Simon: Time to weigh in on Classrooms First recommendations

SPRINGFIELD – In advance of the May 14 deadline, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon is inviting parents, teachers, administrators and community members to submit online comments about a set of draft recommendations that will make it easier for school districts to consolidate and help them save up to $1 billion in operations costs by sharing services.

Individuals can leave comments on each of the commission’s individual recommendations at the Lt. Governor’s website. The input will be used, along with the testimony from four public hearings, to finalize the commission’s recommendations prior to their submission to the Governor and General Assembly this summer.

“The Classrooms First Commission started its work six months ago with public input on school district efficiency and effectiveness,” said Simon, who chairs the Classrooms First Commission. “We incorporated the concerns and ideas of hundreds of constituents in our draft recommendations, and we want to hear from educators, parents and community members again before we take our plan to the Governor. This input will make our final recommendations more valuable and representative of our state.”

The Classrooms First Commission is a bi-partisan group of education stakeholders that was charged last fall by Governor Quinn and the General Assembly to reduce duplicative education spending and improve educational outcomes. To read the draft recommendations and find out more about the Classrooms First Commission visit www.ltgov.illinois.gov.