Bill Text: IL HR0808 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: States opposition to the State Board of Education hiring three public relations professionals to serve as "Storytellers".

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 17-0)

Status: (Failed) 2019-01-08 - Session Sine Die [HR0808 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2017-HR0808-Introduced.html

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HR0808 LRB100 20181 MST 35716 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Illinois State Board of Education is charged
with setting educational policies and guidelines for public and
private schools, preschool through grade 12, as well as
vocational education; and
WHEREAS, The State Board of Education analyzes the aims,
needs, and requirements of education and recommends
legislation to the General Assembly and Governor for the
benefit of the school children throughout Illinois; and
WHEREAS, The State Board of Education's stated mission is
to "Provide leadership and resources to achieve excellence
across all Illinois districts by engaging legislators, school
administrators, teachers, students, parents, families, and
other stakeholders in formulating and advocating for policies
that enhance education, empower districts, and ensure
equitable outcomes for all students"; and
WHEREAS, The State of Illinois recently enacted a new
school funding formula with a historic amount of dollars
dedicated to elementary and secondary education that the State
Board of Education has been unable to distribute to schools
across the State; and

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WHEREAS, Due to years of budget uncertainty and numerous
State-mandated regulations, Illinois is also currently facing
a devastating statewide teacher shortage that has left schools
across the State without qualified teachers in many classrooms;
and
WHEREAS, The State Board of Education has recently informed
the General Assembly that they have concerns about the cut in
State funding that is being provided to it for administrative
and employment purposes; and
WHEREAS, The State Board of Education recently posted on
its website an advertisement concerning the position of
"Storyteller" to serve under the Chief Education Officer; and
WHEREAS, The job description provides that the State Board
of Education plans to hire three full-time "Storytellers" at a
salary of approximately $47,400 to work in either its
Springfield or Chicago offices; and
WHEREAS, These "Storytellers" will be tasked with, among
other duties, connecting real-world practices from schools and
districts around Illinois to show the impact of education
policy and programs; and
WHEREAS, "Storytellers" are also tasked with creating

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compelling, persuasive, relevant, and accurate communications
content that will increase engagement with programmatic goals
and build community support for ISBE programs; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
believe this is not the appropriate time for the State Board of
Education to hire three public relations professionals to serve
as "Storytellers"; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we believe these tax dollars would be of
better use in the classroom helping educate the millions of
children that rely on a quality public education in this State;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That we urge the State Board of Education to
focus its resources and energy on distributing evidence-based
funding on a timely basis rather than hiring additional
employees, in an already cash-strapped State agency, to travel
the State of Illinois promoting a public relations campaign;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
delivered to State Board of Education Chairman James Meeks and
State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Smith.