HR1044 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1044 LRB093 22499 NHT 52014 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Senate Bill 3000 of the 93rd General Assembly, as it passed the House on May 31, 2004, requires the State Board of Education to develop a 5-year comprehensive strategic plan for elementary and secondary education; and

WHEREAS, The unique needs of rural school districts and school reorganization issues are required to be included in this strategic plan, two significant topics that this State must urgently address; and

WHEREAS, Many rural school districts are faced with declining enrollments, increasing costs, and declining tax bases, and residents of these school districts are faced with limited choices; and

WHEREAS, Schools in rural communities are often the central focus of the community, and the State's policies encourage communities to be economically sound and viable; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the State Board of Education, in developing its 5-year comprehensive strategic plan for elementary and secondary education, to address as soon as possible the unique needs of rural school districts and school reorganization issues in relation to the economic vitality of these communities.