 Illinois' 44 regional superintendents have been working without a
paycheck since July 1, when Gov. Pat Quinn used his veto power to
strip $11 million from the state budget. Last Friday, the
superintendents filed a lawsuit in Sangamon County Circuit Court
asking a judge to issue a temporary restraining order that would
force the Quinn administration to pay them.But it will be
Thursday before the superintendents learn if their case will go
forward.
Sangamon County Circuit Judge John Schmidt on Tuesday delayed a
hearing on the restraining order request, giving lawyers for Quinn
more time to prepare their response to the lawsuit. Schmidt
scheduled a hearing Thursday and tipped both sides to the question
he wants answered.
"Temporary restraining orders usually stop something," Schmidt
said. "This request would force the state to start paying the
superintendents. I'd like to hear arguments on that."
Terence Corrigan, assistant bureau chief for the Illinois
attorney general's Springfield office, argued the case Tuesday on
behalf of the Quinn administration. Corrigan asked Schmidt for more
time to deal with what Corrigan called the "serious constitutional
issues" involved in the superintendents' requests.
Bob Daiber, president of the Illinois Association of Regional
Superintendents of Schools, which lobbies for the regional
superintendents, agreed that there are serious constitutional issues
at hand. But he said the case before Schmidt is simple.
"It stops the state from violating the law," Daiber said.
Daiber has been talking with Quinn's office since July 1. He said
the reality of two months without pay forced the superintendents
into court.
"We're looking at going another complete month without pay. We
realize that if we continue with talks, we'll probably go a third
month without pay," Daiber said. "There are members of our
association that feel we have exhausted our options."
Kelly Kraft, the governor's budget spokeswoman, said the
administration continues to talk with Daiber and the regional
superintendents.
"We continue to work toward a short-term solution to ensure
payment through the veto session," Kraft said. "The conversations
continue to be productive."
The governor has said for months that he wants to pay the
superintendents but wants to take the money from local sources.
Local voters elect regional superintendents, but the state pays
their salaries of nearly $100,000 a year.
But Quinn's plan to shift superintendents' pay from the state to
local taxpayers requires action from the Illinois General Assembly.
Lawmakers are not expected to be back at the Capitol until late
October. Once they return, there also is a possibility that
legislators will overrule Quinn's veto and restore state funding for
the superintendents.
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Daiber is quick to say the superintendents cannot wait that long.
"We already have one regional superintendent who intends to leave
at the end of this month because of the situation," he said.
Daiber said St. Clair County Regional Superintendent Brad
Harriman has indicated he will leave his post soon.
Harriman said his last day will be Sept. 7.
"I'm gone," Harriman said by phone Tuesday. "I've already made up
my mind."
Harriman said he was not thinking about leaving his post until
recently. Even if the state starts sending checks in September, he
said he will not stay.
"This is something that wasn't even on my mind two weeks ago,"
Harriman added. "And I know I'll take a hit to my pension, but I'm
going to retire early."
Harriman was elected to his second term in 2010. He said he does
not have another job lined up.
Both the Quinn administration and the superintendents are due
back in Schmidt's courtroom Thursday afternoon.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By BENJAMIN YOUNT]
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