PEORIA MAGAZINE August 2023

GED classes for adults about to seek re-entry into society after prison. ‘IF A STUDENT COMES TO SCHOOL HUNGRY, HOMELESS OR DEALING WITH A FAMILY SITUATION, LEARNING JUST ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN’ — Beth Crider An important and growing role for ROEs is meeting with school superin tendents regarding safety measures. From protecting students from vio lence inside school walls to ensuring that teachers and administrators are prepared in case of an emergency, the ROE is a sort of central command for navigating school safety.

Jeff Ekena, superintendent of ROE 53, which includes Tazewell, Mason and Woodford counties. “And, we must not forget the need to find bus drivers, nurses, and other school support personnel.” Crider echoed the sentiment almost word for word. There are the other checks and bal ances that fall to ROEs, such as annual school safety inspections. “The staff receive numerous phone calls, letters, and visits from parents, school personnel, and citizens con cerning a multitude of educational concerns,” said Ekena. “We all value those relationships we have and are happy to serve those who come to us.”

in the state – a sign that this office is often the target of government cuts. Every few years, legislators make a push to cut this layer of government as a cost-cutting move. That’s usually when consolidations take place, the most recent of those in 2011. That means that every office over sees multiple school districts and often multiple counties. One of the reasons the offices haven’t been eliminated entirely is that legislators don’t know where all that work done by ROEs would go otherwise. The responsibilities that fall under the ROE offices are wide-ranging, which means the offices face certain challenges. Just as many industries are struggling with worker shortages right now, “the biggest challenge is finding qualified teachers and paraprofessionals to fill unfilled positions across our counties, and when those teachers are absent, finding qualified substitutes,” said

Katie Faley is a Peoria native – Notre Dame High, Class of 2013 — who moved away following college but returned with a fuller appreciation of her hometown. She works at OSF HealthCare

CONSOLIDATION AND ELIMINATION

While there are 102 counties in Illinois, there are only 33 ROE offices

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JULY 2023 PEORIA MAGAZINE 107