Skip to main content
Illinois ASBO Legislative Alerts Podcast

Illinois ASBO Legislative Alerts Podcast

By Illinois ASBO

The Illinois Association of School Business Officials is devoted to the school business management profession. Our advocacy mission is to be the foremost knowledgeable voice for promoting sound school business practices to the Illinois Legislature, ISBE and other stakeholders.
Available on
Apple Podcasts Logo
Google Podcasts Logo
Overcast Logo
Pocket Casts Logo
RadioPublic Logo
Spotify Logo
Currently playing episode

EBF & ESSA Update: Interview with Sara Shaw from ISBE

Illinois ASBO Legislative Alerts PodcastJul 31, 2019

00:00
19:20
Financial Issues for School Districts as a Result of the Coronavirus Emergency

Financial Issues for School Districts as a Result of the Coronavirus Emergency

IASA hosted Illinois ASBO Executive Director/CEO Dr. Michael Jacoby to discuss the financial implications of the pandemic for Illinois schools.

Apr 06, 202021:09
Digest of Bills Passed

Digest of Bills Passed

Dr. Jacoby reviews the laws enacted in the 2019 Legislative Session that specifically apply to school business. Here are just a few of the bills that might affect your district: Salary History, HB 834, the Teacher Shortage Bill, HB 1472, a bill addressing the hiring of individuals with prior marijuana convictions, HB 2121 and also Senate Bill 1371 addressing the controversial Door Lock Devices law. For more information on all of the bills passed in the 2019 legislature download your PDF copy of the 2019 Digest of Bills Passed.

Oct 24, 201909:12
Evidence Based Funding: Interview with Sara Shaw from ISBE
Sep 09, 201913:57
EBF & ESSA Update: Interview with Sara Shaw from ISBE
Jul 31, 201919:20
Final Thoughts on the Legislative Season

Final Thoughts on the Legislative Season

Dr. Jacoby shares his final thoughts on this legislative season; some to celebrate, some to think about for the future. In this episode he discusses four big pieces of legislation important to school business officials, the 3% cap on end-of-career salaries for the pension system, the new minimum teacher salary, property taxes and construction  grant relief for school districts.

Jun 03, 201908:01
What's On The Legislative Table This Week? ALR 101-16

What's On The Legislative Table This Week? ALR 101-16

Dr. Jacoby discusses a bill that could impact schools and their communities the most, HB 3053 (Mayfield, D-Waukegan). Scheduled to be heard Wednesday, May 15, HB 3053 addresses forced school district consolidation. The School Management Alliance urges you to fill out a witness slip in opposition to this bill as well as contact your legislator and let them know how this bill will affect our school communities. Also on the table this week is SB 690, the proposed Property Tax Freeze as well as several new revenue packages for Illinois.  

May 13, 201908:43
Significant Bill Action Last Week - ALR 101-13

Significant Bill Action Last Week - ALR 101-13

The Illinois General Assembly took action on several major pieces of legislation this week. Bills regarding teacher salaries, compulsory school attendance age, superintendent sharing, charter schools, and pensions all advanced.

Both chambers finished up their work on Friday and have now hit the half-way point of the session. When the Senate and House of Representatives resume again on April 30, the Senate will be taking up House bills and the House will be considering Senate bills.

Illinois ASBO Executive Director and CEO, Michael Jacoby discusses the good news, the not-so-good news and the news you need to know in this week's Legislative Podcast.

Apr 15, 201910:22
Three Important Bills Affecting Public Education

Three Important Bills Affecting Public Education

Dr. Jacoby offers his perspective on three important pieces of legislation that will impact districts across Illinois. 

  • SB 28 (Bertino-Tarrant, D-Plainfield) would reinstate the five clock-hour provision. Current law gives school districts the flexibility to address the needs of students, and allows learning to be the main factor in determining a school day rather than the clock. 
  • House Bill 3053 (Mayfield, D-Waukegan) was approved by the House this week. It creates the School District Efficiency Commission and requires the commission to make recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on the number of school districts in this State with the goal of reducing the number of school districts by 25 percent, the optimal amount of enrollment for a school district, and where reorganization and realignment of school districts would be beneficial in this State. The commission would consist of 20 members, and by a majority vote of its members, would have the ability to put consolidation proposals on the ballot all across Illinois.  The Alliance will continue to actively engage in attempting to amend the proposal as it heads to the Senate.
  • HB 2234 (Harper, D-Chicago) includes provisions restricting the flexibility of school districts to provide physical education, including: requiring that at least 150 minutes of P.E. be provided weekly for each elementary school pupil and 225 minutes for each middle school, junior high school, or high school pupil; limiting P.E. waivers to remain in effect for no more than two years (currently five years) limits and be renewed no more than two times. 
Apr 08, 201909:00
The 5-Hour Classroom Mandate & District Consolidation Discussions - ALR 101-09

The 5-Hour Classroom Mandate & District Consolidation Discussions - ALR 101-09

Senate Amendment 1 reinstates the five-hour classroom mandate but provides the flexibility many superintendents desired by carving out exemptions from the five clock hours requirement that includes: 

  • Students enrolled in dual credit.
  • Participation in internships.
  • Students participating in youth apprenticeships.
  • Students participating in blended learning programs.

Also in this episode, Senate Bill 1838 is yet another effort to consolidate school districts in Illinois. It isn't the first and won't be the last. The Alliance is opposed to this bill, but it's possible it will be viewed by many legislators as a more measured approach they could get behind. Stay tuned on this because negotiations will undoubtedly pick up steam.

Mar 17, 201913:34
Gov. Pritzker's Graduated Income Tax Plan & the Teacher Salary Bill - ALR 101-08
Mar 13, 201915:50
Alliance Leadership Summit Recap ALR 101-07

Alliance Leadership Summit Recap ALR 101-07

The Alliance Leadership Summit was held this past week; the impact that school leader advocacy had on the Capitol was significant and will continue to help shape the discussion on issues vital to schools going forward. 

Also in this episode, two major issues impacted by the advocacy efforts of school leadership were the minimum teacher salary bill (HB 2078, Stuart D-Collinsville) and a weekly minute requirement for Physical Education (HB 2234, Harper D-Chicago). Both of these bills were scheduled for a committee hearing, but neither were called due in part to the strong resistance from local education leaders present in Springfield. 

Hear Dr. Jacoby discuss these stories as well as the bill action from the previous week most relevant to school business officials.

Mar 04, 201912:00
Gov. Pritzker Delivers Budget Address - ALR 101-06

Gov. Pritzker Delivers Budget Address - ALR 101-06

In our first Legislative Alert Podcast Dr. Jacoby discusses Gov. Pritzker's budget address, the Alliance Leadership Summit as well as the bill action from last week most relevant to school business officials.

Feb 26, 201908:51