HB0027 EngrossedLRB101 02993 AXK 48001 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Vocational Academy Opportunity Act.
 
6    Section 5. Definition. In this Act, "Board" means the Board
7of Trustees created by this Act.
 
8    Section 10. Establishment, funding, and location.
9    (a) There are initially created 2 vocational academies, one
10located in Cook County and the other in a downstate county
11designated by the Board of Higher Education as downstate, which
12shall be residential institutions. Each academy shall be
13located within 5 linear miles of a major interstate in a
14community where the average income of a household of 3 people
15is no greater than 100% of the poverty guidelines updated
16periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of
17Health and Human Services under the authority of 42 U.S.C.
189902(2). The land value of the community in which each academy
19is located may not exceed $7.50 per square foot.
20    (b) Each academy shall be a State agency, funded by State
21appropriations, private contributions, and endowments. Minimal
22fees for residential students may be charged. Each academy may

 

 

HB0027 Engrossed- 2 -LRB101 02993 AXK 48001 b

1admit those students who have completed the academic equivalent
2of the 9th grade and shall offer a program of secondary
3coursework that is appropriate for students in the 10th, 11th,
4and 12th grades and that offers courses that meet the
5prerequisites to receiving a high school diploma under Section
627-22 of the School Code. Admission shall be determined by
7competitive examination.
8    (c) In order to be eligible for State appropriations, each
9academy shall submit to the Board of Higher Education no later
10than the 1st day of October of each year its budget proposal
11for the operation and capital needs of the academy for its next
12fiscal year.
 
13    Section 15. Board of Trustees. The academies shall be
14governed by a single Board of Trustees for the collective
15operation and oversight of the academies, which shall consist
16of the following members:
17        (1) ex officio, nonvoting members who shall be: the
18    State Superintendent of Education, the Executive Director
19    of the Illinois Community College Board, the Executive
20    Director of the Board of Higher Education, and the
21    superintendent of schools of the school district where each
22    academy is to be located;
23        (2) 3 representatives of secondary education,
24    appointed by the State Superintendent of Education;
25        (3) the 2 mayors of the municipalities where the

 

 

HB0027 Engrossed- 3 -LRB101 02993 AXK 48001 b

1    academies are to be located;
2        (4) the president of a statewide labor federation
3    representing more than one international union, or his or
4    her designee, appointed by the State Superintendent of
5    Education; and
6        (5) 2 members representative of the general public,
7    appointed by the Governor.
8    With the exception of the initial appointments, the
9members' terms of office shall be for 6 years. At the first
10meeting, members shall draw lots for appointments of 2, 4, or
116-year initial terms. A vacancy shall be filled for the
12unexpired portion of the term by appointment of the person who
13appointed the member causing such vacancy. The initial terms
14shall commence upon appointment, and, upon expiration of a
15term, a member shall continue serving until a successor is
16appointed. The Board shall select a chair from among its
17members who shall serve a 2-year term as chair. Members shall
18receive no salary but shall be reimbursed for all ordinary and
19necessary expenses incurred in performing their duties as
20members of the Board.
 
21    Section 20. Powers of the Board. The Board of Trustees is
22authorized to:
23        (1) Accept donations, bequests, or other forms of
24    financial assistance for educational purposes from any
25    public or private person or agency and comply with rules

 

 

HB0027 Engrossed- 4 -LRB101 02993 AXK 48001 b

1    governing grants from the federal government or from any
2    other person or agency that are not in contravention of the
3    Illinois Constitution or the laws of the State of Illinois.
4        (2) Purchase equipment and make improvements to
5    facilities necessary for the use of the academies, in
6    accordance with applicable law.
7        (3) Adopt, amend, or repeal rules and policies
8    necessary for the conduct of the business of the Board.
9        (4) Award certificates and issue diplomas to students
10    for successful completion of programs of study, provided
11    that a high school diploma may be issued to a student if
12    the student has, at a minimum, satisfied the requirements
13    of Section 27-22 of the School Code.
14        (5) Enter into agreements with institutions of higher
15    education for dual credit in accordance with the
16    requirements of the Dual Credit Quality Act.
17        (6) Select a Director, who shall be the chief
18    administrative officer of the academies and who shall
19    administer the rules and policies adopted by the Board of
20    the Trustees under this Section. The Director shall also be
21    the chief administrative officer of the Board and shall be
22    responsible for all of the Board's administrative
23    functions, duties, and needs.
24        (7) Determine faculty and staff positions necessary
25    for the efficient operation of the academies and select
26    personnel for the positions.

 

 

HB0027 Engrossed- 5 -LRB101 02993 AXK 48001 b

1        (8) Prepare and adopt an annual budget necessary for
2    the continued operation of the academies.
3        (9) Enter into contracts and agreements, which have
4    been recommended by the Director, to the extent that funds
5    are specifically appropriated for that purpose, with other
6    public agencies with respect to cooperative enterprises
7    and undertakings related to or associated with an
8    educational purpose or program affecting education in an
9    academy. This power does not preclude the Board from
10    entering into other contracts and agreements that it may
11    deem necessary to carry out its duties and functions.
12        (10) Perform other functions as are necessary for the
13    supervision and control of those phases of education under
14    the Board's supervision and control.
15        (11) Delegate to the Director any administrative
16    powers and duties that the Board deems appropriate to aid
17    the Director in the efficient administration of his or her
18    responsibility for the implementation of the policies of
19    the Board.
20        (12) Adopt rules and policies necessary for the
21    efficient operation of an academy.
22        (13) Establish criteria to be used in determining the
23    eligibility of applicants for enrollment in an academy. The
24    criteria shall ensure adequate geographic, sexual, and
25    ethnic representation.
26        (14) Determine subjects and extracurricular activities

 

 

HB0027 Engrossed- 6 -LRB101 02993 AXK 48001 b

1    to be offered by an academy.
2        (15) Pay salaries and expenses, including, but not
3    limited to, facilities, equipment, and supplies of the
4    faculty and staff of an academy, out of funds appropriated
5    or otherwise made available for the operating and
6    administrative expenses of the Board and an academy.
7        (16) Exercise budgetary responsibility and allocate
8    for expenditure by an academy and programs under the
9    academy's jurisdiction all moneys appropriated or
10    otherwise made available for purposes of the Board and of
11    the academy.
12        (17) Prescribe and select for use in an academy free
13    school books and other materials of instruction for
14    children enrolled in the academy and programs under the
15    academy's jurisdiction for which the General Assembly
16    provides funds.
17        (18) Prepare and adopt or approve programs of study and
18    rules and bylaws for the conduct of students and for the
19    government of an academy and programs under the academy's
20    jurisdiction.
21        (19) Employ personnel as may be needed, establish
22    policies governing their employment and dismissal, and fix
23    the amount of their compensation. In the employment,
24    establishment of policies, and fixing of compensation, the
25    Board may make no discrimination on account of sex, race,
26    creed, color, or national origin.
 

 

 

HB0027 Engrossed- 7 -LRB101 02993 AXK 48001 b

1    Section 25. Academy property. Each academy shall be
2empowered to lease or purchase real and personal property on
3commercially reasonable terms for the use by the academy. Any
4leases or purchases of real or personal property and any
5disposition of the property by an academy shall be in
6compliance with the provisions of the Civil Administrative Code
7of Illinois and the State Property Control Act. Personal
8property acquired for use by an academy shall be inventoried
9and disposed of in accordance with the State Property Control
10Act.
 
11    Section 30. Indemnification. Each academy, the Board, and
12the academy's or Board's officers and employees shall be
13represented and indemnified in certain civil lawsuits in
14accordance with the State Employee Indemnification Act. An
15academy, the Board, or the academy's or Board's officers or
16employees may not participate in the creation of any
17corporation, joint venture, partnership, association, or other
18organizational entity that exercises, expands, or enhances the
19powers, duties, or responsibilities of the academy, unless
20specifically authorized by the General Assembly. This Section
21does not restrict an academy from creating any organizational
22entity that is within or a part of the academy.