For years, Illinois schools have grappled with a teacher shortage that has made it a constant struggle to staff classrooms and fill positions. When the pandemic hit, the challenge was only exacerbated. The stress of teaching in the COVID-19 era triggered a spike in retirements and resignations that has made it even more challenging for schools to find replacements.
Due to current staffing shortages, schools are struggling to remain open and, in some cases, have been forced to revert back to remote instruction.
Illinois ASBO opposed the COVID School Employee Benefit and Wage Protection Bill (
HB 2778) because it allows for unlimited paid leave for school employees or an employee whose child must isolate or quarantine for COVID exposure. We believe this will directly hamper in-person learning by creating staffing issues for K-12 schools, exacerbate the substitute shortage and will require school leaders to substitute in classrooms, adding to their growing daily responsibilities.
While we understand and respect the intentions of HB 2778 and agree that employees should receive the support necessary to keep themselves and their families safe and healthy, we worry about unintended consequences on schools.
The scope of HB 2778, along with the lack of a sunset provision in the bill, could represent a significant unfunded mandate for Illinois’ school districts. Furthermore, many school districts have already reached memorandums of understanding through collective bargaining and this bill bypasses local control.
Illinois ASBO, along with other education stakeholders, have urged Gov. Pritzker to veto the legislation. The good news is Pritzker is strongly considering it.
"This legislation raises some serious concerns, including its cost, its potential to destabilize classrooms and discourage vaccinations," Pritzker said in a statement according to the Chicago Tribune.
Call to ActionOn November 30, the Illinois House sent HB 2778 to Gov. JB Pritzker. The governor has 60 days to act.
Here is where we need your help. Please contact
your local Representatives and urge them to sustain the governor’s potential veto. The vote in the House, 92-23, was much closer than in the Senate and where we feel we can have success.
We hope by
school leaders sharing how the legislation will impact their district with local Representatives, we can prevent the House from reaching a three-fifths majority, or 71 votes, to override the governor’s veto.
Please make your voice heard and help us prevent this bill from becoming law.
Talking Points To help communicate with Representatives, we are sharing some talking points to aid in your email or phone call. Feel free to modify where locally appropriate.