CALL TO ACTION: OPPONENT WITNESS SLIPS NEEDED
Good Afternoon & Happy Monday!
This week marks the week of deadlines for bills to be passed out of House and Senate committees, and as a result, we are expecting a large amount of bill movement in the next few days. We are writing today to request your help in demonstrating opposition to several bills that we expect to be heard this week.
Please file a witness slip IN OPPOSITION to SB 990. The legislation was filed on a shell bill in the Senate by Senator Curran (R-Lemont) before it moved over to the House. Representative Burke (D-Oak Lawn) now has the legislation and it is scheduled for a committee hearing in the House Executive Committee for Wednesday, April 26th at 10:00am. This bill takes direct aim at school districts in that it would place limitations on the ability to sell property. Specifically, the bill would limit a district’s ability to sell property for the highest potential value, and would require the district to secure three appraisals at the property’s current zoned value. The district must then offer the purchase at the median appraised value to the local municipality, township, or park district, before selling to another buyer. Our team continues to engage in discussions with legislators about the harmful impacts of this legislation, but we are asking for members to make their voices heard by signing opposition witness slips at this time.
Last week, we requested witness slips in opposition of two bills dealing with teacher tenure and employment. The bills were not called in committee, and are scheduled for hearing again tomorrow, Tuesday, April 25th at 1:30pm in the Senate Education Committee. Please consider taking the time to file opposition slips again on these bills.
Please file a witness slip IN OPPOSITION to SB 1872. The legislation would reduce the number of years to tenure to two years for those who have received Excellent ratings, and to three years for those who have received Proficient ratings. Additionally, teachers who are in their third year of probationary service who do not achieve a rating of at least Proficient must be non-renewed, limiting a district’s ability to continue to work towards development for an additional year.
Please file a witness slip IN OPPOSITION to SB 1352. The bill would add procedural requirements for the school district if a teacher resigns from the district within 30 days before the new school year is scheduled to begin.
As always, thank you for taking the time to make your voices heard!