HR0266 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0266 LRB099 11388 MST 32211 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, 2015 marks the 150th anniversary for Regional Superintendents of Schools in Illinois, represented by the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools; and

WHEREAS, Regional Superintendents of Schools have a rich history of serving as an essential support office between the Illinois State Board of Education and local school districts; and

WHEREAS, The office of County Superintendent of Schools was created as a predecessor for Regional Superintendents of Schools by State law in 1865; the County Superintendent was to serve 4 years in office and was required to visit each school in the county at least once a year; and

WHEREAS, These first County Superintendents were also allowed to sell school lands, were given the custody of all county school funds, and were the official advisers of school officers and teachers in their counties and the agents of the State Superintendent of Schools in reaching schools; and

WHEREAS, Duties for County Superintendents grew significantly over the next several decades, including to oversee the difficult process of large-scale school consolidations in the 1950s; and

WHEREAS, County Superintendents shrank from 102 offices to 78 and became Regional Superintendents in 1973; further consolidation dropped the number of offices to 57 in 1977; and

WHEREAS, Further consolidation will reduce the number of Regional Offices of Education to 35 in July of 2015, along with 3 Intermediate Service Centers that serve schools in Cook County outside Chicago; and

WHEREAS, As Regional Superintendents of Schools turn 150 this year, they are a vital part of educational success for students in every county of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Regional Superintendents of Schools are committed to providing 3 pillars of exceptional service to students, educators, and parents: (1) safety, by inspecting school buildings and ensuring school bus drivers are trained and teachers have proper background checks and fingerprints; (2) support, by licensing educators and providing top-notch professional development services; and (3) success, by providing safe schools and administering high school equivalency examinations and certificates; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize and congratulate the members of the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools on their sesquicentennial celebration; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the leadership at the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools as an expression of our esteem and respect.