Leadership Matters - March 2013

Unfunded Mandates story —————————————————————————

paperwork. Have you thought about this in totality? Some of new unfunded mandates include: student growth component in evaluations, implementation of the Common Core Standards, PARCC Assessment planning and preparation, principal/teacher evaluation reform, superintendent/ principal certification changes, Student Information System (SIS), Rising Star, school improvement plans, supplementary educational services, Illinois 5 Essentials Survey, Employment Information System (EIS), certification to licensure, increased requirements for NCLB grants, Civil Rights data collection (federal mandate), RtI, SB7, and PERA. No one is questioning the intent or potential benefits of these mandates. Unfortunately, resources are limited . If funded adequately, with both human resources and money, these mandates would not be an issue. During this financial crisis in Illinois, compliance with the mandates comes with an unintended consequence — schools are now diverting much needed resources away from their current educational and instructional initiatives to meet the demands of all the new mandates. Although all of these programs look good on paper, together they are leading to a financial and educational disaster to go along with a public relations nightmare for districts. It is time to review all of the financial and paperwork mandates to determine if there is any research to support their continued existence. Let us renew our focus on today’s students so that they can achieve academic success with a variety of curricular opportunities.

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cuts in our budget that will impact our regular education students and other needed programs to meet state-issued constraints. Special education students and programs have protections under the ‘maintenance of effort’

requirement. While no educator wants to increase the size of special education classes, it has to happen in these tough financial times.” The membership must strongly support Dr. Koch in his efforts to minimize the damage that has occurred in these two areas. His efforts will more than likely be opposed by advocates and unions. Districts must be actively engaged to secure the removal of these unnecessary unfunded mandates. We must have people in leadership that can factually say “enough is enough.” Another major area of concern is the 62 percent prorated reimbursement for mandated transportation. Because of mandates and the proration of state reimbursements, the lack of funds may potentially impact student health and safety. Our leaders have to come together to solve this dilemma as current finances demand adjustments to the current mandates. A new mandate has occurred in the last 10 years that has escalated to a huge workplace issue:

Dr. Jim Rosborg currently is serving in his eighth year as Director of Master's in Education at McKendree University and instructor of graduate classes in curriculum, school law, principalship, and school/ community relations. Rosborg has been active in the development of the new Illinois statewide Principal Preparation Program and IASA's School for Advanced Leadership (ISAL). For his efforts, IASA awarded Rosborg and fellow committee members their “Exemplary to Service to Education Award” in 2012, making him a two-time recipient. Currently, Rosborg is active with the Illinois Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (Illinois ASCD) and the Illinois Council of Professors of Educational Administration (ICPEA) while also serving in an advisory capacity on the IASA Board of Directors representing ICPEA. In June of 2005, Rosborg retired after 11 years as superintendent of Belleville Public School District 118 and 33 years in PK-12 education having served as a teacher, school counselor, principal, assistant superintendent for curriculum, and superintendent.

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