HJ0100 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0100 LRB097 22400 NHT 71156 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The General Assembly passed House Bill 1216 (Public Act 97-503) in 2011 creating the School District Realignment and Consolidation Commission, which is also referred to as the Classrooms First Commission; and

WHEREAS, The Commission was chaired by Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon; and

WHEREAS, The Commission was required by law to make recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on the number of school districts in this State, the optimal amount of enrollment for a school district, and where consolidation and realignment would be beneficial; and

WHEREAS, The Commission adopted 2 key goals during the course of its deliberations, improving educational opportunity and improving efficient use of educational resources; and

WHEREAS, The Commission reviewed current research, analyzed Illinois educational data, held 8 public hearings statewide, and garnered comments from more than 500 individuals representing 75 counties and a broad representation of stakeholders; and

WHEREAS, The Commission adopted and filed its final report with the Governor and General Assembly on June 29, 2012, with the report containing 23 recommendations focusing on reorganization, educational shared services, operational shared services, and in-district efficiency; and

WHEREAS, The General Assembly was not in session on the day that the Commission's report was filed; and

WHEREAS, The General Assembly must vote on whether to accept the Commission's report by the adoption of a resolution by a record vote of a majority of the members elected in each house; and

WHEREAS, The General Assembly must vote on whether to accept the report within 14 days after the General Assembly convenes for the first time after the report was filed; and

WHEREAS, Legislation may be introduced at a later time to authorize specific recommendations in the report; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the General Assembly accepts the School District Realignment and Consolidation Commission's report filed on June 29, 2012.