By Illinois Radio Network

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers are once again going to debate whether to let schools post public notices online rather than in the local newspaper.

The almost annual fight over school transparency comes down to two things: Cost and technology.

School leaders say its costs too much to post every public notice in the newspaper.

State Rep. Dave Severin, R-Marion, said it’s time to let school districts embrace the 21st Century. He wants to let schools post public notices solely online.

“I think this is the way to do it now,” Severin told lawmakers Tuesday at the Capitol. “Like I said, newspapers were the way to do this when this law was first made.”

State Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, said not every parent or voter has access to the internet, and may not see notices that are posted online.

“If a day comes where literally everyone has access to the internet, and the internet is free, then I’d be OK with that,” Scherer said.

Newspaper owners and their representatives at the Capitol also don’t want schools to go exclusively online. The Illinois Press Association’s Josh Sharp told lawmakers they have concerns about the transparency record of local school districts.

“Eighty nine percent of schools posted timely notice of meetings,” Sharp said. “However, the required agenda postings was only 69 percent and meeting minutes was kind of low at 62 percent. I think we’re a long way away from trusting local government to reliably post this information online.”

Illinois newspapers receive money from the law requiring school districts to pay for printing public notices.

The plan is headed to the full House, but a number of lawmakers say they may not support it when it gets there.