Myers defends regional offices of education

Even though he’s retiring at the end of June, Regional Office of Education Superintendent Rich Myers is fighting for his job to stay around.

Several superintendents like Myers went to Springfield Thursday in response to Governor Pat Quinn’s proposal to save $13 million by eliminating regional offices of education.

Myers says his office and others actually create money for the state.

Myers says his office is responsible for several state-mandated services that would probably be pushed off onto schools if his office is closed.  Superintendents also argue that alternative education programs would be lost if the ROE’s are closed.

Myers says school consolidation and ROE closures are being used to get attention to the need for school funding reform.