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91_HB2680eng HB2680 Engrossed LRB9105956NTsb 1 AN ACT concerning the Southwestern Illinois Teacher's 2 Academy for Math, Science, and Technology. 3 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 4 represented in the General Assembly: 5 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 6 Southwestern Illinois Teacher's Academy for Math, Science, 7 and Technology Act. 8 Section 5. Policy and purposes. It shall be the policy 9 of the State of Illinois to provide excellence in mathematics 10 and science education in order to nourish an informed 11 citizenry, assure technological skills for the work force, 12 and assist in the preparation of professionals to serve the 13 interests of Illinois in such fields as engineering, 14 research, teaching, and computer technology. It shall 15 further be the policy to enlist the support of the 16 educational, industrial, and scientific communities in a 17 cooperative effort to provide excellence in science and 18 mathematics education. As a symbol of this cooperative 19 endeavor, there shall be established the Southwestern 20 Illinois Teacher's Academy for Math, Science, and Technology 21 to serve the people of Illinois as a teacher's institution 22 and the school system of the State as a catalyst and 23 laboratory for the advancement of teaching. 24 The Academy shall carry a responsibility to stimulate 25 further excellence for all Illinois schools in mathematics 26 and science. That responsibility may be exercised through 27 any or all of the following means: 28 (1) Stimulating curriculum development and 29 revisions through the collaborative efforts of the 30 interacting institutions involved in the Academy 31 including: universities, secondary schools, the HB2680 Engrossed -2- LRB9105956NTsb 1 industrial sector, and national laboratories. 2 (2) Providing preservice training sites for persons 3 in preparation for the teaching of science and 4 mathematics. 5 (3) Hosting summer institute opportunities for 6 Illinois teachers modeled after the successful National 7 Science Foundation program prevalent in the 1960s. 8 (4) Offering speakers and programs for teacher 9 institutes and in-service training around the State. 10 (5) Producing videotapes of lectures and 11 experiments for use in the schools of this State. 12 Section 10. Establishment, funding, and location. There 13 is hereby created the Southwestern Illinois Teacher's Academy 14 for Math, Science, and Technology, which shall be an 15 institution located at the former Parks College campus site 16 in Cahokia, Illinois. The Academy shall be a State agency, 17 funded by State appropriations, private contributions, and 18 endowments. The Academy may offer a program of postsecondary 19 course work to teachers. Minimal fees for students may be 20 charged. 21 In order to be eligible for State appropriations, the 22 Academy shall submit to the Board of Higher Education not 23 later than the 1st day of October of each year its budget 24 proposal for the operation and capital needs of the Academy 25 for its next fiscal year. 26 Section 15. Board of Trustees. The Southwestern Illinois 27 Teacher's Academy for Math, Science, and Technology shall be 28 governed by a Board of Trustees, which shall consist of the 29 following members: 30 (1) Four ex officio nonvoting members who shall be: 31 the State Superintendent of Education; the Executive 32 Director of the Illinois Community College Board; the HB2680 Engrossed -3- LRB9105956NTsb 1 Executive Director of the State Board of Higher 2 Education; and the Superintendent of Schools in the 3 school district in which the Academy is located. 4 (2) Three representatives of secondary education, 5 one of whom must be a math or science teacher, appointed 6 by the State Superintendent of Education. 7 (3) Two representatives of higher education, one of 8 whom must be a Dean of Education, appointed by the 9 Executive Director of the Board of Higher Education. 10 (4) Three representatives of the scientific 11 community in Illinois appointed by the Governor. 12 (5) Three representatives of the Illinois private 13 industrial sector appointed by the Governor. 14 (6) Two members representative of the general 15 public at large appointed by the Governor. 16 With the exception of the initial appointments, the 17 members' terms of office shall be for 6 years. At the first 18 meeting members shall draw lots for appointments of 2, 4, or 19 6 year initial terms. Vacancies shall be filled for the 20 unexpired portion of the terms by appointment of the officer 21 who appointed the person causing such vacancy. The initial 22 terms shall commence upon appointment and upon expiration of 23 a term, the member shall continue serving until a successor 24 is appointed. The Board shall select a chair from among its 25 members who shall serve a 2-year term as chair. Members shall 26 receive no salary but shall be reimbursed for all ordinary 27 and necessary expenses incurred in performing their duties as 28 members of the Board. 29 Section 20. Powers of the Board. 30 (a) The Board of Trustees is hereby authorized to: 31 (1) Accept donations, bequests, or other forms of 32 financial assistance for educational purposes from any 33 public or private person or agency and comply with rules HB2680 Engrossed -4- LRB9105956NTsb 1 and regulations governing grants from the federal 2 government or from any other person or agency, which are 3 not in contravention of the Illinois Constitution or the 4 laws of the State of Illinois. 5 (2) Purchase equipment and make improvements to 6 facilities necessary for the use of the school, in 7 accordance with applicable law. 8 (3) Adopt, amend, or repeal rules, regulations, and 9 policies necessary or proper for the conduct of the 10 business of the Board. 11 (4) Award certificates for successful completion of 12 programs of study requirements. 13 (5) Select a Director who shall be the chief 14 administrative officer of the Academy and who shall 15 administer the rules, regulations, and policies adopted 16 by the Board pursuant hereto. The Director shall also be 17 the chief administrative officer of the Board and shall 18 be responsible for all the administrative functions, 19 duties, and needs of the Board. 20 (6) Determine faculty and staff positions necessary 21 for the efficient operation of the school and select 22 personnel for such positions. 23 (7) Prepare and adopt an annual budget necessary 24 for the continued operation of the school. 25 (8) Enter into contracts and agreements that have 26 been recommended by the Director, in accordance with 27 applicable law, and to the extent that funds are 28 specifically appropriated therefor, with other public 29 agencies with respect to cooperative enterprises and 30 undertaking related to or associated with an educational 31 purpose or program affecting education in the school. 32 This shall not preclude the Board from entering into 33 other such contracts and agreements that it may deem 34 necessary to carry out its duties and functions. HB2680 Engrossed -5- LRB9105956NTsb 1 (9) Perform such other functions as are necessary 2 to the supervision and control of those phases of 3 education under its supervision and control. 4 (10) The Board shall delegate to the Director such 5 of its administrative powers and duties as it deems 6 appropriate to aid the Director in the efficient 7 administration of his responsibility for the 8 implementation of the policies of the Board. 9 (11) The Academy shall be empowered to lease or 10 purchase real and personal property on commercially 11 reasonable terms for the use of the Academy. Any leases 12 or purchases of real or personal property and any 13 disposition thereof by the Academy must be in compliance 14 with the provisions of The Civil Administrative Code of 15 Illinois and the State Property Control Act. Personal 16 property acquired for the use of the Academy shall be 17 inventoried and disposed of in accordance with the State 18 Property Control Act. 19 (b) In addition to the authorities granted herein and 20 any powers, duties, and responsibilities vested by any other 21 applicable laws, the Board shall: 22 (1) Adopt rules, regulations, and policies 23 necessary for the efficient operation of the school. 24 (2) Establish criteria to be used in determining 25 eligibility of applicants for enrollment. 26 (3) Determine subjects to be offered. 27 (4) Pay salaries and expenses, including but not 28 necessarily restricted to facilities, equipment, and 29 supplies of the faculty and staff of the Academy out of 30 funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the 31 operating and administrative expenses of the Board and 32 the Academy. 33 (5) Exercise budgetary responsibility and allocate 34 for expenditure by the Academy and programs under its HB2680 Engrossed -6- LRB9105956NTsb 1 jurisdiction, all moneys appropriated or otherwise made 2 available for purposes of the Board and of such Academy 3 and programs. 4 (6) Prepare and adopt or approve programs of study 5 and rules, bylaws, and regulations for the government of 6 the school and programs under its jurisdiction. 7 (7) Employ such personnel as may be needed, 8 establish policies governing their employment and 9 dismissal, and fix the amount of their compensation. In 10 the employment, establishment of policies, and fixing of 11 compensation the Board may make no discrimination on 12 account of sex, race, creed, color or national origin. 13 The Academy, its Board of Trustees, and its employees 14 shall be represented and indemnified in certain civil law 15 suits in accordance with "An Act to provide for 16 representation and indemnification in certain civil 17 lawsuits", approved December 3, 1977, as amended. 18 Neither the Academy, nor its officers, employees, or 19 Board members shall participate in the creation of any 20 corporation, joint venture, partnership, association, or 21 other organizational entity that exercises, expands, or 22 enhances the powers, duties, or responsibilities of the 23 Academy unless specifically authorized by the General 24 Assembly by law. 25 This Section does not restrict the Academy from creating 26 any organization entity which is within or a part of the 27 Academy. 28 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 29 becoming law.