HB4495 EngrossedLRB100 18415 AXK 33628 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Vocational Academy Opportunity Act.
 
6    Section 5. Definition. In this Act, "Board" means the Board
7of Trustees created by this Act.
 
8    Section 10. Establishment, funding, and, location.
9    (a) There are initially created 2 vocational academies, one
10located in Cook County and the other in St. Clair County, which
11shall be residential institutions. Each academy shall be
12located within 5 linear miles of a major interstate in a
13community where the average income of a household of 3 people
14is no greater than 100% of the federal poverty level. The land
15value of the community in which the academy is located may not
16exceed $7.50 per square foot.
17    (b) Each academy shall be a State agency, funded by State
18appropriations, private contributions, and endowments. Minimal
19fees for residential students may be charged. Each academy may
20admit those students who have completed the academic equivalent
21of the 9th grade and shall offer a program of secondary
22coursework that is appropriate for students in the 10th, 11th

 

 

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1and 12th grades and that offers courses that meet the
2prerequisites to receiving a high school diploma under Section
327-22 of the School Code. Admission shall be determined by
4competitive examination.
5    (c) In order to be eligible for State appropriations, each
6academy shall submit to the Board of Higher Education no later
7than the 1st day of October of each year its budget proposal
8for the operation and capital needs of the academy for its next
9fiscal year.
 
10    Section 15. Board of Trustees. The academies shall be
11governed by a single Board of Trustees for the collective
12operation and oversight of the academies, which shall consist
13of the following members:
14        (1) ex officio nonvoting members who shall be: the
15    State Superintendent of Education, the Executive Director
16    of the Illinois Community College Board, the Executive
17    Director of the Board of Higher Education, and the
18    superintendent of schools of the school district where each
19    campus is located;
20        (2) three Representatives of secondary education,
21    appointed by the State Superintendent of Education;
22        (3) the two mayors of the municipalities where the
23    academies are to be located;
24        (4) the president of a statewide labor federation
25    representing more than one international union, or his or

 

 

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1    her designee, appointed by the State Superintendent of
2    Education; and
3        (5) two members representative of the general public,
4    appointed by the Governor.
5    With the exception of the initial appointments, the members
6terms of office shall be for 6 years. At the first meeting,
7members shall draw lots for appointments of 2, 4, or 6 year
8initial terms. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired
9portion of the terms by appointment of the officer who
10appointed the person causing such vacancy. The initial terms
11shall commence upon appointment and upon expiration of a term,
12the member shall continue serving until a successor is
13appointed. The Board shall select a chair from among its
14members who shall serve a 2-year term as chair. Members shall
15receive no salary but shall be reimbursed for all ordinary and
16necessary expenses incurred in performing their duties as
17members of the Board.
 
18    Section 20. Powers of the Board. The Board of Trustees is
19authorized to:
20        (1) Accept donations, bequests, or other forms of
21    financial assistance for educational purposes from any
22    public or private person or agency and comply with rules
23    and regulations governing grants from the federal
24    government or from any other person or agency, which are
25    not in contravention of the Illinois Constitution or the

 

 

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1    laws of the State of Illinois.
2        (2) Purchase equipment and make improvements to
3    facilities necessary for the use of the academies, in
4    accordance with applicable law.
5        (3) Adopt, amend, or repeal rules, regulations, and
6    policies necessary for the conduct of the business of the
7    Board.
8        (4) Award certificates and issue diplomas for
9    successful completion of programs of study requirement
10    provided that a high school diploma may be issued if the
11    student has, minimally, satisfied the requirement of
12    Section 27-22 of the School Code.
13        (5) Enter into agreements with institutions of higher
14    education for dual credit in accordance with the
15    requirements of the Dual Credit Quality Act.
16        (6) Select a Director who shall be the chief
17    administrative officer of the academies and who shall
18    administer the rules, regulations, and policies adopted by
19    the Board of the Trustees under this Section. The Director
20    shall also be the chief administrative officer of the Board
21    and shall be responsible for all of the Board's
22    administrative functions, duties, and needs.
23        (7) Determine faculty and staff positions necessary
24    for the efficient operation of the academies and select
25    personnel for the positions.
26        (8) Prepare and adopt an annual budget necessary for

 

 

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1    the continued operation of the academies.
2        (9) Enter into contracts and agreements which have been
3    recommended by the Director, to the extent that funds are
4    specifically appropriated for that purpose, with other
5    public agencies with respect to cooperative enterprises
6    and undertakings related to or associated with an
7    educational purpose or program affecting education in an
8    academy. This shall not preclude the Board from entering
9    into other contracts and agreements that it may deem
10    necessary to carry out its duties and functions.
11        (10) Perform other functions as are necessary to the
12    supervision and control of those phases of education under
13    its supervision and control.
14        (11) Delegate to the Director any administrative
15    powers and duties as it deems appropriate to aid the
16    Director in the efficient administration of his or her
17    responsibility for the implementation of the policies of
18    the Board.
19        (12) Adopt rules, regulations, and policies necessary
20    for the efficient operation of an academy.
21        (13) Establish criteria to be used in determining
22    eligibility of applicants for enrollment in an academy. The
23    criteria shall ensure adequate geographic, sexual, and
24    ethnic representation.
25        (14) Determine subjects and extracurricular activities
26    to be offered by an academy.

 

 

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1        (15) Pay salaries and expenses, including, but not
2    limited to, facilities, equipment, and supplies of the
3    faculty and staff of an academy out of funds appropriated
4    or otherwise made available for the operating and
5    administrative expenses of the Board and an academy.
6        (16) Exercise budgetary responsibility and allocate
7    for expenditure by an academy and programs under its
8    jurisdiction and all moneys appropriated or otherwise made
9    available for purposes of the Board and of the academy.
10        (17) Prescribe and select for use in an academy free
11    school books and other materials of instruction for
12    children enrolled in the academy and programs under its
13    jurisdiction for which the General Assembly provides
14    funds.
15        (18) Prepare and adopt or approve programs of study and
16    rules, bylaws, and regulations for the conduct of students
17    and for the government of the school and programs under its
18    jurisdiction.
19        (19) Employ personnel as may be needed, establish
20    policies governing their employment and dismissal, and fix
21    the amount of their compensation. In the employment,
22    establishment of policies, and fixing of compensation, the
23    Board may make no discrimination on account of sex, race,
24    creed, color, or national origin.
 
25    Section 25. Academy property. Each academy shall be

 

 

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1empowered to lease or purchase real and personal property on
2commercially reasonable terms for the use by the academy. Any
3leases or purchases of real or personal property, and any
4disposition of the property, by an academy shall be in
5compliance with the provisions of the Civil Administrative Code
6of Illinois and the State Property Control Act. Personal
7property acquired for use by an academy shall be inventoried
8and disposed of in accordance with the State Property Control
9Act.
 
10    Section 30. Indemnification. Each academy, the Board, and
11its employees shall be represented and indemnified in certain
12civil law suits in accordance with the State Employee
13Indemnification Act. An academy or its officers or employees
14and the Board may not participate in the creation of any
15corporation, joint venture, partnership, association, or other
16organizational entity which exercises, expands, or enhances
17the powers, duties, or responsibilities of the academy, unless
18specifically authorized by the General Assembly. This Section
19does not restrict an academy from creating any organization
20entity that is within or a part of the academy.