Hello. My name is Leslie Hymbaugh. I am a resident of Peoria Heights, IL as well as a teacher in Peoria Heights CUSD #325. Many teachers and administrators across the state of Illinois have felt the impact of Public Act 94-0004. This law holds our school districts financially responsible if any TRS benefiting employee receives over a 6% raise if/ when this raise is used in calculation of an employee's TRS benefits at retirement. The specific problems that it is causing right now is that teachers are not receiving full pay schedule compensation for graduate work and teachers are unable to take coaching or sponsorship activities if it causes them to have a greater than 6% raise as this would put their districts at risk for financial penalties. This impacts teachers who are trying to follow Illinois guidelines to move from their initial to standard certificates and/ or comply with being "highly qualified." It also creates lists of unfilled coaching and sponsorship positions which also hurts the students. When I started this petition, the bills that were created to amend Public Act 94-0004 were old and not likely to pass. Now new and current bills exist to add the needed exemptions to Public Act 94-0004: HB0465, HB0478, and HB0479 of the 96th General Assembly. These bills would make salary schedule movement, coaching, and profesional development exempt from penalizing our school districts. The following signers of this petition (Illinois administrators and teachers) and myself ask that these exemptions be passed and become effective immediately.
Your time and consideration are very much appreciated. Thank you!
