Gov. Pat Quinn’s proposal to slice the number of Illinois school districts from 869 to no more than 300 in two years might compel consolidations where previous efforts dangled financial incentives or required local voter approval.
Gov. Quinn would work with lawmakers to empower a commission to redraw district boundaries, according to David Vaught, the governor’s budget director. If approved, the committee’s recommendations might not require local voter support.
The panel would study school mergers that Mr. Quinn estimates could save $100 million in administrative salaries at a time the state faces a $10 billion deficit.
Officials with the governors office said the process of merging districts would be deliberative, with public hearings through 2012. Students could start school in the merged districts in 2013.
