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Quinn Considering School District Consolidation
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- Gov. Pat Quinn's office says he is considering a school consolidation plan that could cut Illinois' current 868 school districts to no more than 300.

Quinn brought up school consolidation in his budget address Wednesday, and a spokeswoman for his Office of Management and Budget confirmed Thursday that the still-tentative plan would be mandatory, rather than voluntary.

Quinn maintains consolidation could save taxpayers $100 million annually through elimination of administrators and improved efficiency.

One possibility would be legislation to reapportion school districts similar to the way legislative districts are redrawn due to population changes.

Although Illinois has eliminated 140 districts through consolidation since 1983, it still trails only California and Texas in its number of districts, and state officials say 200 of its remaining districts contain only one school.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
02 19 11 by Newsroom
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