Springfield, IL – A new grant program aimed at studying school district consolidation in illinois may not be enough to significantly reduce administrative costs, according to a report by the Illinois Policy Institute. Despite the potential for savings, barriers remain that prevent taxpayers from directly deciding on district consolidation, leaving control in the hands of regional superintendents who can veto such efforts.
Illinois spends 2.5 times the national average on “general administration” costs, data from 2018 reveals. Matching the national average would have resulted in savings of $716.6 million that year. The state’s administrative overhead is reflected in high salaries; the average administrator salary is $120,000, while some earn considerably more-one recently retired superintendent received over $500,000 despite a DUI scandal.
Nearly half of Illinois’ school districts are small, serving only one or two schools. Consolidation efforts, as defined by the illinois Policy Institute, focus on streamlining district administration-superintendents, human resources, marketing, and administrative support-and would not impact the number of schools, teachers, principals, or guidance counselors.
However, current Illinois law gives regional superintendents the power to veto consolidation plans, even after studies are conducted. Advocates argue that consolidation is a “proven strategy” to improve education quality and student outcomes, and that Illinois residents should have the final say.
Illinois currently has the highest property taxes in the nation. States with larger school districts generally spend less on administration and have lower property tax burdens. The grant program is intended to reduce the financial burden on districts to demonstrate the benefits of prioritizing students and teachers over administrative bureaucracy, but advocates say removing existing barriers is crucial for lasting change.
