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1		SENATE RESOLUTION
2		WHEREAS, 2015 marks the 150th anniversary for Regional
3		Superintendents of Schools in Illinois, represented by the
4		Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools;
5		and
6		WHEREAS, Regional Superintendents of Schools have a rich
7		history of serving as an essential support office between the
8		Illinois State Board of Education and local school districts;
9		and
10		WHEREAS, The office of County Superintendent of Schools was
11		created as a predecessor for Regional Superintendents of
12		Schools by State law in 1865; the County Superintendent was to
13		serve 4 years in office and was required to visit each school
14		in the county at least once a year; and
15		WHEREAS, These first County Superintendents were also
16		allowed to sell school lands, were given the custody of all
17		county school funds, and were the official advisers of school
18		officers and teachers in their counties and the agents of the
19		State Superintendent of Schools in reaching schools; and
20		WHEREAS, Duties for County Superintendents grew
21		significantly over the next several decades, including to

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1		oversee the difficult process of large-scale school
2		consolidations in the 1950s; and
3		WHEREAS, County Superintendents shrank from 102 offices to
4		78 and became Regional Superintendents in 1973; further
5		consolidation dropped the number of offices to 57 in 1977; and
6		WHEREAS, Further consolidation will reduce the number of
7		Regional Offices of Education to 35 in July of 2015, along with
8		3 Intermediate Service Centers that serve schools in Cook
9		County outside Chicago; and
10		WHEREAS, As Regional Superintendents of Schools turn 150
11		this year, they are a vital part of educational success for
12		students in every county of Illinois; and
13		WHEREAS, Regional Superintendents of Schools are committed
14		to providing 3 pillars of exceptional service to students,
15		educators, and parents: (1) safety, by inspecting school
16		buildings and ensuring school bus drivers are trained and
17		teachers have proper background checks and fingerprints; (2)
18		support, by licensing educators and providing top-notch
19		professional development services; and (3) success, by
20		providing safe schools and administering high school
21		equivalency examinations and certificates; therefore, be it

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1		RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
2		ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize and
3		congratulate the members of the Illinois Association of
4		Regional Superintendents of Schools on their sesquicentennial
5		celebration; and be it further
6		RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7		presented to the leadership at the Illinois Association of
8		Regional Superintendents of Schools as an expression of our
9		esteem and respect.