The Tribune published a story today that was deeply critical of the governor’s handling of the education budget and the way he has run rough-shod over the Illinois State Board of Education.

The new board hired a 24-year-old chief of staff who previously had driven Blagojevich’s press van through rural Illinois. It approved a Downstate charter school at the governor’s urging, even though the previous board had denied it four times.

While it remained silent on key education issues, the board loudly publicized Blagojevich’s proposed ban on violent video games. The agency’s annual roundup of state education issues even appears on letterhead featuring “Rod Blagojevich, Governor” in large type.

And, now, the state Board is no longer involved in determining how schools are funded.

This year, however, board members haven’t even seen the budget being crafted in their name. Instead, it is being written by the agency’s staff members, working with–or for–a governor’s office that is determined not to raise taxes.

It is a scenario that has outraged education advocates and a number of legislators. Some critics say it is exactly what they feared last year when Gov. Rod Blagojevich took control of the agency.

“The governor should not be the sole authority on education and education funding in Illinois,” said state Sen. Dan Cronin (R-Elmhurst). “He is setting it up so his voice is the only one that is heard.”

Once an independent voice, the Board is now silent.

For decades, the State Board of Education prepared its own budget for funding public elementary and high schools. Educators across the state relied on the board to advocate for the new money they felt their schools needed. The board rarely disappointed.

This year, however, many expect the board to be in lock step with the governor. […]

Randy Dunn, interim state superintendent of education, acknowledged that his office is working closely with the governor’s staff to create a budget.

“It makes no sense for the board to do this in isolation and then spend months fighting with the governor over it,” Dunn said.

Things were different last year, before the governor completely controlled the Board and its staff.

In January 2004, the state board approved–against the wishes of the governor–a $7.1 billion budget, calling for a $600 million increase over the previous year.

The governor was incensed that the board would suggest such a large increase while he was struggling to plug a $2 billion hole in the state budget.

A few weeks later, Blagojevich launched a blistering attack on the board and proposed creation of a new cabinet-level department of education that would answer directly to him. The board would have been relegated to a think tank under the proposal.

And the State Board of Education isn’t the only voice being silenced. Add the Education Funding Advisory Board to the list.

By state law, the five-member board composed of business leaders and educators is supposed to recommend, every two years, a minimum per-pupil spending level. Using state and national research, the group is supposed to send lawmakers a report on Jan. 1 in odd-numbered years.

Since Blagojevich took office two years ago, four members have either resigned or their terms have expired. The governor has not replaced any of them. As a result, no report was sent to lawmakers this year as required by law.

The bottom line is the governor has turned the state’s formerly independent education bureaucracy into a public relations front for himself.