Senate president weighs in on consolidation

Eric Fodor

State Sen. President John Cullerton has offered some good criticism of Gov. Pat Quinn's proposal to consolidate Illinois school districts.

State Sen. President John Cullerton has offered some good criticism of Gov. Pat Quinn's proposal to consolidate Illinois school districts.

In his Feb. 16 budget address, Quinn proposed reducing the number of school districts in the state to 300. The move would save $100 million in administrative costs, according to Quinn.

Quinn's consolidation plan would mandate new, larger district boundaries. Grade school districts that are completely within high school districts would be merged into, presumably, community unit school districts.

Cullerton contended an incentive-based system would work better, according to the Decatur Herald-Review. The state could help merging districts build a new high school, or help retire debt from a district in financial trouble that wants to consolidate with a wealthier district, according to the Herald-Review account.

A spokeswoman for Quinn said an incentive plan has been in place for a decade and has not led to much consolidation.

If the financial incentives are in place or remain in place, I don't see how smaller districts in financial trouble - those that should be the target of possible consolidation - can refuse to take the bait forever if the bait is enticing enough. Cullerton may be on to something.