SB2539 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB093 20395 MKM 46169 b

93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
SB2539

Introduced 2/3/2004, by Kimberly A. Lightford

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/34-18.30 new

Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Provides that, prior to the closure of any school or the consolidation of one school with another, the person recommending the closure must provide certain notifications, conduct a school closure impact study that includes certain information concerning the school proposed to be closed or consolidated, and solicit an alternative proposal from the local school council or interested school members of the school proposed to be closed or consolidated. Requires the district to accept and review any submitted alternative proposals and hold at least one public hearing on these proposals in the affected community.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section 34-18.30 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/34-18.30 new)

Sec. 34-18.30. School facility closure; consolidation. Prior to the closure of any school or the consolidation of one school with another, the person recommending the closure or consolidation shall:

(1) Notify the board of the recommendation at least 6 months prior to requesting a vote on the closure or consolidation by the board, and no later than the board's December meeting of that school year.

(2) Provide written notification of any proposal to close or consolidate a school or schools to all affected principals and local school councils at least 6 months prior to a vote by the board regarding the closure or consolidation.

(3) Provide written notification to the parents or guardians of students potentially affected by any school closure or consolidation proposal at least 6 months prior to a vote by the board regarding the closure or consolidation.

(4) Conduct a school closure impact study, the purposes of which are (i) to ensure that the quality of educational opportunity and breadth of educational programming and resources at any school that receives students displaced from a school closure or consolidation are equal to or better than those provided by the school or schools proposed to be closed or consolidated and (ii) to measure the impact on the educational climate, resources, and performance of the receiving school or schools. This study shall include input from the local school council that, at a minimum, includes the following information about the school for which a proposal has been made to close or consolidate:

(A) enrollment trends over the past 5 years;

(B) scores on tests required under Section 2-3.64 of this Code over the past 5 years;

(C) an analysis of transfer placement options for any students displaced from a school proposed to be closed or consolidated, including distance traveled and transportation costs;

(D) a comparison of educational programs between the school being closed or consolidated and all of the schools that potentially may receive the displaced students;

(E) a comparison of academic performance between the school being closed or consolidated and all of the schools that may potentially receive the displaced students;

(F) a comparison of class sizes between the school being closed or consolidated and all of the schools that potentially may receive the displaced students;

(G) a detailed assessment of the effect on class size, overall enrollment, and educational resources of the impacted schools; and

(H) disclosure of the district's plan for the future or disposition of the school proposed to be closed or consolidated.

(5) Solicit an alternative proposal from the local school council or interested school members of the school under consideration for closure or consolidation. This proposal shall outline alternatives to closing or consolidating the school. The district must accept and review any submitted alternative proposals and hold at least one public hearing on these proposals in the affected community.