llinois has more than 850 school districts, and most of those stop at 8th grade, or serve only high school students. State Sen. Dan McConchie (R-Lake Zurich), has proposed legislation that would give such districts three years to merge to become “unit” districts — the kind that serve all grades.

The labor movement have succeeded in making its voice heard, but that's all: The non-binding measure passed 15 to 1.