State of Illinois
91st General Assembly
Legislation

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91_HB3963

 
                                               LRB9111874NTks

 1        AN  ACT  concerning  a  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 industrial
 
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 1        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
 
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 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-year,
19    4-year, or 6-year initial terms.  Vacancies shall  be  filled
20    for  the unexpired portion of the terms by appointment of the
21    officer who appointed the person causing such  vacancy.   The
22    initial  terms  shall  commence  upon  appointment  and  upon
23    expiration of a term, the member shall continue serving until
24    a successor is appointed. The Board shall select a chair from
25    among  its  members  who  shall serve a 2-year term as chair.
26    Members shall receive no salary but shall be  reimbursed  for
27    all  ordinary  and  necessary expenses incurred in performing
28    their duties as 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
 
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 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.
 
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 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        (b)  The Board shall delegate to the Director such of its
 5    administrative  powers  and duties as it deems appropriate to
 6    aid the Director  in  the  efficient  administration  of  his
 7    responsibility  for the implementation of the policies of the
 8    Board.
 9        (c)  The Academy shall be empowered to lease or  purchase
10    real  and  personal property on commercially reasonable terms
11    for the use of the Academy.  Any leases or purchases of  real
12    or  personal  property  and  any  disposition  thereof by the
13    Academy must be in compliance  with  the  provisions  of  the
14    Civil  Administrative Code of Illinois and the State Property
15    Control Act.  Personal property acquired for the use  of  the
16    Academy  shall  be  inventoried and disposed of in accordance
17    with the State Property Control Act.
18        (d)  In addition to the authorities  granted  herein  and
19    any  powers, duties, and responsibilities vested by any other
20    applicable laws, the Board shall:
21             (1)  Adopt   rules,   regulations,   and    policies
22        necessary for the efficient operation of the school.
23             (2)  Establish  criteria  to  be used in determining
24        eligibility of applicants for enrollment.
25             (3)  Determine subjects to be offered.
26             (4)  Pay salaries and expenses,  including  but  not
27        necessarily  restricted  to  facilities,  equipment,  and
28        supplies  of  the faculty and staff of the Academy out of
29        funds appropriated or otherwise made  available  for  the
30        operating  and  administrative  expenses of the Board and
31        the Academy.
32             (5)  Exercise budgetary responsibility and  allocate
33        for  expenditure  by  the  Academy and programs under its
34        jurisdiction, all moneys appropriated or  otherwise  made
 
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 1        available  for  purposes of the Board and of such Academy
 2        and programs.
 3             (6)  Prepare and adopt or approve programs of  study
 4        and  rules, bylaws, and regulations for the government of
 5        the school and programs under its jurisdiction.
 6             (7)  Employ  such  personnel  as  may   be   needed,
 7        establish   policies   governing   their  employment  and
 8        dismissal, and fix the amount of their compensation.   In
 9        the  employment, establishment of policies, and fixing of
10        compensation the Board  may  make  no  discrimination  on
11        account of sex, race, creed, color or national origin.
12        (e)  The   Academy,   its  Board  of  Trustees,  and  its
13    employees shall be represented  and  indemnified  in  certain
14    civil  law  suits  in  accordance with "An Act to provide for
15    representation  and  indemnification  in  certain  civil  law
16    suits", approved December 3, 1977, as amended.
17        (f)  Neither the Academy nor its officers, employees,  or
18    Board  members  shall  participate  in  the  creation  of any
19    corporation,  joint  venture,  partnership,  association,  or
20    other  organizational  entity  that  exercises,  expands,  or
21    enhances the  powers,  duties,  or  responsibilities  of  the
22    Academy   unless   specifically  authorized  by  the  General
23    Assembly by law.
24        This Section does not restrict the Academy from  creating
25    any  organization  entity  which  is  within or a part of the
26    Academy.

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