Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for June 1, 2005 IEA CAPITOL REPORT

Okay...breaks over...back to ERO/AERO etc...

Capitol Report

6/1/2005

A Publication of the Government Relations Department
Blagojevich to Sign ERO/Pension Bill

Gov. Rod Blagojevich is expected, at any moment, to sign SB 27, legislation altering pensions and retirement incentives for public employees, including elementary and secondary teachers and higher education instructors. The IEA Government Relations Department has assembled a fact sheet on the legislation.

The bill, which becomes effective upon the governor’s signature, contains language far more favorable than Speaker Michael Madigan and other proponents of "pension reform" had in mind when they announced their plans late in 2004. For example:

* ERO Survives
o ERO, which Speaker Madigan wanted eliminated, will remain available until at least 2012.To differentiate the original proposal from the revamped version, the new proposal will be referred to as the Adjustable Early Retirement Option (AERO).

* "Pipeliners" Get Original ERO/Bonuses
o Teachers who, by May 31, 2005, had filed written notice to retire in 2006 and 2007 can retire under the ERO provisions set to expire June 30, 2005.
o End of career salary increases called for in current contracts are not affected by the new law.

* Bonuses of up to 6 percent
o The state will count toward TRS and SURS pensions salary increases of up to 6 percent without additional employer payments. Original proposals on this issue would have limited bonuses to as little as 2.5 percent.

* Cost of Living/Money Purchase Remain Available
o Retirement ages and automatic cost of living increases for TRS and SURS retirees remain unchanged.
o All current TRS and SURS members continue to have access to the money purchase program.

In addition, the ERO/Pensions legislation:

* Preserves the use of two years of sick leave to be used toward TRS service credit.
* Preserves the single-tier system and did not create a two tier system.
* Did not place the SURS money purchase interest rate under the governor’s authority.

IEA supported this bill after it became clear the proposal IEA helped develop, which identified new funding sources for pensions without raising the income tax, lacked legislative support.

"Given the economic and political climate in Illinois, this was the best proposal for IEA members the legislature would pass and the governor would sign," said IEA president Anne Davis. General Assembly Approves Education Budget

The General Assembly approved an FY 06 budget for education that increases funding for elementary and secondary educational programs by $314.4 million (a 5.1 percent increase). Among the key provisions:

* Increases foundation level by $200 per student, to $5,164.
* Funds special education and other categorical programs slightly above last year’s levels.
* Provides $11.8 million to assure that no school district receives less money next year than this year.
* Elementary and secondary education budget adds $30 million for early childhood education, $2 million for bilingual education and $10 million for the ADA Block Grant.
* Adds $19 million for new education programs suggested by legislators.

On the downside, for a second straight year, higher education funding is frozen at the previous year’s level.

ESEA Bills Sent to the Governor

The following IEA-backed bills are awaiting action by the governor:

* HB 404 - Rep. Roger Eddy (R-Hutsonville/Sen. Dan Cronin (R-Elmhurst) – Ensures students taking the Prairie State Exam will be counted toward the average daily attendance for the purpose of calculating general state aid.
* HB 678 - Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora)/Sen. Miguel del Valle (D-Chicago) – Allows more time for elementary school students in a state-approved transitional bilingual education program or transitional program of instruction to take state assessment tests when approved by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
* HB 3678 - introduced by Sen. Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood), would force ISBE to continue to seek from the federal government additional state flexibility under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). In addition, state legislators would get the opportunity to influence changes in ESEA that ISBE recommends to the U.S. Department of Education.

Tenure Bill Stalls in House

Once again, the Speaker of the House has refused to call for a vote IEA’s Tenure Reform bill, SB 277. The Speaker refused to call the bill even though he added an amendment to include the City of Chicago teachers in the bill. We will continue to seek a vote when the General Assembly returns in October for their fall veto session.

Waivers Resolution Approved

The General Assembly approved a resolution that would deny several mandate waiver requests by school districts. SJR 45 (Lightford) would disapprove the following mandate waiver requests:

* Somonauk CUSD 432 regarding instructional time
* South Beloit CUSD 320 regarding instructional time
* Thornton Fractional THSD 215 regarding physical education
* South Beloit CUSD 320 regarding physical education.

The following requests would be approved for just one year (instead of for five years):

* Cook County SD 130 regarding substitute teachers
* Freeport SD 145 regarding substitute teachers
* Gavin SD 37 regarding course requirements
* Hollis CSD 328 regarding non-resident tuition
* Gavin SD 37 regarding physical education.

IEA opposed SJR 45 because it grants two of the three waiver requests from school districts to allow substitute teachers to teach more than 90 days in any one school year. We believe that such waiver requests and renewals violate the School Waiver Act, which banned waivers that affect teacher certification matters.

Unfunded Graduation Bill Passes

SB 575 increases the high school graduation requirements. It would require at least two years of science (instead of one); three years of mathematics (instead of two), including algebra and geometry; at least two "writing-intensive courses," one being an English course; and English every year of high school (instead of three years).

IEA opposed this bill because there was no funding source established to fund these new courses, such as additional textbooks and professional development. We worked with the state board of education, the governor’s office, the House and Senate sponsors, and members of the education community to try to secure the additional revenues required to implement the new courses over the next four years. ISBE estimates it would require an additional $20 million per year to implement these courses.

Other Legislation Sent to the Governor

* HB 1588 – provides a stronger criminal penalty for those who commit assault against a school district employee engaged in her/his duties as an employee of the district. Also adds into this category judges, employees of the state of Illinois and officers of a unit of local government.
* HB 2011 - Allows a school district to pay for student teaching experiences. A grant program is established for this purpose. (This bill is on short debate - House calendar currently.)
* SB 1815 – As part of the education budget implementation bill, tests for writing will be gradually added to the list of mandated state tests. IEA opposed this inclusion because our legislative platform calls for us to oppose any statewide test above the federal standards.

Mandated Reporter Legislation Stalls

The alleged failure of Berwyn School District officials to obey the law requiring reporting of all suspected child abuse involving students spurred the introduction of several bills but none of them, HB 1320, SB 208, HB 2369, HB 1094, HB 2002, were approved.

Lawmakers have Adjourned

The House and Senate have adjourned until the fall veto session – October 25, 26 27 and November 2, 3 and 4.