Illinois teachers push back on COVID-19 vax mandate

By Dylan Sharkey

01/21/2022

Illinois teachers currently face mandated COVID-19 testing if unvaccinated. The Illinois State Board of Education might remove that option depending on whether it follows Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s mandate or a high court decision.

TAGS: ISBE: Illinois State Board of Education, public schools, vaccine mandate

Statewide COVID-19 school mandates draw ire of superintendents

By Patrick Andriesen

11/22/2021

A group of school district superintendents called on the Illinois State Board of Education to oppose statewide mask and other mandates, letting local schools decide how best to handle COVID-19 mitigation.

TAGS: COVID-19, ISBE: Illinois State Board of Education, JB Pritzker, masks

Illinois elections board gives state leader’s campaign a pass for $225K spent on cars

By Dylan Sharkey

11/16/2021

A former state lawmaker’s campaign committee was not aware it couldn’t spend $225,109 on personal vehicles, according to Illinois State Board of Elections members. That lawmaker now oversees public spending for the state.

TAGS: campaign finance, Frank Mautino, ISBE: Illinois State Board of Education

2 ways to fix Illinois’ too-high property taxes, teacher shortage

By Ann Miller

10/21/2021

Redirecting some of Illinois’ school district administrative overhead could attract top talent to the more than 4,100 teacher openings. The savings could be $1,317 per taxpayer in one veteran teacher’s hometown. Reform pensions, and that amount grows.

TAGS: Classrooms First Act, education spending, ISBE: Illinois State Board of Education, taxes, teacher shortage

Updated ISBE policy puts private schools on probation for defying mask mandates instead of immediately revoking state recognition

By Patrick Andriesen

10/07/2021

Private schools will be granted a 60-day probation to address COVID-19 compliance issues in line with public school standards under ISBE’s updated policy. Nonrecognized schools were put on probation status Oct. 1.

TAGS: COVID-19, ISBE: Illinois State Board of Education, masks, private schools

Illinois bill would give ISBE authority to revoke schools’ state recognition

By Patrick Andriesen

09/02/2021

Gov. J.B Pritzker has warned district administrators since early August that ISBE would strip state recognition from Illinois schools defying his statewide mask mandate. House Bill 4135 aims to give the state board of education that power.

TAGS: COVID-19, ISBE: Illinois State Board of Education, masks

7 things to know about new COVID-19 school guidance from CDC, Illinois

By Amy Korte

07/09/2021

New federal and state health guidance adjusts policies on masks, distancing and quarantines in Illinois’ K-12 schools. Many students will again be masked in the coming year.

TAGS: COVID-19, ISBE: Illinois State Board of Education

Illinois school superintendents demand immediate COVID-19 guidance

By Mailee Smith

06/25/2021

Illinois schools will be treated more restrictively than any other public venues, threatening students’ educations across the state. Superintendents are demanding up-to-date, commonsense COVID-19 guidance to prep for the upcoming school year.

TAGS: COVID-19, ISBE: Illinois State Board of Education

Frequently asked questions: Updated rules on COVID-19 and schools

By Mailee Smith

06/07/2021

Breaking down the state's latest rules concerning COVID-19 restrictions in Illinois K-12 schools.

TAGS: COVID-19, IDPH: Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois, ISBE: Illinois State Board of Education, K-12

ISBE official confirms teachers’ union bosses have heavy hand in anti-private school bill

By Hilary Gowins

05/28/2021

Private schools found a way to stay open during the pandemic while the majority of public schools remained closed. Teachers’ union bosses want to rewrite the rules to handicap their competition should another state of emergency arise.

TAGS: emergency, ISBE: Illinois State Board of Education, private schools, teachers union

Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

Illinois is home to one of the worst pension crises in the country.1 At 39% funded, according to the nonpartisan Pew Charitable Trusts, Illinois has the worst pension funding ratio of any state.2 By contrast, neighboring Wisconsin’s pension system is 103% funded.3 In fiscal year 2022, Illinois’ total general funds pension costs, including pension bond...

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Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

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Susie Warden

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students