(105 ILCS 5/5-21) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-21)

Sec. 5-21. Gifts, grants, donations, legacies - Title to property. The trustees of schools in townships in which that office has not been abolished as provided in subsection (c) of Section 5-1 may receive any gift, grant, donation or legacy made for the use of any school or library or for any other school purpose within their jurisdiction. They are invested in their corporate capacity with the title of all school buildings and school sites, except as otherwise provided by clause (3) of subsection (b) of Section 5-1 with respect to school districts which have withdrawn from the jurisdiction and authority of the trustees of school. All conveyances of real estate made to the trustees of schools shall be made to them in their corporate name and to their successors in office. School districts may take and convey title to real estate to be improved by buildings or other structures for vocational or other educational training of pupils as provided in Section 10-23.3. If legal title to the real estate to be so improved for vocational or other educational training of pupils as provided in Section 10-23.3 is not held by the school board of the school district, the trustees of schools or other school officials having legal title to those school sites or other school property shall convey to the school district the title to any such school site or other school property or portion thereof held for such district, to be used as provided in Section 10-23.3, upon being presented with a resolution adopted by at least 2/3 of the members of such board requesting such conveyance.

If the trustees of schools for a township are no longer in existence, the school district shall take and convey title to all school buildings and school sites to be acquired within such township. If the trustees of schools had previously taken title to a school building or a school site and such trustees are no longer in existence, the school district shall by operation of law automatically be vested with title to all school buildings and school sites within such township and shall have authority to convey title thereto.

(Source: P.A. 87-473; 88-155.)

(105 ILCS 5/5-22) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-22)

Sec. 5-22. Sales of school sites, buildings or other real estate. When, in the opinion of the school board, a school site, or portion thereof, building, or site with building thereon or any other real estate of the district has become unnecessary, unsuitable, or inconvenient for a school or unnecessary for the uses of the district, the school board, by a resolution adopted by at least two-thirds of the board members, may sell or direct that the property be sold in the manner provided in the Local Government Property Transfer Act or in the manner herein provided or, in the case of residential property constructed or renovated by students as part of a curricular program, may engage the services of a licensed real estate broker to sell the property for a commission not to exceed 7%, contingent on the public listing of the property on a multiple listing service for a minimum of 14 calendar days and the sale of the property within 120 days.

Unless legal title to the land is held by the school board, the school board shall forthwith notify the trustees of schools or other school officials having legal title to such land of the terms upon which they desire the property to be sold. If the property is to be sold to another unit of local government or school district, the school board, trustees of schools, or other school officials having legal title to the land shall proceed in the manner provided in the Local Government Property Transfer Act. In all other cases, except if the property is to be sold to a tenant that has leased the property for 10 or more years and that tenant is a non-profit agency, the school board, trustees of schools, or other school officials having legal title to the land shall, within 60 days after adoption of the resolution (if the school board holds legal title to the land), or within 60 days after the trustees of school or other school officials having legal title receive the notice (if the school board does not hold legal title to the land), sell the property at public sale, by auction or sealed bids, after first giving notice of the time, place, and terms thereof by notice published once each week for 3 successive weeks prior to the date of the sale if sale is by auction, or prior to the final date of acceptance of bids if sale is by sealed bids, in a newspaper published in the district or, if no such newspaper is published in the district, then in a newspaper published in the county and having a general circulation in the district; however, if territory containing a school site, building, or site with building thereon, is detached from the school district of which it is a part after proceedings have been commenced under this Section for the sale of that school site, building, or site with building thereon, but before the sale is held, then the school board, trustees of schools, or other school officials having legal title shall not advertise or sell that school site, building, or site with building thereon, pursuant to those proceedings. The notices may be in the following form: NOTICE OF SALE Notice is hereby given that on (insert date), the (here insert title of the school board, trustees of school, or other school officials holding legal title) of (county) (Township No. ...., Range No. .... P.M. ....) will sell at public sale (use applicable alternative) (at ......... (state location of sale which shall be within the district), at .... ..M.,) (by taking sealed bids which shall be accepted until .... ..M., on (insert date), at (here insert location where bids will be accepted which shall be within the district) which bids will be opened at .... ..M. on (insert date) at (here insert location where bids will be opened which shall be within the district)) the following described property: (here describe the property), which sale will be made on the following terms to-wit: (here insert terms of sale) .... .... .... (Here insert title of school officials holding legal title)

For purposes of determining "terms of sale" under this Section, the General Assembly declares by this clarifying and amendatory Act of 1983 that "terms of sale" are not limited to sales for cash only but include contracts for deed, mortgages, and such other seller financed terms as may be specified by the school board.

If a school board specifies a reasonable minimum selling price and that price is not met or if no bids are received, the school board may adopt a resolution determining or directing that the services of a licensed real estate broker be engaged to sell the property for a commission not to exceed 7%, contingent on the sale of the property within 120 days. If legal title to the property is not held by the school board, the trustees of schools or other school officials having legal title shall, upon receipt of the resolution, engage the services of a licensed real estate broker as directed in the resolution. The board may accept a written offer equal to or greater than the established minimum selling price for the described property. The services of a licensed real estate broker may be utilized to seek a buyer. If the board lowers the minimum selling price on the described property, the public sale procedures set forth in this Section must be followed. The board may raise the minimum selling price without repeating the public sale procedures.

In the case of a sale of property to a tenant that has leased the property for 10 or more years and that is a non-profit agency, an appraisal is required prior to the sale. If the non-profit agency purchases the property for less than the appraised value and subsequently sells the property, the agency may retain only a percentage of the profits that is proportional to the percentage of the appraisal, plus any improvements made by the agency while the agency was the owner, that the agency paid in the initial sale. The remaining portion of the profits made by the non-profit agency shall revert to the school district.

The deed of conveyance shall be executed by the president and clerk or secretary of the school board, trustees of schools, or other school officials having legal title to the land, and the proceeds paid to the school treasurer for the benefit of the district. The school board shall use the proceeds from the sale first to pay the principal and interest on any outstanding bonds on the property being sold, and after all such bonds have been retired, the remaining proceeds from the sale next shall be used by the school board to meet any urgent district needs as determined under Sections 2-3.12 and 17-2.11 and then for any other authorized purpose and for deposit into any district fund. But whenever the school board of any school district determines that any schoolhouse site with or without a building thereon is of no further use to the district, and agrees with the school board of any other school district within the boundaries of which the site is situated, upon the sale thereof to that district, and agrees upon the price to be paid therefor, and the site is selected by the purchasing district in the manner required by law, then after the payment of the compensation the school board, township trustees, or other school officials having legal title to the land of the schools shall, by proper instrument in writing, convey the legal title of the site to the school board of the purchasing district, or to the trustees of schools for the use of the purchasing district, in accordance with law. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any sale made pursuant to Section 5-23 or Section 5-24 or Section 32-4.

(Source: P.A. 99-794, eff. 1-1-17; 100-963, eff. 1-1-19.)

(105 ILCS 5/5-23) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-23)

Sec. 5-23. Exchange of properties.

Whenever the school board, by a two-thirds majority of its members shall find and declare the following propositions and shall cause to be recorded in the Recorder's Office a certificate embodying such findings and declarations duly signed by its president and attested by its secretary or clerk, then said school board may cause the exchange of a present school site or site with building thereon for a substitutional site without a referendum approving such exchange. The above findings and declarations shall establish the following: (1) That in the opinion of the school board a school site or site with building thereon has become unsuitable or inconvenient for a school; (2) that a substitutional school site has been offered in exchange for the present site which is a suitable, convenient and desirable site for a school and (3) that the value of the substitutional site is equal to or exceeds the value of the present site for which it is to be exchanged, the criterion of value to be that of a fair market value. When such certificate has been recorded as aforesaid, the school board shall transmit a copy of said certificate to the trustees of schools or other school officials having legal title to such land and shall request the execution of a deed of conveyance by the president and clerk, or secretary, as the case may be, to be delivered upon the receipt of a good and sufficient deed conveying to the trustees of schools or other school officials entitled under the statute to hold legal title to lands in the particular school district a good title to the substitutional site; and such president and clerk, or secretary, as the case may be, shall comply with such request. If the school board of a school district holds legal title to any lands to be exchanged under this Section, the certificate shall be recorded by the school board, and the deed of conveyance shall be executed by the president and by the secretary or clerk of the school board, as the case may be, and shall be delivered when a good and sufficient deed conveying the legal title of the substitutional site to the school board is delivered to the school board. The certificate provided for shall set forth an accurate legal description of the present school site and of the substitutional site offered as aforesaid.

(Source: P.A. 88-155.)

(105 ILCS 5/5-24) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-24)

Sec. 5-24. Sale to another school district or municipality. Whenever a petition is presented to the school board of a school district requesting the sale of school grounds and buildings to another school district or other municipality, which petition is signed by 10% of the voters of the district, the school board of the district shall adopt a resolution for the sale of such school grounds and buildings, and fix the price therefor, and shall thereupon order the secretary to certify to the proper election authorities the proposition for submission to the voters of the district in accordance with the general election law; and if a majority of the votes cast upon the proposition are in favor of the sale, then the school board, trustees of schools of the township in which the school district is located, or other school officials having legal title shall convey by its president and clerk or secretary, upon receipt of the purchase price, the property so to be sold; and the purchase price thereof shall be placed with the proper treasurer for the benefit of the school district so selling the property. The proposition shall be substantially in the following form:

--------------------------------------------------------------

Shall School District Number

...., of.... County, Illinois, YES

sell to School District

Number...., (or other municipality) -------------------------

of.... County, Illinois,

the following described property

(here describe the ground) NO

for the sum of.... Dollars?

--------------------------------------------------------------

(Source: P.A. 88-155.)

(105 ILCS 5/5-25) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-25)

Sec. 5-25. Moneys paid to treasurer.

The trustees of schools or township land commissioners shall cause all moneys for the use of the school districts to be paid to the proper treasurer thereof.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

(105 ILCS 5/5-26) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-26)

Sec. 5-26. Purchase of real estate in satisfaction of judgment. The trustees of schools or township land commissioners may purchase real estate in satisfaction of any judgment in any action wherein the trustees or township land commissioners or the county superintendent of schools are parties, if, in their opinion the interests of the township fund will be promoted thereby.

(Source: P.A. 79-1366.)

(105 ILCS 5/5-27) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-27)

Sec. 5-27. Compromise, settlements and cancellations.

The trustees of schools or township land commissioners may: make all settlements with persons indebted to them in their official capacity; receive deeds to real estate in compromise; and may cancel notes, bonds, mortgages, and judgments for the benefit of any school township or district.

(Source: P.A. 84-452.)

(105 ILCS 5/5-28) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-28)

Sec. 5-28. Lease or sale of lands. The trustees of schools or township land commissioners may lease or sell any lands that come into their possession in the manner described in Sections 5-26 or 5-27. When in their opinion it is to the best interest of the schools of the township or district interested in any such lands that they be sold, the trustees shall adopt a resolution to such effect and in such resolution shall specify the time, place and terms of sale. The sale shall be at public auction and the trustees shall give notice thereof by publishing notice once each week for three successive weeks prior to the date of the sale in a newspaper published in the township to which the real estate belongs, and if the lands to be sold lie outside of the township to which they belong then such notice is to be published as herein provided in a newspaper published in the township in which the land lies or, if no such newspaper is published either in the township where the real estate belongs or in the township where the land lies, then in a newspaper published in the county and having a general circulation in the township affected. The notices shall describe the property and state the time, place and terms of the sale. The trustees have the right to reject any and all bids. Upon the sale being made, deed of conveyance shall be executed by the president and clerk of the trustees and the proceeds shall be paid to the township treasurer for the benefit of the township or the district interested in the lands.

(Source: P.A. 100-963, eff. 1-1-19.)

(105 ILCS 5/5-29) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-29)

Sec. 5-29. Sale of school land for roads.

Whenever the State, county, city, village, incorporated town, township or road district authorities lay out a new road, street or highway, or alter, widen or relocate existing roads, streets or highways, and for such purposes require lands used for school sites, or land owned for school purposes, the trustees of schools or school officials having legal title to such lands have the power, with the consent of the school board of the district, to sell and convey to the State, county, city, village, incorporated town, township or road district the land required for such purposes, or may dedicate to public use for street and highway purposes as much of said school land as may be necessary to open, extend, alter, widen or relocate any street or highway which may be required by the municipal authorities to be opened, extended, altered, widened or relocated, if they are of the opinion that the benefit to accrue for the opening, extending, altering, widening or relocating of such street or highway will compensate for the strip so dedicated.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

(105 ILCS 5/5-30) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-30)

Sec. 5-30. Easements.

The trustees of schools or other school officials having legal title to school sites or land owned for school purposes shall have the power, with the consent of the school board of the district wherein the lands are located, to grant temporary or permanent easements for sewer, water drainage or utility purposes to municipalities, corporations or persons on such terms as the school board may determine.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

(105 ILCS 5/5-31) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-31)

Sec. 5-31. Division of township into districts - Territory taken from special charter district. The trustees of schools in newly organized townships shall divide the township into school districts to suit the wishes or convenience of a majority of the inhabitants of the township, and shall prepare or cause to be prepared a map of the township, on which the district or districts shall be designated by their respective numbers. The trustees of schools shall also cause any territory taken from a school district acting under a special charter to be formed and established into a school district to be governed under such general school laws of the State within thirty days from the time such territory is taken from the district acting under a special charter; and the trustees shall order an election for the purpose of electing directors for such district and shall certify such offices within ten days after the organization thereof. The first election shall be held at the next regular election for school district officers, and until the directors elected at that time take office, the Regional Superintendent may fill the office by appointment. If such territory has not sufficient inhabitants and children to establish and maintain a school, the trustees may annex it to an adjoining district or districts.

(Source: P.A. 81-1490.)

(105 ILCS 5/5-32) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-32)

Sec. 5-32. Failure to maintain schools - Transportation and tuition. If any school district other than a non-high school district shall for 1 year fail to maintain within the boundaries of the school district a recognized public school as required by law, such district shall become automatically dissolved and the property and territory of such district shall be disposed of in the manner provided for the disposal of territory and property in Section 7-11 of this Act. However, a school district shall not be dissolved where the State Board of Education and the regional superintendent of the region in which a district has legally authorized the building of a school and legally selected a school house site and has issued bonds for such building shall jointly find and certify that such building has been authorized, site selected and bonds issued.

If a district has its territory included within a petition to form a community unit district under Article 11E of this Code, that district may not be dissolved under this Section until the end of the school year in which all proceedings relating to formation of that community unit district are finally concluded, whether by disallowance of the petition, by referendum, by a final court decision or otherwise. Until such proceedings are finally concluded, the regional superintendent having jurisdiction of the district that is not maintaining a recognized school shall assign the pupils of that district to an adjoining school district, subject to the requirement that the district from which the pupils are so assigned shall pay tuition for such pupils to the district to which the pupils are assigned, in accordance with Section 10-20.12a of this Act or in such lesser amount as may be agreed to by the 2 districts.

However, until July 1, 1969 or one year after the entry of a final decision by a court of competent jurisdiction in the event of litigation with respect to any of the matters set forth in this Section, whichever is the later, notwithstanding the provisions of this Section, any protectorate high school district composed of contiguous and compact territory having not less than 2,000 inhabitants and which has an equalized assessed valuation of not less than $6,000,000, shall be and remain a protectorate high school district if a majority of the pupils attend a high school in a special charter district maintaining grades 1 through 12 and if during that period the voters of the district, by referendum to be ordered by the board, vote in favor of the proposition that such district maintain and operate a high school within such district, and also authorize the purchase of a school site, the building of a school building and the issuance of bonds for such purpose, which bonds are duly issued. The Board shall certify the proposition to the proper election authorities for submission, in accordance with the general election law.

The proposition to maintain and operate a high school within such district shall be in substantially the following form:

--------------------------------------------------------------

Shall ......................

High School District Number ......, YES

........... County, Illinois,

maintain and operate a high school -------------------------

within that High School

District and for the benefit NO

of the pupils residing therein?

--------------------------------------------------------------

and is approved if a majority of the voters voting on the proposition is in favor thereof. The proposition of purchasing a school site, the building of a school building and the issuance of bonds for such purpose shall be submitted to the voters and may be voted upon at the same election that the proposition of maintaining and operating a high school within the district is submitted or at any regularly scheduled election subsequent thereto as may be ordered by the board. Thereupon, that protectorate high school district shall thereafter exist as a community high school district and possess and enjoy all of the powers, duties and authorities of a community high school district under Article 12 of this Act.

Throughout its existence as a protectorate district and until the legal voters residing in the district have determined to maintain and operate a high school within the district and have been authorized to purchase a school site, build a school building and to issue bonds for such purpose and which bonds are duly issued, or until the dissolution of the district as required by this Section, such protectorate district may use its funds to pay for the tuition and transportation of the pupils in such district that attend a high school in a special charter district maintaining grades 1 through 12. A protectorate high school district is defined to be a district which does not own or operate its own school buildings.

(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

(105 ILCS 5/5-34) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-34)

Sec. 5-34. Evidence of indebtedness not in proper form-Securities insufficient- Action taken.

When any county superintendent of schools notifies the trustees of schools of a township, in writing, that the notes, bonds, mortgages or other evidences of indebtedness which have been taken officially by the township treasurer are not in proper form, or that securities which he has taken are insufficient, the trustees shall at once take such action as may be necessary to protect the property or fund of the township and the district. For a failure or refusal to take such action within 20 days after such notice the trustees of schools, each in his individual capacity, shall be guilty of a petty offense and shall be liable to a fine of not less than twenty-five nor more than one hundred dollars, to be recovered before any circuit court, which when collected shall be paid to the county superintendent of the proper county for the use of the schools. The payment of this fine shall not relieve the trustees from any civil liability they may have incurred from such neglect of duty.

(Source: P.A. 77-2267.)

(105 ILCS 5/5-35) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-35)

Sec. 5-35. Liability of trustees for sufficiency of securities taken from township treasurer. Trustees of schools shall be liable, jointly and severally, for the sufficiency of securities taken from township treasurers; and in case of judgment against any treasurer and his sureties for or on account of any default of such treasurer, on which the money is not made for want of sufficient property whereon to levy for the enforcement of a judgment, a civil action may be maintained against the trustees, jointly and severally, and the amount not collected on the judgment shall be recovered with costs of the action from such trustees. If the trustees can show, satisfactorily, that the security taken from the treasurer, was, at the time it was taken, sufficient, they shall not be held liable.

(Source: P.A. 84-546.)

(105 ILCS 5/5-36) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-36)

Sec. 5-36. Failure to follow law as to distribution when new district formed.

If the trustees of schools fail to observe the provisions of this Act in reference to the distribution of funds and property when a new district is formed, they shall be individually and jointly liable to the district interested, in a civil action to the full amount of the damages sustained by the district aggrieved.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

(105 ILCS 5/5-37) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-37)

Sec. 5-37. Returns of children-Penalty for failure or false return.

Any trustee of schools who fails or refuses to make returns of children in his township according to the provisions of this Act, or who knowingly makes a false return thereof, is guilty of a petty offense and shall be liable to a fine of not less than $10.00 nor more than $100.00, to be recovered by an action before the circuit court of the county; which penalty, when collected, shall be added to the distributive fund of the township in which the trustee resides.

(Source: P.A. 77-2267.)

(105 ILCS 5/5-38)

Sec. 5-38. Publication of information.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Accounting book value" means the value carried on the accounting records of the township school treasurer as of the last day of a calendar quarter.

"Annual total compensation" means the total cost to taxpayers for the services of the identified individual during the most recently completed fiscal year.

"Investment instrument" means an individual investment security as provided for under the Uniform Commercial Code or the aggregate value of all shares held in an individual investment fund or pooled account.

"Investment rate of return" means:

(1) for fixed interest-bearing securities, the stated or calculated annual interest rate; and

(2) for cash accounts and all other investment instruments, the actual income earned during the previously ending quarter, multiplied by 4, then divided by the accounting book value, expressed as a percentage.

"Township school treasurer" means an individual hired by the trustees of schools to perform the statutory role of treasurer for school districts within the township.

(b) Trustees of schools in Class II county school units shall maintain an Internet website on which all of the following information shall be available for public viewing:

(1) The name, term of office, and means of public contact for each trustee.

(2) The dates, times, and locations of all trustees of schools meetings to be held during the current fiscal year.

(3) The agenda for each trustees of schools meeting, posted at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.

(4) The approved minutes of all trustees of schools meetings held within the current and previous 2 fiscal years, posted no later than 100 days after the meeting date.

(5) The annual total compensation of each trustee and township school treasurer, itemized by salary and wages, retirement contributions, insurance premiums, vehicle and mileage allowances, deferred compensation, all other compensation, and total compensation for each individual. The fiscal year for which the amounts apply shall also be reported.

(6) The address and contact information for the township school treasurer's office.

(7) The audited financial statements for the prior 3 fiscal years.

(8) The budget for the current fiscal year, posted no later than September 30 of each year.

(9) Contracts in effect with a value over $25,000.

(10) Collective bargaining agreements in effect.

(c) Township school treasurers in Class II county school units shall submit to each school district that they serve, within 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter, an investments report that includes all of the following:

(1) A list of each cash account and investment instrument held by the treasurer as of the last day of the calendar quarter and the accounting book value, investment rate of return, and maturity date, if any, of each.

(2) A copy of the trustees of schools investment policy under which the township school treasurer operated during the quarter.

(Source: P.A. 102-346, eff. 8-13-21.)

(105 ILCS 5/Art. 6 heading) ARTICLE 6. REGIONAL BOARD OF SCHOOL TRUSTEES

(105 ILCS 5/6-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 6-1)

Sec. 6-1. Fractional townships of less than 200 persons. Each congressional township is a township for school purposes. When a fractional congressional township contains fewer than 200 persons under 21 years of age and has not heretofore been united with any township for school purposes it is hereby attached for school purposes to the adjacent congressional township having the longest territorial line bordering on such fractional township and all the provisions of this Article shall apply to such united townships the same as though they were one township.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

(105 ILCS 5/6-2) (from Ch. 122, par. 6-2)

Sec. 6-2. Regional board; creation; membership; abolition and transfer of duties.

(a) There is created a regional board of school trustees for that territory in each educational service region exclusive of any school district organized under Article 34 and exclusive of any school district whose school board has been given the powers of school trustees; provided that on the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1992 the regional board of school trustees theretofore created and existing for any territory in an educational service region containing 2,000,000 or more inhabitants is abolished, the terms of office of all members of the regional board of school trustees so abolished are terminated on that effective date, and from and after that effective date all rights, powers, duties, and responsibilities that were vested in or required by law to be exercised and performed by the former regional board of school trustees shall be vested in and exercised and performed by the successors to the former regional board of school trustees as provided in subsection (b) of this Section 6-2. Any school district whose board of education acts as a board of school trustees shall have within its district the powers and duties of a regional board of school trustees.

Unless abolished as provided in this Section, the regional board of school trustees, in both single county and multi-county educational service regions, shall consist of 7 members. In single county regions not more than one trustee may be a resident of any one congressional township; however, in case there are fewer than 7 congressional townships in the region then not more than two of such trustees may be residents of the same congressional township. Notwithstanding the foregoing residency provision, in a single county region with a population of greater than 750,000 inhabitants, but less than 1,200,000 inhabitants, 2 trustees may be residents of the same congressional township if and only if such trustees were elected at the April 9, 2013 consolidated election. In 2 county regions at least 2 trustees shall be residents of each county. In 3 or more county regions at least one trustee shall be a resident of each county. If more than 7 counties constitute the educational service region, the regional board of school trustees shall consist of one resident of each county.

The regional board of school trustees shall be a body politic and corporate by the name of "Regional Board of School Trustees of.... County (or Counties), Illinois." Such corporation shall have perpetual existence with power to sue and be sued and to plead and be impleaded in all courts and places where judicial proceedings are had.

(b) Upon the abolition of the regional board of school trustees and the termination of the terms of office of the members of that former regional board of school trustees in an educational service region containing 2,000,000 or more inhabitants as provided in subsection (a), the trustees of schools of each township included within the territory of that educational service region that was served by the former regional board of school trustees, or if any such township is a township referred to in subsection (b) of Section 5-1 and there are no trustees of schools acting in that township then the school board of each school district located in that township, shall be the successors to the former regional board of school trustees. As successors to the former regional board of school trustees, the trustees of schools of each such township and the school board of each such school district, with respect to all territory included within the school township or school district served by the trustees of schools of the township or school board, shall be vested with and shall exercise and perform all rights, powers, duties, and responsibilities formerly held, exercised, and performed with respect to that territory by the regional board of school trustees abolished under subsection (a) of this Section.

Upon abolition of the regional board of school trustees in an educational service region having 2,000,000 or more inhabitants as provided in subsection (a) of this Section, all books, records, maps, papers, documents, equipment, supplies, accounts, deposits, and other personal property belonging to or subject to the control or disposition of the former regional board of school trustees (excepting only such items as may have been provided by the county board) shall be transferred and delivered to the trustees of schools of the townships and the school boards that are the successors to the former regional board of school trustees for the territory included within their respective school townships or school districts.

From and after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1992, any reference in the School Code or any other law of this State to the regional board of school trustees or county board of school trustees shall mean, with respect to all territory within an educational service region containing 2,000,000 or more inhabitants that formerly was served by a regional board of school trustees abolished under subsection (a) of this Section, the trustees of schools of the township or the school board of the school district that is the successor to the former regional board of school trustees with respect to the territory included within that school township or school district.

(Source: P.A. 98-115, eff. 7-29-13.)

(105 ILCS 5/6-2.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 6-2.1)

Sec. 6-2.1. On and after the effective date of this amendatory Act, the provisions of Sections 6-3, 6-4, 6-5, 6-10, 6-11 (now repealed), 6-12, 6-17, 6-18, 6-19, 6-20, and 6-21 of this School Code shall have no application in any educational service region having a population of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants.

(Source: P.A. 95-496, eff. 8-28-07.)

(105 ILCS 5/6-3) (from Ch. 122, par. 6-3)

Sec. 6-3. Eligibility for trustee's office.

No person shall be eligible to the office of member of the regional board of school trustees who is not a voter of the educational service region and qualified to vote in the election for members of the regional board of school trustees, or who is a member of a school board, or who is a school board employee, or who holds any county office.

(Source: P.A. 78-514.)

(105 ILCS 5/6-4) (from Ch. 122, par. 6-4)

Sec. 6-4. Election date. Members of the regional board of school trustees shall be elected at the regular election specified in the general election law in each odd-numbered year.

(Source: P.A. 81-1490.)

(105 ILCS 5/6-5) (from Ch. 122, par. 6-5)

Sec. 6-5. Qualifications and eligibility of voters.

A person is qualified to vote at an election for members of the regional board of school trustees who is a registered voter as provided in the Election Code and has resided within the State and in the voting precinct for 28 days immediately preceding the election, and who is a citizen of the United States and has attained the age of 18 years.

Whenever a unit school district is located in more than one educational service region, a qualified elector residing in that unit school district but outside of the educational service region administered by the regional superintendent of schools having supervision and control over that unit school district shall be eligible to vote in any election held to elect members of the regional board of school trustees for the educational service that is administered by the regional superintendent of schools who has supervision and control over that unit school district, but the elector shall not also be eligible to vote in the election held to elect the members of the regional board of school trustees for the educational service region in which the elector resides.

Not less than 100 days before each nonpartisan election, the regional superintendent of schools shall certify to the State Board of Elections a list of each unit school district under his or her supervision and control and each county in which all or any part of each of those districts is located. The State Board of Elections shall certify each of those unit school districts and counties to the appropriate election authorities within 20 days after receiving the list certified by the regional superintendent of schools.

The election authority in a single county educational service region whose regional superintendent of schools exercises supervision and control over a unit school district that is located in that single county educational service region and in one or more other educational service regions shall certify to the election authority of each of those other educational service regions in which the unit school district is located the candidates for members of the regional board of school trustees for the educational service region that is administered by the regional superintendent of schools exercising supervision and control over that unit school district.

(Source: P.A. 88-535.)

(105 ILCS 5/6-10) (from Ch. 122, par. 6-10)

Sec. 6-10. Nominating petition. The nomination of candidates for members of the regional board of school trustees in single county or multi-county educational service regions shall be made by a petition filed with the county clerk, in the case of a single county region, and, in the case of multi-county regions with the State Board of Elections and signed by at least 50 voters qualified to vote at the election. In addition to the requirements of the general election law, the petition shall specify the county and township (or road district) of the candidate's residence.

Nomination papers filed under this Section are not valid unless the candidate named therein files with the county clerk or State Board of Elections a statement of economic interests as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Such receipt shall be so filed either previously during the calendar year in which his nomination papers were filed or within the period for the filing of nomination papers in accordance with the general election law.

A candidate for membership on the regional board of school trustees, who has petitioned for nomination to fill a full term and to fill a vacant term to be voted upon at the same election, must withdraw his or her petition for nomination to the regional board of school trustees from either the full term or the vacant term by written declaration, within the time and in the manner provided by the general election law.

(Source: P.A. 81-1490.)

(105 ILCS 5/6-11)

Sec. 6-11. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 81-1490. Repealed by P.A. 95-496, eff. 8-28-07.)

(105 ILCS 5/6-12) (from Ch. 122, par. 6-12)

Sec. 6-12. Ballot form. The ballots for members of the regional board of school trustees shall be in substantially one of the following forms: OFFICIAL BALLOT FOR SINGLE COUNTY REGIONS For members of the Regional Board of School Trustees (Vote for.... Not more than.... may serve from the same congressional township.)

( ) JOHN C. CALHOUN

of Township.... Range....

( ) JAMES MADISON

of Township.... Range....

( ) ....

of Township.... Range....

( ) ....

of Township.... Range.... OFFICIAL BALLOT FOR MULTI-COUNTY REGIONS For members of the Regional Board of School Trustees (Vote for.... At least.... shall serve from each county.)

( ) JOHN C. CALHOUN

of.... County ....

( ) JAMES MADISON

of.... County ....

( ) ....

of.... County ....

( ) ....

of.... County ....

(Source: P.A. 83-1362.)

(105 ILCS 5/6-17) (from Ch. 122, par. 6-17)

Sec. 6-17. Election of president - Terms of members. Except as otherwise provided in Section 2A-54 of the Election Code, on the third Monday in May, following the first election, or if such day is a holiday then the next day, the regional superintendent of schools who shall be the ex-officio secretary of the board shall convene the newly elected regional board of school trustees for the purpose of organization. Except as provided in Section 2A-54 of the Election Code, at this meeting the members shall elect a president from among their number who shall serve as president for a term of 2 years and shall determine by lot the length of the term of each member so that 2 shall serve for a term of 2 years, 2 for 4 years and 3 for 6 years from the third Monday of the month following the date of their election. Except as provided in Section 2A-54 of the Election Code, thereafter members shall be elected to serve for a term of 6 years from the third Monday of the month following the date of their election or until their successors are elected and qualified.

All succeeding meetings for the purpose of organization shall be held on the third Monday in May following the election; however, in case the third Monday in May is a holiday the organization meeting shall be held on the next day.

If educational service regions are consolidated under Section 3A-3 or 3A-4 of this Act, however, the expiring terms of members of each regional board of school trustees in those regions being consolidated shall be extended so as to terminate on the first Monday of August of the year that consolidation takes effect, as defined in Section 3A-5 of this Act, and, on such day, the Regional Superintendent of the consolidated region shall convene all the members of each regional board of school trustees in the consolidated region, and shall by lot select from among such trustees an interim regional board of school trustees for the consolidated region in accord with the specifications as to membership and residency in Section 6-2. The interim board so selected shall serve until their successors are elected at the succeeding regular election of regional school trustees and have qualified. A single regional board of school trustees shall be elected at such succeeding regular election to take office on the third Monday of the month following such election. The board elected for the consolidated region shall be convened on such third Monday of the month following such election for organizational purposes, to elect a president and determine terms for its members by lot as provided in this Section. The respective regional boards of school trustees of educational service regions involved in consolidations under Section 3A-3 or 3A-4 shall cease to exist at the time the board elected for the consolidated region is so organized.

(Source: P.A. 93-847, eff. 7-30-04.)

(105 ILCS 5/6-18) (from Ch. 122, par. 6-18)

Sec. 6-18. Meeting dates - Place - Quorum. The regional board of school trustees shall hold a regular meeting in July, October, January and April. With appropriate public notice, the board may cancel its regular quarterly meeting if no issues for action have been presented to the board and it has no pending business.

All regular meetings of the board shall be held at the office of the regional superintendent.

Special meetings may be called by the president or by 4 members of the board by giving a 48-hour written notice of the meeting stating the time and place of the meeting and the purpose thereof. Public notice of meetings must also be given as prescribed in Sections 2.02 and 2.03 of the Open Meetings Act.

A majority of the members elected to the board shall constitute a quorum. Unless otherwise provided a majority vote of all the board shall be required to decide a measure.

(Source: P.A. 92-172, eff. 1-1-02.)

(105 ILCS 5/6-19) (from Ch. 122, par. 6-19)

Sec. 6-19. Vacancy on regional board. Subject to the residency provisions in Section 6-2 of this Code, any vacancy on the regional board of school trustees shall be filled from the same territory by the remaining members until the next regular election for members of the regional board of school trustees, when the vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired time. Removal of a member from the township from which such member was elected into a township which has its quota of members on the board shall constitute a vacancy.

(Source: P.A. 98-115, eff. 7-29-13.)

(105 ILCS 5/6-20) (from Ch. 122, par. 6-20)

Sec. 6-20. Expenses of members.

Members of the regional board of school trustees shall serve without remuneration; however, the necessary expenses including travel attendant upon any meeting of the board shall be paid from the fund from which all other expenses of the board are paid.

(Source: P.A. 78-514.)

(105 ILCS 5/6-21) (from Ch. 122, par. 6-21)

Sec. 6-21. Legal Representation. Upon request, the State's Attorney of the county, other than a county of over 3,000,000 inhabitants, where the regional superintendent's office is located shall act as the legal representative of the regional board of school trustees; however, where matters arise which are within the exclusive jurisdiction of another State's Attorney, that State's Attorney shall provide legal representation.

(Source: P.A. 82-236.)

(105 ILCS 5/Art. 7 heading) ARTICLE 7. BOUNDARY CHANGE

(105 ILCS 5/7-01)

Sec. 7-01. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 78-514. Repealed by P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

(105 ILCS 5/7-01a)

Sec. 7-01a. Purpose and applicability. The purpose of this Article is to permit greater flexibility and efficiency in the detachment and dissolution of school districts for the improvement of the administration and quality of educational services and for the best interests of pupils. This Article applies only to school districts with under 500,000 inhabitants, but includes special charter districts (except those districts organized under Article 34 of this Code) and non-high school districts.

(Source: P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

(105 ILCS 5/7-01b)

Sec. 7-01b. Definition. In this Article, "legal resident voter" means a person who is registered to vote at the time a circulated petition is filed and when the regional board of school trustees renders a decision, at the address shown opposite his or her signature on the petition, and resides in the detaching territory or dissolving school district.

(Source: P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

(105 ILCS 5/7-02) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-02)

Sec. 7-02. Limitations. The provisions of this Article providing for the change in school district boundaries by detachment, annexation, division or dissolution, or by any combination of those methods, are subject to the provisions of this Section. Whenever due to fire, explosion, tornado or any Act of God the school buildings or one or more of the principal school buildings comprising an attendance center within a school district are destroyed or substantially destroyed and rendered unfit for school purposes, the provisions of this Article shall not be available to permit a division of that district, or a dissolution, detachment or annexation of any part thereof, or any combination of such results during a period from the date of such destruction or substantial destruction until 30 days after the second regular election of board members following such destruction or substantial destruction. Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to prohibit the combining of the entire district with another entire district or with other entire districts during such period pursuant to the provisions of Article 11E.

(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

(105 ILCS 5/7-03)

Sec. 7-03. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 85-1020. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

(105 ILCS 5/7-04) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-04)

Sec. 7-04. Districts in educational service regions of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants.

(a) In all proceedings under this Article to change by detachment, annexation, division, dissolution, or any combination of those methods the boundaries of any school district (other than a school district organized under Article 34) located in an educational service region of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants in which the regional board of school trustees is abolished as provided in subsection (a) of Section 6-2, the trustees of schools of the township that has jurisdiction and authority over the detaching or dissolving school district, as the successor under subsection (b) of Section 6-2 to the former regional board of school trustees with respect to all territory located in that school township, shall have, exercise, and perform all powers, duties, and responsibilities required under this Article to be exercised and performed in those proceedings by a regional board of school trustees; provided that if any detaching or dissolving school district involved in those proceedings is not under the jurisdiction and authority of the trustees of schools of a township referred to in subsection (b) of Section 5-1, a hearing panel as established in this Section shall have, exercise, and perform all powers, duties, and responsibilities required under this Article to be exercised and performed in those proceedings with respect to the detaching or dissolving school district by a regional board of school trustees.

(a-5) As applicable, the hearing panel shall be made up of 3 persons who have a demonstrated interest and background in education. Each hearing panel member must reside within an educational service region of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants but not within the boundaries of a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code and may not be a current school board member of the detaching or dissolving or annexing school district or a current employee of the detaching or dissolving or annexing school district or hold any county office. None of the hearing panel members may reside within the same school district. All 3 persons must be selected by the chief administrative officer of the educational service center in which the chief administrative officer has supervision and control, as defined in Section 3-14.2 of this Code, of the detaching or dissolving school district. The members of a hearing panel as established in this Section shall serve without remuneration; however, the necessary expenses, including travel, attendant upon any meeting or hearing in relation to a proceeding under this Article must be paid.

(a-10) The petition must be filed with the trustees of schools of the township with jurisdiction and authority over the detaching or dissolving school district or with the chief administrative officer of the educational service center in which the chief administrative officer has supervision and control, as defined in Section 3-14.2 of this Code, of the detaching or dissolving school district, as applicable. The chief administrative officer of the educational service center or a person designated by the trustees of schools of the township, as applicable, shall have, exercise, and perform all powers, duties, and responsibilities required under this Article that are otherwise assigned to regional superintendents of schools.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, all other provisions of this Article shall apply to any proceedings under this Article to change the boundaries of any school district located in an educational service region having 2,000,000 or more inhabitants in the same manner that those provisions apply to any proceedings to change the boundaries of any school district located in any other educational service region; provided, that any reference in those other provisions to the regional board of school trustees shall mean, with respect to all territory within an educational service region containing 2,000,000 or more inhabitants that formerly was served by a regional board of school trustees abolished under subsection (a) of Section 6-2, the trustees of schools of the township that is the successor under subsection (b) of Section 6-2 to the former regional board of school trustees with respect to the territory included within that school township or school district or the hearing panel as established by this Section.

(Source: P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

(105 ILCS 5/7-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-1)

Sec. 7-1. Changing boundaries by detachment or dissolution.

(a) School district boundaries may be changed by detachment, annexation, division or dissolution or any combination thereof by the regional board of school trustees or by the State Superintendent of Education as provided in subsection (l) of Section 7-6.

The petition must be filed with and decided solely by the regional board of school trustees of the region in which the regional superintendent of schools has supervision and control, as defined in Section 3-14.2 of this Code, of the detaching or dissolving school district. The petition may be filed in any office operated by the regional superintendent with supervision and control, as defined in Section 3-14.2 of this Code, of the detaching or dissolving school district.

A petition for boundary change must be filed by the school board of the detaching or dissolving district, by a majority of the legal resident voters in the dissolving district, or by two-thirds of a combination of the legal resident voters and the owners of record of any real estate with no legal resident voters in any territory proposed to be detached. If any of the territory proposed to be detached contains real estate with no legal resident voters, petitioners shall deliver the petition by certified mail, return receipt requested, to all owners of record of any real estate with no legal resident voters. Proof of such delivery must be presented as evidence at the hearing required under Section 7-6 of this Code. Any owner of record of real estate with no legal resident voters in any territory proposed to be detached may either sign the petition in person and before the circulator as described in this Section or return the petition with his or her notarized signature to be included as a petitioner. No person may sign a petition in the capacity of both a legal resident voter and owner of record. If there are no legal resident voters within the territory proposed to be detached, then the petition must be signed by all of the owners of record of the real estate of the territory. Legal resident voters shall be determined by the official voter registration lists as of the date the petition is filed. No signatures shall be added or withdrawn after the date the petition is filed. The length of time for signatures to be valid, before filing of the petition, shall not exceed 6 months. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in the Election Code, the regional superintendent of schools shall make all determinations regarding the validity of the petition, including, without limitation, signatures on the petition. If the regional superintendent determines that the petition is not in proper order or not in compliance with any applicable petition requirements, the regional superintendent may not accept the petition for filing and may return the petition to the petitioners. Any party who is dissatisfied with the determination of the regional superintendent regarding the validity of the petition may appeal the regional superintendent's decision to the regional board of school trustees by motion, and the motion must be heard by the regional board of school trustees prior to any hearing on the merits of the petition.

Petitions for detachment and dissolution shall include the full prayer of the petition with a general description of the territory at the top of each page. Each signature contained therein shall match the official signature and address of the legal resident voters as recorded in the office of the county clerk or board of election commissioners, and each petitioner shall record the date of his or her signing. Except in instances of a notarized signature of an owner of record of real estate with no legal resident voters in any territory proposed to be detached, each page of the circulated petition shall be signed by a circulator stating that he or she has witnessed the signature of each petitioner on that page. Detachment petitions containing 10 or fewer signatures may be notarized in lieu of a circulator statement. Each petition shall include an accurate legal description and map of the territory proposed to be detached. If a petition proposes to dissolve an entire district, then the full name and number of the district and a map are sufficient. Each petition shall include the names of petitioners; the district to be dissolved or the district from which the territory is proposed to be detached; the district or districts to which the territory is proposed to be annexed; evidence that the detaching or dissolving territory is compact and contiguous with the annexing district or districts or otherwise meets the requirements set forth in Section 7-4 of this Code; the referendum date, if applicable; and facts that support favorable findings for the factors to be considered by the regional board of school trustees pursuant to Section 7-6 of this Code.

Where there is only one school building in an approved operating district, the building and building site may not be included in any detachment proceeding.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code, if, pursuant to a petition filed under this subsection (a), all of the territory of a school district is to be annexed to another school district, then any action by the regional board of school trustees in granting or approving the petition and any change in school district boundaries pursuant to that action is subject to and the change in school district boundaries may not be made except upon approval, at a regular scheduled election, in the manner provided by Section 7-7.7 of this Code, of a proposition for the annexation of all of the territory of that school district to the other school district.

No petition may be filed under this Section to form a new school district under this Article; however, such a petition may be filed under this Section to form a new school district if the boundaries of such new school district lie entirely within the boundaries of a military base or installation operated and maintained by the government of the United States.

(b) Any elementary or high school district with 100 or more of its students residing upon territory located entirely within a military base or installation operated and maintained by the government of the United States, or any unit school district or any combination of the above mentioned districts with 300 or more of its students residing upon territory located entirely within a military base or installation operated and maintained by the government of the United States, shall, upon the filing with the regional board of school trustees of a petition adopted by resolution of the board of education or a petition signed by a majority of the registered voters residing upon such military base or installation, have all of the territory lying entirely within such military base or installation detached from such school district, and a new school district comprised of such territory shall be created. The petition shall be filed with and decided solely by the regional board of school trustees of the region in which the regional superintendent of schools has supervision and control, as defined by Section 3-14.2 of this Code, of the school district affected. The regional board of school trustees shall have no authority to deny the detachment and creation of a new school district requested in a proper petition filed under this subsection. This subsection shall apply only to those school districts having a population of not fewer than 1,000 and not more than 500,000 residents, as ascertained by any special or general census.

The new school district shall tuition its students to the same districts that its students were previously attending and the districts from which the new district was detached shall continue to educate the students from the new district, until the federal government provides other arrangements. The federal government shall pay for the education of such children as required by Section 6 of Public Law 81-874.

If a school district created under this subsection (b) has not elected a school board and has not become operational within 2 years after the date of detachment, then this district is automatically dissolved and the territory of this district reverts to the school district from which the territory was detached or any successor district thereto. Any school district created under this subsection (b) on or before September 1, 1996 that has not elected a school board and has not been operational since September 1, 1996 is automatically dissolved on the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1999, and on this date the territory of this district reverts to the school district from which the territory was detached. For the automatic dissolution of a school district created under this subsection (b), the regional superintendent of schools who has supervision and control, as defined by Section 3-14.2 of this Code, of the school district from which the territory was detached shall certify to the regional board of school trustees that the school district created under this subsection (b) has been automatically dissolved.

(Source: P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)