State Senate 44th District update

From Sen. Bill Brady         

[NOV. 20, 2003] 

Sen. Brady tours Clinton schools

I visited with students Nov. 10 in Clinton and talked with school administrators, faculty and staff. We talked about the school district’s co-op with Richland Community College, property tax issues with the devaluation of the Clinton power plant, and the district’s pre-kindergarten program.

I am touring each of the 21 school districts in the 44th Senate District to meet with students and faculty in order to better assess the needs of each school district.

Truckers protest higher costs

The streets surrounding the state Capitol building looked like the Dixie Truckers Home in McLean Nov. 18 as hundreds of truck owners from across the state brought their tractors and rigs to Springfield.

Some unofficial reports had trucks backed up on Interstate 55 for many miles as they tried to come into the city.

Trucking groups organized the "Truck Lobby Day" rally to express their opposition to a 36 percent increase in truck registration fees passed in this year’s budget. I voted against the fee increases this spring, and I am co-sponsoring legislation this fall to repeal the fee hikes.

Restoring state certification of nonpublic schools

The Senate Education Committee passed legislation Nov. 19 that restores the official certification process for Illinois’s nonpublic schools. The certification process was halted when Gov. Rod Blagojevich slashed the Illinois State Board of Education’s assessment budget by $1.1 million and the board responded by eliminating the four-person certification unit.

Earlier this year, I talked with Sen. Ed Maloney from the Chicago area about working with me on this issue during the fall legislative session, and he indicated a willingness to do so.

The legislation now moves to the full Senate for further consideration.

Having no state certification puts at risk the ability of nonpublic schools to compete in athletic competitions throughout the state, their ability to have student teachers and the ability of their students to apply to college with the same credentials as a public school student. We have had a long-lasting relationship of public schools and nonpublic schools working together to educate our children. We should continue this relationship.

[News release from  Sen. Bill Brady]