The transition to a new regional superintendent of schools is complete.
Mark Jontry retired at the end of April after serving as head of Regional Office of Education #17 since 2008. The Bloomington-based office provides direct support for McLean, DeWitt, Livingston and Logan County public schools and as well as some programming for about a dozen private schools. Molly Allen, who served about six years as assistant regional superintendent, is now regional superintendent.
The ROE has changed over the nearly two decades that Jontry spent at the helm. Jontry said the pendulum at a statewide level has swung over the years toward delegating more tasks to Regional Offices of Education.
“I think we've demonstrated our value, our viability, our ability to problem solve, provide solutions, and I don't see that going away anytime soon,” said Jontry.
Current tasks handled by the ROE include compliance, professional development, some aspects of bus driver training and community partnerships.
The compliance aspect entails school code regulations and administrative rules. It also includes licensure for substitute teachers. Professional development was led by Allen during her time as assistant superintendent.
Looking to the future
As Allen takes over in her new role, she plans to address technology as part of the ROE literacy plan.
“You want students to be technology capable for the future that they will navigate, but you also need them to have those literacy, math, writing fundamental skills as well,” said Allen. “I think we're going to see and hear more and more about how our schools navigate what is the role of technology, and how do we really stress and emphasize that we need those core skills, whether it be handwriting, reading, math, all of those things, so that they can access technology in helpful ways.”
County sales tax
Allen also said she was “excited” for the opportunity to become regional superintendent.
“I think ROE 17 is a place where we put the needs of our school communities and our students, and teachers, and educators, and parents first,” said Allen. “I want to continue to build on that legacy.”
The ROE serves as the distributor for revenue generated from the County Schools Facilities Tax put in place in McLean County in July. The first distribution of revenue came in October. CSFT revenue was already distributed by the ROE for Livingston and Logan Counties, making the addition of McLean County “seamless” for reimbursing schools.
“The revenue projections have been largely on track with what was projected,” said Jontry. “We've got seven months of reimbursements now on the books, and it's tracking pretty closely to what the projection was, if not a little above.”
Jontry added the true impact the CSFT made on McLean County public schools will be more clear when the sales tax reaches its 12th month since implementation.
Transportation
State reimbursements coming to school districts for transportation they are required to provide are still underwhelming.
Mandated categoricals are services the state requires a school district to provide, with reimbursements from the state coming after the fact. Transit, meals and textbooks are examples of these services.
“It has been severely underfunded forever, probably in the entire time that I've been in office,” said Jontry. “And it doesn't match the cost that our districts are incurring.”
Although the current state budget proposal still offers less money for reimbursements than the Illinois State Board of Education requested, Jontry said it will still be an increase compared to what the state currently funds if it passes.
If reimbursement continues failing to cover all mandated categorical costs, Jontry predicted requirements may have to be loosened to decrease the number of students a school district is required to provide transit for. Currently, any student further than a mile and a half from a school must be picked up. Students with hazardous crossings like major roadways or train tracks and others with certain Individualized Education Programs [IEPs] are also included.
“If we're not going to fund what it takes to do that transportation, then we probably should look at what the statutory requirement is going forward,” said Jontry.
