Springfield – State Senator Dan Rutherford (R-Pontiac) is wary of Governor Rod Blagojevich’s plan to restructure the State Board of Education as a new Department of Education within the Governor’s office.
Rutherford and his Senate colleagues convened in a rare Committee of the Whole this week to ask questions and get answers about Governor’s plan.
“The devil is in the details,” said Rutherford, “and as I learn more and more of the details in the Governor’s plan, I cannot support his particular takeover effort.”
Rutherford has long been a proponent of reforming the current State Board of Education, lending his support to former Governors who have suggested reform proposals.
“I remain supportive of a plan to streamline the State Board of Education. The overall concept is one that I think is in the best interests of public education in Illinois,” said Rutherford. “That said, this Governor’s plan will not necessarily improve the quality of our schools and could have the potential to harm the education opportunities for area children.”
The Governor’s reform plan is in Senate Bill 3000. Details of the plan, as provided to lawmakers
by the Governor, can be found at www.senategop.state.il.us.
