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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, 2015 marks the 150th anniversary for Regional
3Superintendents of Schools in Illinois, represented by the
4Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools;
5and
 
6    WHEREAS, Regional Superintendents of Schools have a rich
7history of serving as an essential support office between the
8Illinois State Board of Education and local school districts;
9and
 
10    WHEREAS, The office of County Superintendent of Schools was
11created as a predecessor for Regional Superintendents of
12Schools by State law in 1865; the County Superintendent was to
13serve 4 years in office and was required to visit each school
14in the county at least once a year; and
 
15    WHEREAS, These first County Superintendents were also
16allowed to sell school lands, were given the custody of all
17county school funds, and were the official advisers of school
18officers and teachers in their counties and the agents of the
19State Superintendent of Schools in reaching schools; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Duties for County Superintendents grew
21significantly over the next several decades, including to

 

 

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1oversee the difficult process of large-scale school
2consolidations in the 1950s; and
 
3    WHEREAS, County Superintendents shrank from 102 offices to
478 and became Regional Superintendents in 1973; further
5consolidation dropped the number of offices to 57 in 1977; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Further consolidation will reduce the number of
7Regional Offices of Education to 35 in July of 2015, along with
83 Intermediate Service Centers that serve schools in Cook
9County outside Chicago; and
 
10    WHEREAS, As Regional Superintendents of Schools turn 150
11this year, they are a vital part of educational success for
12students in every county of Illinois; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Regional Superintendents of Schools are committed
14to providing 3 pillars of exceptional service to students,
15educators, and parents: (1) safety, by inspecting school
16buildings and ensuring school bus drivers are trained and
17teachers have proper background checks and fingerprints; (2)
18support, by licensing educators and providing top-notch
19professional development services; and (3) success, by
20providing safe schools and administering high school
21equivalency examinations and certificates; therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
2ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize and
3congratulate the members of the Illinois Association of
4Regional Superintendents of Schools on their sesquicentennial
5celebration; and be it further
 
6    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7presented to the leadership at the Illinois Association of
8Regional Superintendents of Schools as an expression of our
9esteem and respect.