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| [ Enrolled ] | [ House Amendment 001 ] |
92_HR0387
LRB9209054RHrh
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, In November 1998 voters in Consolidated High
3 School District 230 passed an $118 million bond referendum,
4 one of the largest in Illinois history, to finance the
5 renovation of three schools; and
6 WHEREAS, The total cost of the renovation project is now
7 estimated at $131 million; and
8 WHEREAS, The renovation project was originally scheduled
9 to be completed in 2001; and
10 WHEREAS, The completion date has been postponed to late
11 in the year 2002; and
12 WHEREAS, In addition to substantial cost-overruns and
13 delays, various questions have been raised concerning the
14 management of the project, including whether on-going
15 renovations pose a health risk to students, whether
16 relationships between members of the construction oversight
17 committee and the architectural firm overseeing the project
18 pose a conflict of interest, and whether bid specifications
19 have been narrowly drawn thereby limiting competition and/or
20 increasing costs; and
21 WHEREAS, Other issues related to the management of
22 Consolidated High School District 230 include ownership of a
23 school-related consulting firm by top officials of District
24 230 and the School Board's granting of a 37% pay hike and
25 additional benefits to the retiring Superintendent; and
26 WHEREAS, These issues directly impact the financial
27 health, educational environment and managerial soundness of
28 Consolidated High School District 230 now and for many years
29 to come; and
30 WHEREAS, The Illinois State Board of Education is
-2- LRB9209054RHrh
1 responsible for general oversight of school issues in
2 Illinois; therefore, be it
3 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
4 NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
5 we urge the Illinois State Board of Education to conduct a
6 review of Consolidated High School District 230 with regard
7 to the following:
8 1. The causes of cost overruns and delays in the
9 renovation project, including the District's process for
10 selecting consultants, architects, general contractors, and
11 other professional services and for drafting bid
12 specifications for various goods and services;
13 2. Whether the District's procurement decisions are
14 adequately documented and appear to have been conducted in an
15 efficient and impartial manner;
16 3. The total projected cost to the District and the State
17 of the retirement package, including pension upgrades and
18 credits and medical coverage benefits, granting to the
19 District's retiring superintendent; and
20 4. Whether the ownership of a school-related consulting
21 firm by District officials compromises their services to the
22 District in any manner; and be it further
23 RESOLVED, That the Illinois State Board of Education may
24 consult with the Capital Development Board, as needed, for
25 advice in school construction management issues related to
26 this resolution; and be it further
27 RESOLVED, That the Illinois State Board of Education is
28 directed to report its findings to the General Assembly by
29 December 31, 2001; and be it further
30 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
31 presented to the Illinois State Board of Education.