By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – District 87 Superintendent Barry Reilly said he doesn’t have a problem with cursive writing, but he does have a problem with so many state mandates.

Illinois is one step closer to mandating cursive writing in public grade schools.

The Illinois House has voted to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto. Reilly told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin he is concerned about what he sees as state legislators increased meddling in how local schools are run.

“It seems over time we have gradually eroded the rights of local school boards to set the course for their district because there are so many state mandates,” Reilly said. “It’s very difficult to keep track off all that, let alone the news ones that happen each and every year.”

Reilly added that most grade schools, including those in his district already require cursive instruction.

District 87 has also been awarded for its efforts to go green.

The district was chosen for an Illinois Sustainability Award for a series of steps it has taken in recent years, including new programs for composting and recycling and putting in technology upgrades that have reduced schools’ energy use.

Facilities Management director Colin Manahan told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin many of the district’s older buildings have had to be modernized in recent years, several older buildings only recently added air conditioning.

“These are all challenges that make it interesting and actually pretty rewarding when you look back and see what’s done,” Manahan said.

The upgrades have cut the district’s annual operations costs by $155,000.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].