District statement on School District Efficiency Bill

The Illinois Legislature is considering a bill to create a School District Efficiency Commission (HB3053). District 57 would like to explain its position on this piece of legislation, which has passed the House and will soon be voted on by the Senate. This bill would create a commission to look at all 852 school districts in the state and recommend which ones should be consolidated. We are in opposition to the bill, because we feel consolidating a school district should be a local decision, not  one mandated by the Legislature. We have concerns that consolidation could lead to higher taxes, no cost savings, lack of local control, potential loss of our quality curriculum and programs, and the possibility of losing valued staff, administrators, Board members, etc. If we are mandated to consolidate in the near term, we could see higher expenses (due to the requirement to use the salaries/benefits of the highest paying district) and a potential decline in the educational excellence we have worked hard to attain and that our residents have come to expect. So we believe it's important that individual districts maintain the ability to determine on their own if a consolidation will truly be beneficial to taxpayers, students and staff.

We have researched consolidation extensively and will continue to look into it to determine if, at some point, it is in District 57's best interest. But we are not in favor of a potential government mandate for consolidation. We base this position on our own research and on counsel from the professional organizations to which the District and Board members belong -- the Illinois Association of School Administrators, the Illinois Association of School Boards and the Illinois Association of School Business Officials. These organizations ALL oppose the legislation, as do many of our colleagues in surrounding school districts.

The exception is that consolidation is often a smart move for small rural districts with few students. We have seen these types of districts consolidate and experience financial and educational improvements. But many suburban districts, like ours, do not benefit from consolidation.

Community members who have questions or thoughts about this issue or anything else are welcome to email the Board using this Board Feedback Form. There is also time for Community Comments at all School Board meetings. Our next meeting is tonight (Thursday), 7 p.m. at Fairview. Please note the District avoids answering questions or participating in debates in closed Facebook groups, since those forums are not visible and accessible to all.