093_HB2606

 
                                     LRB093 10448 RCE 10702 b

 1        AN  ACT concerning an academy for performing, visual, and
 2    cultural arts.

 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    Katherine   Dunham    Academy  for  Performing,  Visual,  and
 7    Cultural Arts Act.

 8        Section 5.  Policy and purposes.  It shall be the  policy
 9    of the State of Illinois to seek out and nurture the artistic
10    talent  of  students  from  throughout  the  State  in grades
11    pre-kindergarten   through   12    and    students    seeking
12    baccalaureate degrees who exhibit unique artistic ability, in
13    order to preserve and enhance the State's historic commitment
14    to  the  cultural richness that contributes to the ability of
15    the State to attract and maintain a citizenry who  choose  to
16    reside  in Illinois for its support of a quality life as well
17    as for its economic advantages.   It  shall  further  be  the
18    policy   of   this   State  to  enlist  the  support  of  the
19    educational, professional, and commercial  communities  in  a
20    cooperative  effort  to  provide excellence in arts education
21    and to serve as a model for  the  development  of  innovative
22    instructional  techniques and curricula.  As a symbol of this
23    cooperative  endeavor,  there  shall   be   established   the
24    Katherine Dunham Academy for Performing, Visual, and Cultural
25    Arts  to  serve  the people of Illinois as a place to nourish
26    the creativity of its youth who possess outstanding talent in
27    the performing, visual, or cultural arts and to return  these
28    young  people to their home community better prepared to make
29    a contribution to the  cultural  opportunities  available  in
30    their town.
31        The  primary  mission  of  the  Academy  is  to  seek out
 
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 1    artistically talented students from throughout the State  and
 2    to  immerse  them  in challenging arts programs, unlike those
 3    typically  available  in  local  schools,  where,  under  the
 4    instruction of outstanding teachers and professional artists,
 5    they will better understand how their talents can be  further
 6    developed.    The visual arts program shall include painting,
 7    weaving, pottery, silk screen  design,  and  sculpture.   The
 8    performing   arts   program  shall  include  performances  in
 9    theaters, operas, television, colleges, schools, and federal,
10    State, and local programs.  Additionally,  the  Academy  will
11    provide  opportunities to test new approaches in the teaching
12    of the arts and staff development and serve as  a  model  for
13    school  programming  that  can  be  carried  out  in  schools
14    statewide.   The Academy shall also carry a responsibility to
15    provide  instruction  about  how  the  participants,  whether
16    student, intern, or teacher, can make a positive contribution
17    to the development of the arts in their local community  upon
18    their return home.
19        The  mission  of the Academy shall be carried out through
20    the following means:
21             (1)  Regionally  based  talent  searches  shall   be
22        conducted  to  identify  the  most  artistically talented
23        students from throughout the State in the arts.
24             (2)  Teachers for the Academy shall be selected from
25        throughout the State and the world  based  upon  criteria
26        that  insure  the  highest quality faculty represented by
27        professional artists known for the quality of their work,
28        teachers of the arts recognized for their  excellence  in
29        teaching  and curriculum development by their colleagues,
30        and individuals  possessing  unique  insights  about  the
31        commercial  and  professional  possibilities available to
32        aspiring artists.
33             (3)  The instructional program shall be enhanced  by
34        visiting lecturers, performers, and special exhibits open
 
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 1        to  the  public  by  way  of  open  houses  and  audience
 2        participation.
 3             (4)  The   Academy   shall   network  with  existing
 4        professional  organizations,   universities,   and   arts
 5        programs  to foster the exchange of personnel, equipment,
 6        and  conceptual  enrichment.   Such   interaction   shall
 7        include  contributions  in  kind  as  well  as consulting
 8        relationships.
 9             (5)  Faculty   of   the   Academy   shall    present
10        professional  papers and lectures around the State and in
11        professional conferences nationally about the program and
12        the potential for improved arts programming at the  local
13        level.
14             (6)  Participants will have access to facilities and
15        equipment  seldom available in most school settings where
16        they will be  able  to  expand  their  knowledge  of  the
17        mediums available to creative artists in the professional
18        and commercial worlds.

19        Section 10.  Establishment, funding, and location.  There
20    is   hereby   created   the   Katherine  Dunham  Academy  for
21    Performing, Visual, and Cultural Arts, which shall be an arts
22    program located in East St.  Louis,  Illinois.   The  Academy
23    shall  be  funded by federal grants and State appropriations.
24    Private  contributions  and   endowment   programs   may   be
25    established.   Special  scholarships  shall  be  available to
26    assist economically disadvantaged students and special  needs
27    students  who  require  assistance  or  who  may  have  other
28    exceptional  needs  that,  if not addressed, would deny their
29    participation  in  the  program.   The  Academy  shall  admit
30    students in grades pre-kindergarten through 12  and  students
31    seeking  baccalaureate degrees who have been determined to be
32    eligible to attend based upon the  criteria  established  for
33    the  arts  area of their talent.  Furthermore, students shall
 
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 1    be  selected  from  throughout  the  State  to   maintain   a
 2    geographically representative population.

 3        Section  15.  Board  of  trustees.   The Katherine Dunham
 4    Academy for  Performing,  Visual,  and  Cultural  Arts  shall
 5    become  an  independent,  freestanding  program governed by a
 6    board of trustees.  The  board  shall  be  appointed  by  the
 7    Governor  from  nominations  submitted  by  the Illinois Arts
 8    Council    and    State    Superintendent    of    Education.
 9    Representation  on  the  board  shall   include   individuals
10    knowledgeable  about the arts, quality educational standards,
11    and the business community.  The board of trustees  shall  be
12    not  fewer  than  11  nor greater than 17.  The Illinois Arts
13    Council and the State Superintendent of Education shall  each
14    nominate  2  candidates for consideration by the Governor for
15    each  vacancy.    With   the   exception   of   the   initial
16    appointments,  the  members'  terms  of office shall be for 6
17    years.  At the first meeting, members  shall  draw  lots  for
18    appointments  of  2-year,  4-year,  or  6-year initial terms.
19    Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired  portion  of  the
20    terms  by  appointment  of a nominated candidate submitted by
21    whomever nominated the  person  causing  such  vacancy.   The
22    initial  terms  shall  commence  upon  appointment  and  upon
23    expiration  of  a  term.   The member shall continue to serve
24    until a successor is appointed.  The  board  shall  select  a
25    chair from among its members who shall serve a 2-year term as
26    chair.    Members  shall  receive  no  salary  but  shall  be
27    reimbursed for all ordinary and necessary  expenses  incurred
28    in performing their duties as members of the board.
29        Within  30  days  after  the  effective date of this Act,
30    nominations shall be submitted to the Governor for membership
31    on the board.  The Governor shall appoint  a  minimum  of  11
32    members  to  the  board  within  60  days  of  receiving  the
33    nominations  for  board  membership  from  the  Illinois Arts
 
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 1    Council and the State Superintendent of Education.  The board
 2    shall convene within 30  days  after  being  appointed.   The
 3    first order of business shall be the selection of a chair and
 4    the selection of a Director for the Academy.

 5        Section 20.  Powers and duties of the board.
 6        (a)  The board of trustees is hereby authorized to:
 7             (1)  Accept  non-cash donations and direct financial
 8        assistance toward scholarships from any public or private
 9        person or agency, seek out  federal  grants,  and  comply
10        with  rules  and  regulations  governing  grants from the
11        federal government or from any other  person  or  agency,
12        which   are   not   in   contravention  of  the  Illinois
13        Constitution or the laws of the State of Illinois.
14             (2)  Purchase  equipment,  materials,  and  supplies
15        necessary for the use of the Academy in  accordance  with
16        the Illinois Procurement Code.
17             (3)  Adopt,  amend,  or  repeal  rules  and policies
18        necessary or proper for the conduct of  the  business  of
19        the board.
20             (4)  Award     certificates,     recognition,    and
21        distinguished  service  or  professional   accomplishment
22        distinctions for persons deserving of such recognition.
23             (5)  Appoint  a  Director  who  shall  be  the chief
24        administrative  officer  of  the  school  and  who  shall
25        administer the rules and policies adopted  by  the  board
26        pursuant  to  this  Act.   The Director shall also be the
27        chief administrative officer of the board  and  shall  be
28        responsible for all the administrative functions, duties,
29        and needs of the board.
30             (6)  Determine faculty and staff positions necessary
31        for  the  efficient  operation  of the Academy and select
32        personnel for such positions.  The  appointment  of  such
33        faculty  and  staff shall not be subject to the Personnel
 
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 1        Code.
 2             (7)  Prepare and adopt an  annual  budget  necessary
 3        for the continued operation of the Academy.
 4             (8)  Enter   into   contracts   and   agreements  in
 5        accordance with applicable law, and, to the  extent  that
 6        funds are specifically appropriated therefore, with other
 7        public  agencies  with respect to cooperative enterprises
 8        and  undertakings  related  to  or  associated  with   an
 9        education  in  the  Academy.  This shall not preclude the
10        board  from  entering  into  other  such  contracts   and
11        agreements  that may be deemed necessary to carry out its
12        duties and functions.
13             (9)  Perform such other functions as  are  necessary
14        to  the  supervision  and  control  of  those  phases  of
15        education under its supervision and control.
16        (b)  The Board shall delegate to the Director such of its
17    administrative  powers  and duties as it deems appropriate to
18    aid the Director in the efficient administration  of  his  or
19    her  responsibility for the implementation of the policies of
20    the board.
21        (c)  In addition  to  the  authorities  granted  in  this
22    Section  and  any powers, duties, and responsibilities vested
23    by any other applicable laws, the board shall:
24             (1)  Adopt rules  and  policies  necessary  for  the
25        efficient operation of the Academy.
26             (2)  Establish  criteria  to  be used in determining
27        eligibility of applicants for enrollment.  Such  criteria
28        shall  ensure  adequate  geographic,  sexual,  and ethnic
29        representation.
30             (3)  Determine  subject  and  arts  experiences  and
31        extracurricular activities to be offered.
32             (4)  Pay salaries and expenses,  including  but  not
33        necessarily  restricted  to  facilities,  equipment,  and
34        supplies  of the faculty and staff of the Academy, out of
 
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 1        funds appropriated or otherwise made  available  for  the
 2        operating and administrative expenses of the board.
 3             (5)  Exercise  budgetary responsibility and allocate
 4        for expenditure by the Academy  and  programs  under  its
 5        jurisdiction  all  moneys  appropriated or otherwise made
 6        available for purposes of the board and of  such  Academy
 7        programs.
 8             (6)  Prepare  and adopt or approve programs of study
 9        and rules and bylaws for the conduct of students and  for
10        the  government  of  the  Academy  and programs under its
11        jurisdiction.
12             (7)  Employ  such  personnel  as  may   be   needed,
13        establish   policies   governing   their  employment  and
14        dismissal, and fix the amount of their compensation.   In
15        the  employment, establishment of policies, and fixing of
16        compensation, the Board may  make  no  discrimination  on
17        account of sex, race, creed, color, or national origin.