Monday, June 17, 2013

Expectations low for special session on pension reform

Pension standoff showcases Democratic leader differences

Chicago Sun-Times: Compromise on pensions

Belleville News-Democrat: Madigan obstructs rather than leads

Universities offer partial Illinois pension fix

Statehouse Insider: Let’s spend the summer in Springfield

Decatur Herald-Review: Manar’s school funding committee a good idea

‘We want our kids to succeed’: Mascoutah School District adopts new grading scale

Process your IASA Membership Dues Today!

The 2013-2014 IASA membership drive is officially underway. Renewal invoices have been sent to all members for processing dues. For your convenience, membership dues can be processed as follows:

• Click here to use the online website.
• Go to the Membership section on the IASA website to print a hard copy invoice.

Dues must be received by August 1 in order to be included in the 2013-2014 IASA Membership Directory. If you have any questions regarding membership, please contact Stephanie Price at 217.753.2213.

SB 1 Fails

Capitol Watch (05.31.13) - Illinois House adjourns without ever calling Cullerton's pension bill

Click here to view past issues of Capitol Watch.

Leadership Matters-June 2013

You can view the June 2013 newsletter by clicking here.

Past newsletters can be viewed here.

The release went on to explain that because the pension benefits would be less than what employees were paying for it under the provisions of SB 1, those employees would no longer be exempt from Social Security, from which 80 percent of Illinois’ public employees, including teachers, now are exempt.

The end result, the release said, is that school districts and other affected employers eventually would have to start paying the 6.2 percent employer portion of Social Security taxes. That would result in what the release called “Social Security chaos, eventually leading to massive local property tax hikes and making the proposal an unfunded mandate of historical proportions.”

The release also said the state’s savings from SB 2404 -- the version backed by the We Are One coalition that passed the Senate but not yet called for a vote in the House – would save an additional $26 billion in health care savings to the state and, when added to the original estimate of knocking $6 billion off the state’s unfunded pension liability, would amount to more than what SB 1 actually would save.

The estimated amount saved by SB 2404 uses the assumption by SB 1 proponents that about half of the employees and retirees would choose to opt out of the health care and keep their compounded COLAs if given a choice. If fewer opt out, then the pension savings would increase.

Please click here to view the We Are One release, which includes a link to the TRS actuarial analysis.

Click here to view an article from the State Journal Register entitled "Union review: Senate pension plan would save $26B in health costs."

Starting Right: Board-Building for the New Governance Team

Starting right; that's what every school board and superintendent want and need to do. After the board election, each district seats its new members at the organizational meeting and, in many cases, conducts a formal orientation for its newly elected members. But then what? How do the school board and superintendent transform this blend of veteran and new board members into an effective school governance team? Click here to view a video from Roger Eddy, executive director of the Illinois Association of School Boards.

Dr. Voltz's Ed Leadership Thoughts

What is more effective? Coaching or telling?

Updated Wednesday, June 5 2013

  May 15, 2013 Issue

RV’s Recommendations for Weighting Components of Danielson’s Framework for Teaching

When I train school administrators on using the Danielson Frameworks for Teaching (FFT) I am often asked how to score (rate) the professional practice of teaching. A good place to start this discussion is the ISBE model process for summative rating. This model system has been created and published already and is on the ISBE/PEAC website at http://www.isbe.state.il.us/PEAC/default.htm The following is information copied from the website: Read more

Performance Evaluation Advisory Council (PEAC)

In 2010, Gov. Pat Quinn signed the Performance Evaluation Reform Act (PERA), which requires all schools in Illinois to change how teachers’ and principals’ performance is measured. PERA requires districts to design and implement performance evaluation systems that assess teachers’ and principals’ professional skills as well as incorporate measures of student growth.

Click here to access the PEAC website. Click here to access some of the resources on the PEAC website.

The IASA, the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) and the Illinois Association of School Business Officials (IASBO) have developed the Illinois Schools Employee Benefits Consortium (ISEBC) that includes a proprietary fully insured, comprehensive group health insurance plan that will offer member school districts the opportunity to provide employees health benefits at affordable prices.Details of the program were included in the March 4, 2013, issue of Leadership Matters.Click here to view more.

The IASA is pleased to release the new Superintendent's Toolkit, a collection of issue papers regarding some of the hottest legislative issues facing public education in Illinois as well as suggested talking points and sample letters for communications issues superintendents may face.
You can view the toolkit by clicking here.

IASA to launch Vision 20/20 initiative

Many times statewide organizations are best known for what they oppose rather than those things for which they stand. When it comes to educating children, the IASA has always tried to be proactive. The IASA Board of Directors in November overwhelmingly supported a proposal to move forward with a “visioning” process to develop a long-range blueprint for improving public education in Illinois. Read more...