When recommendations were released by the Classrooms First Commission in late June to Governor Pat Quinn's office, it became apparent the four public schools in Morris were a step ahead of other districts in the state in at least a few ways.

"(Classrooms First) had two goals: improve educational opportunities and educational resources," said Morris Elementary School District 54 Superintendent Teri Shaw. "Those were the same two goals we came up with individually with the Shared Services Committee."

Classrooms First was created in August 2011 to reduce unnecessary education spending throughout the state, redirect that spending into the classrooms, and to improve educational outcomes. The commission, lead by Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon, then submitted in late June 23 recommendations to the governor's office in order to achieve those goals.