For Immediate Release
January 26, 2005
Eight school districts to receive consolidation incentive
grants after Gov. Blagojevich signs bill to fund incentives
Funds made available by agency cost
cutting measures at
Illinois State Board of Education
Springfield, IL – Today, the Illinois State Board
of Education (ISBE) processed payments to eight school
districts for consolidation incentive grants totaling
$1.98 million. The grants were made possible when Gov.
Rod Blagojevich signed Senate Bill 3362 into law, which
included funding for the eight Illinois school districts.
“The Governor called on us to cut the fat from our
agency operations and redirect that money to schools,”
said State Superintendent Randy Dunn. “We took a
hard look at things and were able to do just that.”
In November of 2004, Dunn announced plans to cut $2.6
million from the agency operational budget this fiscal
year. From those agency savings, the General Assembly
and Gov. Blagojevich have reallocated $1.98 million to
fund the school consolidation incentives.
Districts that will receive incentive payments as a result
of SB3362 are: Prairie Central District 8, $598,125; Downers
Grove District 58, $114,059; New Hope District 6, $9,869;
Fairfield Public School District 112, $128,454; United
District 304, $73,234; Sangamon Valley District 9, $173,640;
Staunton District 6, $605,664; and El Paso-Gridley District
11, $272,982. The districts should receive their funds
by February 25.
Since 1984, 103 districts have received consolidation
funding from the state. Consolidation affords school districts
greater flexibility in the services they offer students,
increased administrative efficiency, and a means to address
underlying financial problems. School districts that consolidate
are eligible for the following grants from the State Board
of Education:
- For four years the consolidated district receives
General State Aid at the level of the district receiving
the most State Aid prior to the consolidation.
- For four years the consolidated district receives
a grant to pay the difference in teacher salaries, allowing
salaries in the combined districts to be increased to
the same level.
- The consolidated district receives a one-time grant
to cover some of the negative fund balance that one
district brought to the consolidation.
- The consolidated district receives $4,000 per certified
staff person, which includes all teachers and administrators
holding certificates.
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