SPRINGFIELD — Some of Illinois' regional superintendents of education are prepared to go another three or four months without pay following a meeting Wednesday with representatives of Gov. Pat Quinn.

But not all of them. And those who would remain say they aren't happy about the prospect of more payless paydays.

"I left there yesterday thinking that it was very likely that we would not be paid until we see what happens in the override session," said Jane Quinlan, the regional superintendent of education for Champaign and Ford counties. The Legislature's veto override session is scheduled to begin Oct. 25.

Quinlan said she probably could continue to work without pay, as she has since July 1.

"You have people in our association who are probably in the latter third of their career, whose families are grown, who have spouses who work, who probably will stay until the override session," Quinlan said. "I fall into that category, unless I become so fed up with all of this that I can't stand it any more.

"But you also have people who have young families, who have spouses who don't work, who have kids in college. They probably can't go until then. And I think those people will be looking for other jobs."

Two of the state's 44 regional superintendents have already stepped down, said Bob Daiber, the Madison County superintendent and president of the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools.

And Daiber believes that unless the issue is resolved soon, more of the elected superintendents will quit.

"I do expect resignations in the weeks ahead unless we can get something worked out with the governor's office next Wednesday," he said. "I just ask everyone to hang in until that time."

Quinn vetoed $11 million in state funding to pay the salaries of the regional superintendents, saying that the offices — which handle a number of tasks including certifying teachers, conducting background checks and training school bus drivers — should be paid out of local funds.

But now the administration says it is working to try to find money to pay the superintendents, and will meet with representatives of the group again next Wednesday.

"We are working to get them paid as quickly as possible," said Kelly Kraft, a spokeswoman for the governor. "In addition to working to provide payment soon, we have developed draft legislation to restore the payroll appropriation for (the regional offices), and shift the obligation to personal property replacement tax."

The tax already funds local elected official stipends, Kraft noted. Using it to fund the regional offices would "relieve pressure from the general revenue fund."

But state Rep. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, said he would oppose such a move because some local school districts, including those in Tuscola and Mahomet, get money from the tax.

"It's the principle that if you start moving $10 or $12 million today, next year it will be $43 million and in three years it would be $100 million," Rose said.

Calling it "the stupidest veto ever," Rose said he would vote to override the veto and restore state funding for the offices.

"He made a mistake; let's put it back in," Rose said. "To their credit,, the regional superintendents said that despite the governor's ridiculous veto that jeopardizes kids coming back to school, they would work until the fall veto session. That's very statesman-like. They get credit in my book."

Sen. Mike Frerichs, D-Champaign, said he hopes to resolve the issue in the override session.

"It's clear you cannot reduce an elected official's salary after being elected," he said. "I just cannot see how the governor can get away with not paying them. I think they're ultimately going to be paid.

"(Quinn is) talking about using a different line item, but he just can't go ahead and do that. Why he vetoed it, I and many other people don't know. It sure created a problem."

Daiber, head of the regional superintendents' group, said he expects some of his colleagues to begin accepting other jobs.

"I don't know how many people could afford to go four or five months without compensation," he said. "If you're offered a job in a school district where you will get paid regularly, why would you stay in an elected position where you might not get paid for months?"