(105 ILCS 5/3-15.14) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-15.14)
Sec. 3-15.14. Cooperative Educational and Operational Programs. To administer and direct a cooperative or joint educational or operational program
or project when 2 or more districts request and authorize him or her to provide
and administer these services. Each regional superintendent of schools is encouraged to offer school districts the opportunity to share in joint educational or operational programs and to urge school districts to participate in such programs when the school district determines that such participation is fiscally prudent. The regional superintendent of schools may provide and contract for the
staff, space, necessary materials, supplies, books and apparatus for
such agreements. The school boards of the respective districts shall pay
to the regional superintendent the pro rata share of the expenses of the
operation of such programs, and the regional superintendent shall use
such funds in payment of such operational expenses. The regional
superintendent shall collect and remit the required pension contributions
from the participating districts if the board of control of the program
participates in Article 7 of the Illinois Pension Code.
A board of control composed of one member from each cooperating
district and one member from the office of the regional superintendent
will set policy for the cooperative. The agreement establishing the
cooperative may provide that the cooperative shall act as its own
administrative district and shall be an entity separate and apart from the
Educational Service Region.
Each regional superintendent that is the administrator of a joint
agreement shall cause an annual financial statement to be submitted on
forms prescribed by the State Board of Education exhibiting
the financial condition of the program established pursuant to the joint
agreement for the fiscal year ending on the immediately preceding June
30.
The regional superintendent may also administer, direct and account
for educational programs of single or multi-county educational service
region, or of multi-regional design which are sponsored and financed by
State or federal educational agencies, or by both such agencies.
In cases where funding for any such approved program is delayed, the
regional superintendent may borrow the funds required to begin operation of
the program in accordance with the terms of the grant; and the principal
amount so borrowed, together with the interest due thereon, shall be paid
from the grant moneys when received.
(Source: P.A. 97-357, eff. 1-1-12.)
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