force) date is March 15," said State Rep. David Reis (R-Ste. Marie). "Last year schools saw this poorly designed budget after the RIF date. We're seeing superintendents having to make these decisions now. Then, if the money does come in, they can hire back."

According to Jones, who participated in the call along with Reis and State Rep. John Cavaletto (R-Salem), Gov. Quinn published a brief outline of his budget proposal last week on the state's Web site. That proposal included cutting education by about $1.4 million dollars.

"Why don't we get into illegal immigration or Medicaid fraud," Reis asked about the cuts Quinn is proposing. "Are we going to spend several hundred million on illegal immigrants or several hundred million on pre-school?"

However, Jones says he believes the governor is not doing enough, especially since the state is expected to fill about 180 positions just within the Illinois Department of Transportation by summer.

"Those hires pay $40,000 to $65,000 starting salaries," he said. "We may need some of these people, but not in a desperate need as we do teachers and keeping teachers in the classroom."

There are also concerns with the higher education system, and both Jones and Cavaletto said they believed a further look into university programs and salaries are needed.

"When you get four professors that have been at a university for a long time and are rarely in the classroom, their classes and curriculum needs to be looked into," Cavaletto said.

"I saw where the chancellor at University of Illinois is going to retire in October, but they're going to keep him as a consultant for 14 months at about $270,000," Jones said. "It makes no sense to let him retire and receive full benefits and then keep him on for more pay. And I feel for SIU. But they just hired a new chancellor that's going to make over $300,000 a year. They can do without that chancellor -- the main purpose of a chancellor is to try to increase enrollment, so why would we pay someone that much for that? That could be another 10 teachers and that's upsetting to me."

Last week Gov. Quinn's office launched a Web site invited the public to participate in the budgeting process and provide feedback for the 2011 budget. Quinn will deliver his budget address on March 10.

For more information about the state's budget, visit www.budget.illinois-.gov.

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