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| [ Introduced ] | [ House Amendment 001 ] |
91_HB3966eng HB3966 Engrossed LRB9111876NTks 1 AN ACT concerning a performing arts school. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 5 Katherine Dunham Performing Arts School Act. 6 Section 5. Policy and purposes. It shall be the policy 7 of the State of Illinois to seek out and nurture the artistic 8 talent of students from throughout the State in grades 9 prekindergarten through 12 and students seeking baccalaureate 10 degrees who exhibit unique artistic ability in the expressive 11 areas of Dance, Music, and Theatre, in order to preserve and 12 enhance the State's historic commitment to the cultural 13 richness that contributes to the ability of the State to 14 attract and maintain a citizenry who choose to reside in 15 Illinois for its support of a quality life as well as for its 16 economic advantages. It shall further be the policy of this 17 State to enlist the support of the educational, professional, 18 and commercial communities in a cooperative effort to provide 19 excellence in performing arts education and to serve as a 20 model for the development of innovative instructional 21 techniques and curricula. As a symbol of this cooperative 22 endeavor, there shall be established the Katherine Dunham 23 Performing Arts School to serve the people of Illinois as a 24 place to nourish the creativity of its youth who possess 25 outstanding talent in the various performing arts areas and 26 to return these young people to their home community better 27 prepared to make a contribution to the cultural opportunities 28 available in their town. 29 The primary mission of the school is to seek out 30 artistically talented students from throughout the State and 31 to immerse them in challenging performing arts programs, HB3966 Engrossed -2- LRB9111876NTks 1 unlike those typically available in local schools, where, 2 under the instruction of outstanding teachers and 3 professional performing artists, they will better understand 4 how their talents can be further developed. Additionally, 5 the school will provide opportunities to test new approaches 6 in the teaching of the performing arts and staff development 7 and serve as a model for school programming that can be 8 carried out in schools state-wide. The school shall also 9 carry a responsibility to provide instruction about how the 10 participants, whether student, intern, or teacher, can make a 11 positive contribution to the development of the performing 12 arts in their local community upon their return home. 13 The mission of the school shall be carried out through 14 the following means: 15 (1) Regionally based talent searches shall be 16 conducted to identify the most artistically talented 17 students from throughout the State in the performing arts 18 components of Dance, Music, and Theatre. 19 (2) Teachers for the school shall be selected from 20 throughout the State based upon criteria that insure the 21 highest quality faculty represented by professional 22 performing artists known for the quality of their work, 23 teachers of the performing arts recognized for their 24 excellence in teaching and curriculum development by 25 their colleagues, and individuals possessing unique 26 insights about the commercial and professional 27 possibilities available to aspiring performing artists. 28 (3) The instructional program shall be enhanced by 29 visiting lecturers, performers, and special exhibits open 30 to the public by way of open houses and audience 31 participation. 32 (4) The school shall network with existing 33 professional organizations, universities, and performing 34 arts programs to foster the exchange of personnel, HB3966 Engrossed -3- LRB9111876NTks 1 equipment, and conceptual enrichment. Such interaction 2 shall include contributions in kind as well as consulting 3 relationships. 4 (5) Faculty of the school shall present 5 professional papers and lectures around the State and in 6 professional conferences nationally about the program and 7 the potential for improved performing arts programming at 8 the local level. 9 (6) Participants will have access to facilities and 10 equipment seldom available in most school settings where 11 they will be able to expand their knowledge of the 12 mediums available to creative performing artists in the 13 professional and commercial worlds. 14 Section 10. Establishment, funding, and location. There 15 is hereby created the Katherine Dunham Performing Arts 16 School, which shall be a performing arts program located at 17 the Rock (Hughes Quinn) School in East St. Louis, Illinois. 18 The school shall be funded by federal grants and State 19 appropriations. Private contributions and endowment programs 20 may be established. Special scholarships shall be available 21 to assist economically disadvantaged students and special 22 needs students who require assistance or who may have other 23 exceptional needs that, if not addressed, would deny their 24 participation in the program. The school shall admit 25 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 and students 26 seeking baccalaureate degrees who have been determined to be 27 eligible to attend based upon the criteria established for 28 the arts area of their talent. Furthermore, students shall 29 be selected from throughout the State to maintain a 30 geographically representative population. 31 Section 15. Board of trustees. The Katherine Dunham 32 Performing Arts School shall become an independent, free HB3966 Engrossed -4- LRB9111876NTks 1 standing program governed by a board of trustees. The board 2 shall be appointed by the Governor from nominations submitted 3 by the Illinois Arts Council and State Superintendent of 4 Education. Representation on the board shall include 5 individuals knowledgeable about each of the performing arts 6 components of Dance, Music, and Theatre, quality educational 7 standards, and the business community. The board of trustees 8 shall be not fewer than 11 nor greater than 17. The Illinois 9 Arts Council and the State Superintendent of Education shall 10 each nominate 2 candidates for consideration by the Governor 11 for each vacancy. With the exception of the initial 12 appointments, the members' terms of office shall be for 6 13 years. At the first meeting, members shall draw lots for 14 appointments of 2-year, 4-year, or 6-year initial terms. 15 Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the 16 terms by appointment of a nominated candidate submitted by 17 whomever nominated the person causing such vacancy. The 18 initial terms shall commence upon appointment and upon 19 expiration of a term. The member shall continue to serve 20 until a successor is appointed. The board shall select a 21 chair from among its members who shall serve a 2-year term as 22 chair. Members shall receive no salary but shall be 23 reimbursed for all ordinary and necessary expenses incurred 24 in performing their duties as members of the board. 25 Within 30 days after the effective date of this Act, 26 nominations shall be submitted to the Governor for membership 27 on the board. The Governor shall appoint a minimum of 11 28 members to the board within 60 days of receiving the 29 nominations for board membership from the Illinois Arts 30 Council and the State Superintendent of Education. The board 31 shall convene within 30 days after being appointed. The 32 first order of business shall be the selection of a chair and 33 the selection of a Director for the school. HB3966 Engrossed -5- LRB9111876NTks 1 Section 20. Powers and duties of the board. 2 (a) The board of trustees is hereby authorized to: 3 (1) Accept non-cash donations and direct financial 4 assistance toward scholarships from any public or private 5 person or agency, seek out federal grants, and comply 6 with rules and regulations governing grants from the 7 federal government or from any other person or agency, 8 which are not in contravention of the Illinois 9 Constitution or the laws of the State of Illinois. 10 (2) Purchase equipment, materials, and supplies 11 necessary for the use of the school in accordance with 12 the Illinois Procurement Code. 13 (3) Adopt, amend, or repeal rules and policies 14 necessary or proper for the conduct of the business of 15 the board. 16 (4) Award certificates, recognition, and 17 distinguished service or professional accomplishment 18 distinctions for persons deserving of such recognition. 19 (5) Appoint a Director who shall be the chief 20 administrative officer of the school and who shall 21 administer the rules and policies adopted by the board 22 pursuant to this Act. The Director shall also be the 23 chief administrative officer of the board and shall be 24 responsible for all the administrative functions, duties, 25 and needs of the board. 26 (6) Determine faculty and staff positions necessary 27 for the efficient operation of the school and select 28 personnel for such positions. The appointment of such 29 faculty and staff shall not be subject to the Personnel 30 Code. 31 (7) Prepare and adopt an annual budget necessary 32 for the continued operation of the school. 33 (8) Enter into contracts and agreements in 34 accordance with applicable law, and, to the extent that HB3966 Engrossed -6- LRB9111876NTks 1 funds are specifically appropriated therefore, with other 2 public agencies with respect to cooperative enterprises 3 and undertakings related to or associated with an 4 education in the school. This shall not preclude the 5 board from entering into other such contracts and 6 agreements that may be deemed necessary to carry out its 7 duties and functions. 8 (9) Perform such other functions as are necessary 9 to the supervision and control of those phases of 10 education under its supervision and control. 11 (b) The Board shall delegate to the Director such of its 12 administrative powers and duties as it deems appropriate to 13 aid the Director in the efficient administration of his or 14 her responsibility for the implementation of the policies of 15 the board. 16 (c) In addition to the authorities granted in this 17 Section and any powers, duties, and responsibilities vested 18 by any other applicable laws, the board shall: 19 (1) Adopt rules and policies necessary for the 20 efficient operation of the school. 21 (2) Establish criteria to be used in determining 22 eligibility of applicants for enrollment. Such criteria 23 shall ensure adequate geographic, sexual, and ethnic 24 representation. 25 (3) Determine subject and arts experiences and 26 extracurricular activities 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 school, out of 30 funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the 31 operating and administrative expenses of the board. 32 (5) Exercise budgetary responsibility and allocate 33 for expenditure by the school and programs under its 34 jurisdiction all moneys appropriated or otherwise made HB3966 Engrossed -7- LRB9111876NTks 1 available for purposes of the board and of such school 2 programs. 3 (6) Prepare and adopt or approve programs of study 4 and rules and by-laws for the conduct of students and for 5 the government of the school and programs under its 6 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.