STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

New members agree:
Funding is the key for fundamentals

THE Goals Statement, published by the Illinois State Board of Education in 1975 and revised in 1980, states that the fundamental objective of the board is to make Illinois schools "a high-quality, fully integrated educational system. . . ." According to the board, the system must provide students with basic skills in reading, mathematics and the arts; bilingual and adult education; and a variety of programs in vocational and career education, as well as programs for those with "special talents" or "handicapping conditions." But hovering over these statements of principle, indeed, what they depend on, is listed by the board as its first "enabling goal": adequate finance.

At the board's annual work conference held July 12-14 in Itasca, three new members appointed by Gov. James R. Thompson in June expressed the view that funding is an even more important issue now than when the Goals Statement was first published:

Thomas L. Burroughs, Collinsville, an attorney and president of the Collinsville school board, said, "It's important to put funding for education on a permanent basis. We need to get some new sources of funding and to make sure that a bottom-line equity position exists between school districts." Richard A. Rundquist, Rockford, president of Rockford Foundaries, Inc., said that given the current economic "crunch," "We should make sure that local districts get the greatest return for their dollar. Then maybe we'll see a general improvement of educational standards, so students will be more qualified than they have been in the past."

Nilda M. Soler, a Chicago attorney, said, "My areas of concern are the same as the others on the board — with funding, minimal competency and, in general, creating initiatives in education. I think this [Itasca] conference is an excellent way to start."

Louis Mervis, Danville, president of Mervis Industries, and one of Thompson's new appointees, preferred not to comment because an apparent technicality held up his confirmation by the Senate; barring a special legislative session, Mervis must now wait for confirmation until the Senate reconvenes in October. The other three new members were confirmed before the Senate adjourned in July.

Burroughs replaces Charles Long, Waggoner; Rundquist replaces Justine Walhout, Rockford; and Soler replaces Carmelo Rodriques, Chicago.

The governor also reappointed two members of the board in June: George H. "Bud" Thompson, Prophetstown, and Carol N. Johnston, Des Plaines. Thompson, president of G. Thompson and Son, has been a board member since 1978 and is former president of the Illinois School Board Association. Johnston, who works in the Cook County assessor's office, has been a board member since its creation in 1974. All appointments and reappointments are for terms ending January 1987.

At the Itasca conference the board elected new officers for two-year terms. They are Edward J. Copeland, Highland Park, as chairman, and Adrienne Y. Bailey, Chicago, as vice-chairman. Copeland, who served in the Illinois House from 1967 to 1971, is a partner in the Chicago law firm of Foss, Schuman and Drake. Bailey, a senior staff associate at the Chicago Community Trust, is former president of the National Association of State Boards of Education. Both are charter members of the board. George Thompson was reelected secretary.

The State Board of Education was created in 1974 according to a provision in the 1970 Constitution. Enabling legislation provided for a board appointed by region. Appointees to the 17-member board serve staggered six-year terms. Eight members are appointed from the First Judicial District — four from Chicago and four from the rest of Cook County; two members are selected from each of the state's four other judicial districts; and one member is appointed at-large. All appointments are made by the governor and must be confirmed by the Senate.                     John G. Martin

September 1981 | Illinois Issues | 5