LEGISLATION WILL REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO REPORT PROGRESS OF SHARING SERVICES WITH OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS

SPRINGFIELD, IL -- State Senator Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest) passed legislation to streamline school district costs by combining services with other schools.

"This legislation gives local school districts the opportunity to save resources by combining certain functions that can be performed between multiple school districts," Garrett said. "By pooling resources, schools will have another tool to save vital education dollars that are so important in this time of budget cuts and reductions."

Senate Bill 2134 creates a process for schools to consolidate resources in the areas of bidding and purchasing, information technology, grant wiring, food service management, payroll, professional development and even administrative positions. School districts must document their efforts to streamline costs through the sharing of services by completing and submitting an annual report to the State Board of Education. The report will be posted on each school district’s local website.

Senate Bill 2134 passed the Senate yesterday on a 50-2 vote and now heads to the Illinois House for further consideration.