HB4301 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB099 14498 SXM 38615 b

99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
HB4301

Introduced , by Rep. Fred Crespo

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/10-21.4	from Ch. 122, par. 10-21.4
105 ILCS 5/10-23.8	from Ch. 122, par. 10-23.8

Amends the School Code. In provisions requiring a school board (other than the Chicago school district) to employ a superintendent, allows the school board in a school district with boundaries that lie in 3 counties, one county of which has a population exceeding 1,000,000 inhabitants, that has on staff properly licensed assistant superintendents or directors in the areas of instruction, finance, special education, assessments, and career and technology education, to instead appoint a chief executive officer to serve as its superintendent. Requires this chief executive officer to be a person of recognized administrative ability and management experience, hold a master's degree, have been employed with the school district for a minimum of 5 years in an administrative capacity, be responsible for the management of the district, and have all other powers and duties of a superintendent. Exempts the chief executive officer from provisions of the School Code concerning educator qualifications for a period of 5 years. Allows the school board to reappoint the chief executive officer after the 5-year period if the chief executive officer has made substantial progress towards a standard or alternative administrative license, if a program for such is available. Makes related changes.

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 changing Sections 10-21.4 and 10-23.8 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/10-21.4) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-21.4)

Sec. 10-21.4. Superintendent - Duties. Except in districts in which there is only one school with fewer less than 4 four teachers, to employ a superintendent, who shall have charge of the administration of the schools under the direction of the board of education. However, in any school district with boundaries that lie in 3 counties, one county of which has a population exceeding 1,000,000 inhabitants, that has on staff properly licensed assistant superintendents or directors in the areas of instruction, finance, special education, assessments, and career and technology education, the school board may instead, by a vote of a majority of its full membership, appoint a chief executive officer to serve as its superintendent, who shall be a person of recognized administrative ability and management experience, hold a master's degree, have been employed with the school district for a minimum of 5 years in an administrative capacity, be responsible for the management of the district, and have all other powers and duties of a superintendent as set forth in this Code, but who shall be exempt from the provisions and requirements of Section 21B-15 of this Code for a period of 5 years. The school board may reappoint this chief executive officer after the 5-year period if the chief executive officer has made substantial progress towards a standard or alternative administrative license, if a program for such is available.

In addition to the administrative duties, the superintendent shall make recommendations to the board concerning the budget, building plans, the locations of sites, the selection, retention and dismissal of teachers and all other employees, the selection of textbooks, instructional material and courses of study. However, in districts under a Financial Oversight Panel pursuant to Section 1A-8 for violating a financial plan, the duties and responsibilities of the superintendent in relation to the financial and business operations of the district shall be approved by the Panel. In the event the Board refuses or fails to follow a directive or comply with an information request of the Panel, the performance of those duties shall be subject to the direction of the Panel. The superintendent shall also notify the State Board of Education, the board and the chief administrative official, other than the alleged perpetrator himself, in the school where the alleged perpetrator serves, that any person who is employed in a school or otherwise comes into frequent contact with children in the school has been named as a perpetrator in an indicated report filed pursuant to the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, approved June 26, 1975, as amended. The superintendent shall keep or cause to be kept the records and accounts as directed and required by the board, aid in making reports required by the board, and perform such other duties as the board may delegate to him.

In addition, each year at a time designated by the State Superintendent of Education, each superintendent shall report to the State Board of Education the number of high school students in the district who are enrolled in accredited courses (for which high school credit will be awarded upon successful completion of the courses) at any community college, together with the name and number of the course or courses which each such student is taking.

The provisions of this Section section shall also apply to board of director districts.

Notice of intent not to renew a contract must be given in writing stating the specific reason therefor by April 1 of the contract year unless the contract specifically provides otherwise. Failure to do so will automatically extend the contract for an additional year. Within 10 days after receipt of notice of intent not to renew a contract, the superintendent may request a closed session hearing on the dismissal. At the hearing the superintendent has the privilege of presenting evidence, witnesses and defenses on the grounds for dismissal. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to a district under a Financial Oversight Panel pursuant to Section 1A-8 for violating a financial plan.

(Source: P.A. 97-256, eff. 1-1-12.)

(105 ILCS 5/10-23.8) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-23.8)

Sec. 10-23.8. Superintendent contracts. After the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997 and the expiration of contracts in effect on the effective date of this amendatory Act, school districts may only employ a superintendent or, if authorized by law, a chief executive officer under either a contract for a period not exceeding one year or a performance-based contract for a period not exceeding 5 years.

Performance-based contracts shall be linked to student performance and academic improvement within the schools of the districts. No performance-based contract shall be extended or rolled-over prior to its scheduled expiration unless all the performance and improvement goals contained in the contract have been met. Each performance-based contract shall include the goals and indicators of student performance and academic improvement determined and used by the local school board to measure the performance and effectiveness of the superintendent and such other information as the local school board may determine.

By accepting the terms of a multi-year contract, the superintendent or chief executive officer waives all rights granted him or her under Sections 24-11 through 24-16 of this Act only for the term of the multi-year contract. Upon acceptance of a multi-year contract, the superintendent or chief executive officer shall not lose any previously acquired tenure credit with the district.

(Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 1-1-98; 91-314, eff. 1-1-00.)