Employees say developmentally disabled citizens would be most hurt

By Joseph Adams, Jacksonville Journal Courier

Posted Sunday, March 31, 2002

The State of Illinois is Morgan County’s largest employee, and, with the state budget difficulties, workers across the county who are nervous about the future.  About 15 assistant teachers and other employees at Jacksonville’s Pathway Services Unlimited spoke out Friday against the Illinois budget crisis. 

They had one clear message for state legislators:  “The spending frenzy should not be placed on the backs of vulnerable citizens.”  The employees said they will join other social service workers for a planned march April 17 at the state Capitol in Springfield to protest the cuts that social service centers are facing as a result of the budget shortfall. “We are concerned about what’s going to happen to the individuals that we do serve here, if something should happen that we don’t get our money soon,” said assistant teacher Cindy Scott. 

As reported Friday, the state has not paid Pathway about $650,000 in reimbursements owed by the Department of Human Services, funds the center has consistently failed to receive since January, said Executive Director James May. 

The center employs about 200 people.  As part of its contract with the state, Pathway provides day-program services for residents at the Jacksonville Developmental Center, which teaches life skills to the developmentally disabled.  The center also teaches work skills and operates 14 group homes in the Jacksonville area. 

On Thursday, Mr. May said the center could face closing its doors if the state does not pay its bills by the end of June.  The teachers who spoke out Friday said they are particularly worried that the center’s 240 clients would be sent back to state-run institutions, where Pathway’s low student-teacher ration is not possible. 

“If they had to move back in (to JDC), it would be overloaded, and they would probably have to ship them to another developmental facility,” said assistant teacher Katrina Weber.  Mr. May told workers Friday morning that there would be no lay-offs of faculty at this time, said Ms. Scott.  The teachers also received their paychecks on schedule.  In the event paychecks would be delayed, the workers insisted they would not leave their posts, adding that, for their clients, the workers are the only family they have.  “They have the right to be treated like human beings,” said assistant teacher Tomasita Ketcham.  “If they take this away from us, whose going to take care of these kids.” 

Beginning assistant teachers at Pathway make less than $7 per hour and cannot work more than 28 hours per week, said one teacher, so many employees to take on other duties at the center or take second jobs.  “It’s not that we make a lot of money here,” said physical therapy Marian Russell.  “We’re here for the individuals.” 

Teachers said that the center also did not receive a cost-of-living raise this year in the state’s payment for residents living in the group homes.  Spending at the group homes has been kept tight to compensate for a decreasing bank balance.  Assistant teacher Janie Manley said she is encouraging people to write state officials to make a change in the cuts.  “Anybody who wants to come and see our facility,” she said, “we invite them to come in to see what we can do.”  Added Ms. Scott:  “If anybody out there in the community has any idea of what we do here, I think that a big help from them would be to call our government agencies and tell them, “Hey, let’s get this facility paid.”