105 ILCS 5/ School Code.

(105 ILCS 5/4-7) (from Ch. 122, par. 4-7)

Sec. 4-7. Examination of financial statements.

(a) Examine the financial statements of the county superintendent of schools required by Section 15-21 and compare them with vouchers.

(b) The county board, or so many thereof as are present at its meeting, shall be liable individually to the fund injured and to the sureties of the county superintendent, if judgment is recovered from the sureties, for all damages occasioned by neglect of the duties, or any of them, required of the board by this section; but nothing herein shall be construed to exempt the sureties and they shall remain liable to the fund injured the same as if the members of the county board were not liable to them for neglect of their duty. On and after July 1, 1994, the provisions of this subsection (b) shall have no application in any county having a population of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants.

(Source: P.A. 87-654; 87-1251.)

(105 ILCS 5/4-8) (from Ch. 122, par. 4-8)

Sec. 4-8. Bond -- approval -- increase. Approve the bond of the county superintendent of schools, and increase the penalty thereof if, in its judgment the penalty should be increased.

On and after July 1, 1994, the provisions of this Section shall have no application in any county having a population of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants.

(Source: P.A. 87-654; 87-1251.)

(105 ILCS 5/4-9) (from Ch. 122, par. 4-9)

Sec. 4-9. New bond. Require the county superintendent of schools, after notice given, to execute a new bond, conditioned and approved as the first bond, whenever it deems a new bond necessary, but the execution of such new bond shall not affect the old bond or the liability of the sureties thereon.

On and after July 1, 1994, the provisions of this Section shall have no application in any county having a population of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants.

(Source: P.A. 87-654; 87-1251.)

(105 ILCS 5/4-10) (from Ch. 122, par. 4-10)

Sec. 4-10. Reports -- Removal from office.

(a) Require the county superintendent of schools to make the reports to it provided for by law.

(b) Remove the county superintendent of schools from office in case of neglect or refusal so to do, or for any palpable violation of law or omission of duty. On and after July 1, 1994, the provisions of this subsection (b) shall have no application in any county having a population of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants.

(Source: P.A. 87-654; 87-1251.)

(105 ILCS 5/4-10.5)

Sec. 4-10.5. Expenses for life-skills programs. Allow, when the county board deems it proper, reasonable expenses of the regional superintendent of schools to administer life-skills programs related to the healthy social and emotional development of children.

(Source: P.A. 95-391, eff. 8-23-07.)

(105 ILCS 5/4-11) (from Ch. 122, par. 4-11)

Sec. 4-11. Depositories. The county board, when requested by the county superintendent of schools, shall designate one or more banks or savings and loan associations in which the funds and moneys received by him by virtue of his office may be deposited. When a bank or savings and loan association has been designated as a depository, it shall continue as such until 10 days have elapsed after a new depository is designated and qualified by furnishing the statement of resources and liabilities required by this Section. When a new depository is designated, the county board shall notify the sureties of the county superintendent of that fact, in writing, at least 5 days before the transfer of funds. The county superintendent of schools shall be discharged from responsibility for all funds and moneys deposited in the banks or savings and loan association so designated while such funds and moneys are so deposited.

No bank or savings and loan association shall receive public funds as permitted by this Section, unless it has complied with the requirements established pursuant to Section 6 of "An Act relating to certain investments of public funds by public agencies", approved July 23, 1943, as now or hereafter amended.

(Source: P.A. 83-541.)

(105 ILCS 5/4-12)

Sec. 4-12. Educational service center support. Notwithstanding Sections 4-2, 4-4, 4-6, 4-7, 4-8, 4-9, and 4-10 of this Code, a county having a population of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants may provide financial or in-kind support to the educational service centers serving that county.

(Source: P.A. 96-893, eff. 7-1-10.)

(105 ILCS 5/Art. 5 heading) ARTICLE 5. TRUSTEES OF SCHOOLS

(105 ILCS 5/5-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-1)

Sec. 5-1. County school units.

(a) The territory in each county, exclusive of any school district governed by any special act which requires the district to appoint its own school treasurer, shall constitute a county school unit. County school units of less than 2,000,000 inhabitants shall be known as Class I county school units and the office of township trustees, where existing on July 1, 1962, in such units shall be abolished on that date and all books and records of such former township trustees shall be forthwith thereafter transferred to the county board of school trustees. County school units of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants shall be known as Class II county school units and shall retain the office of township trustees unless otherwise provided in subsection (b) or (c).

(b) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (c), the school board of any elementary school district having a fall, 1989 aggregate enrollment of at least 2,500 but less than 6,500 pupils and having boundaries that are coterminous with the boundaries of a high school district, and the school board of any high school district having a fall, 1989 aggregate enrollment of at least 2,500 but less than 6,500 pupils and having boundaries that are coterminous with the boundaries of an elementary school district, may, whenever the territory of such school district forms a part of a Class II county school unit, by proper resolution withdraw such school district from the jurisdiction and authority of the trustees of schools of the township in which such school district is located and from the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer in such Class II county school unit; provided that the school board of any such school district shall, upon the adoption and passage of such resolution, thereupon elect or appoint its own school treasurer as provided in Section 8-1. Upon the adoption and passage of such resolution and the election or appointment by the school board of its own school treasurer: (1) the trustees of schools in such township shall no longer have or exercise any powers and duties with respect to the school district governed by such school board or with respect to the school business, operations or assets of such school district; and (2) all books and records of the township trustees relating to the school business and affairs of such school district shall be transferred and delivered to the school board of such school district. Upon the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1993, the legal title to, and all right, title and interest formerly held by the township trustees in any school buildings and school sites used and occupied by the school board of such school district for school purposes, that legal title, right, title and interest thereafter having been transferred to and vested in the regional board of school trustees under P.A. 87-473 until the abolition of that regional board of school trustees by P.A. 87-969, shall be deemed transferred by operation of law to and shall vest in the school board of that school district.

Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (c), the school boards of Oak Park & River Forest District 200, Oak Park Elementary School District 97, and River Forest School District 90 may, by proper resolution, withdraw from the jurisdiction and authority of the trustees of schools of Proviso and Cicero Townships and the township treasurer, provided that the school board shall, upon the adoption and passage of the resolution, elect or appoint its own school treasurer as provided in Section 8-1 of this Code. Upon the adoption and passage of the resolution and the election or appointment by the school board of its own school treasurer: (1) the trustees of schools in the township or townships shall no longer have or exercise any powers or duties with respect to the school district or with respect to the school business, operations, or assets of the school district; (2) all books and records of the trustees of schools and all moneys, securities, loanable funds, and other assets relating to the school business and affairs of the school district shall be transferred and delivered to the school board; and (3) all legal title to and all right, title, and interest formerly held by the trustees of schools in any common school lands, school buildings, or school sites used and occupied by the school board and all rights of property and causes of action pertaining to or constituting a part of the common school lands, buildings, or sites shall be deemed transferred by operation of law to and shall vest in the school board.

Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (c), the respective school boards of Berwyn North School District 98, Berwyn South School District 100, Cicero School District 99, and J.S. Morton High School District 201 may, by proper resolution, withdraw from the jurisdiction and authority of the trustees of schools of Cicero Township and the township treasurer, provided that the school board shall, upon the adoption and passage of the resolution, elect or appoint its own school treasurer as provided in Section 8-1 of this Code. Upon the adoption and passage of the resolution and the election or appointment by the school board of its own school treasurer: (1) the trustees of schools in the township shall no longer have or exercise any powers or duties with respect to the school district or with respect to the school business, operations, or assets of the school district; (2) all books and records of the trustees of schools and all moneys, securities, loanable funds, and other assets relating to the school business and affairs of the school district shall be transferred and delivered to the school board; and (3) all legal title to and all right, title, and interest formerly held by the trustees of schools in any common school lands, school buildings, or school sites used and occupied by the school board and all rights of property and causes of action pertaining to or constituting a part of the common school lands, buildings, or sites shall be deemed transferred by operation of law to and shall vest in the school board.

Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (c) of this Section and upon final judgment, including the exhaustion of all appeals or a settlement between all parties, regarding claims set forth in the case of Township Trustees of Schools Township 38 North, Range 12 East v. Lyons Township High School District No. 204 case N. 13 CH 23386 pending in 2018 in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, County Department, Chancery Division, and all related pending claims, the school board of Lyons Township High School District 204 may commence, by proper resolution, to withdraw from the jurisdiction and authority of the trustees of schools of Lyons Township and the township treasurer, provided that the school board shall, upon the adoption and passage of the resolution, elect or appoint its own school treasurer as provided in Section 8-1 of this Code. Upon the adoption and passage of the resolution and the election or appointment by the school board of its own school treasurer commencing with the first day of the succeeding fiscal year, but not prior to July 1, 2019: (1) the trustees of schools in the township shall no longer have or exercise any powers or duties with respect to the school district or with respect to the school business, operations, or assets of the school district; (2) all books and records of the trustees of schools and all moneys, securities, loanable funds, and other assets relating to the school business and affairs of the school district shall be transferred and delivered to the school board, allowing for a reasonable period of time not to exceed 90 days to liquidate any pooled investments; and (3) all legal title to and all right, title, and interest formerly held by the trustees of schools in any common school lands, school buildings, or school sites used and occupied by the school board and all rights of property and causes of action pertaining to or constituting a part of the common school lands, buildings, or sites shall be deemed transferred by operation of law to and shall vest in the school board. The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly are prospective only, starting from the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, and shall not affect any legal action pending on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly in the Illinois courts in which Lyons Township High School District 204 is a listed party.

Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (c), the school boards of Glenbrook High School District 225, Northbrook Elementary School District 27, Northbrook School District 28, Sunset Ridge School District 29, Northbrook/Glenview School District 30, West Northfield School District 31, and Glenview Community Consolidated School District 34 may, by proper resolution, withdraw from the jurisdiction and authority of the trustees of schools of Northfield and Maine Townships and the township treasurer, provided that the school board shall, upon the adoption and passage of the resolution, elect or appoint its own school treasurer as provided in Section 8-1 of this Code. Upon the adoption and passage of the resolution and the election or appointment by the school board of its own school treasurer: (1) the trustees of schools in the township or townships shall no longer have or exercise any powers or duties with respect to the school district or with respect to the school business, operations, or assets of the school district; (2) all books and records of the trustees of schools and all moneys, securities, loanable funds, and other assets relating to the school business and affairs of the school district shall be transferred and delivered to the school board; and (3) all legal title to and all right, title, and interest formerly held by the trustees of schools in any common school lands, school buildings, or school sites used and occupied by the school board and all rights of property and causes of action pertaining to or constituting a part of the common school lands, buildings, or sites shall be deemed transferred by operation of law to and shall vest in the school board.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of any township located in a Class II county school unit shall be abolished as provided in this subsection if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) During the same 30 day period, each school board of each elementary and unit school district that is subject to the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of the township in which those offices are sought to be abolished gives written notice by certified mail, return receipt requested to the township treasurer and trustees of schools of that township of the date of a meeting of the school board, to be held not more than 90 nor less than 60 days after the date when the notice is given, at which meeting the school board is to consider and vote upon the question of whether there shall be submitted to the electors of the school district a proposition to abolish the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of that township. None of the notices given under this paragraph to the township treasurer and trustees of schools of a township shall be deemed sufficient or in compliance with the requirements of this paragraph unless all of those notices are given within the same 30 day period.

(2) Each school board of each elementary and unit school district that is subject to the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of the township in which those offices are sought to be abolished, by the affirmative vote of at least 5 members of the school board at a school board meeting of which notice is given as required by paragraph (1) of this subsection, adopts a resolution requiring the secretary of the school board to certify to the proper election authorities for submission to the electors of the school district at the next consolidated election in accordance with the general election law a proposition to abolish the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of that township. None of the resolutions adopted under this paragraph by any elementary or unit school districts that are subject to the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of the township in which those offices are sought to be abolished shall be deemed in compliance with the requirements of this paragraph or sufficient to authorize submission of the proposition to abolish those offices to a referendum of the electors in any such school district unless all of the school boards of all of the elementary and unit school districts that are subject to the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of that township adopt such a resolution in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph.

(3) The school boards of all of the elementary and unit school districts that are subject to the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of the township in which those offices are sought to be abolished submit a proposition to abolish the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of that township to the electors of their respective school districts at the same consolidated election in accordance with the general election law, the ballot in each such district to be in substantially the following form:

---------------------------------------------------------- OFFICIAL BALLOT Shall the offices of township

treasurer and YES

trustee of ------------------

schools of Township ..... NO

Range ..... be abolished?

----------------------------------------------------------

(4) At the consolidated election at which the proposition to abolish the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of a township is submitted to the electors of each elementary and unit school district that is subject to the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustee of schools of that township, a majority of the electors voting on the proposition in each such elementary and unit school district votes in favor of the proposition as submitted to them.

If in each elementary and unit school district that is subject to the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of the township in which those offices are sought to be abolished a majority of the electors in each such district voting at the consolidated election on the proposition to abolish the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of that township votes in favor of the proposition as submitted to them, the proposition shall be deemed to have passed; but if in any such elementary or unit school district a majority of the electors voting on that proposition in that district fails to vote in favor of the proposition as submitted to them, then notwithstanding the vote of the electors in any other such elementary or unit school district on that proposition the proposition shall not be deemed to have passed in any of those elementary or unit school districts, and the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of the township in which those offices were sought to be abolished shall not be abolished, unless in each of those elementary and unit school districts remaining subject to the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of that township proceedings are again initiated to abolish those offices and all of the proceedings and conditions prescribed in paragraphs (1) through (4) of this subsection are repeated and met in each of those elementary and unit school districts.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section or any other provision of the School Code, the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of a township that has a population of less than 200,000 and that contains a unit school district and is located in a Class II county school unit shall also be abolished as provided in this subsection if all of the conditions set forth in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this subsection are met and if the following additional condition is met:

The electors in all of the school districts subject to the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of the township in which those offices are sought to be abolished shall vote at the consolidated election on the proposition to abolish the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of that township. If a majority of the electors in all of the school districts combined voting on the proposition vote in favor of the proposition, then the proposition shall be deemed to have passed; but if a majority of the electors voting on the proposition in all of the school district fails to vote in favor of the proposition as submitted to them, then the proposition shall not be deemed to have passed and the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of the township in which those offices were sought to be abolished shall not be abolished, unless and until the proceedings detailed in paragraphs (1) through (3) of this subsection and the conditions set forth in this paragraph are met.

If the proposition to abolish the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of a township is deemed to have passed at the consolidated election as provided in this subsection, those offices shall be deemed abolished by operation of law effective on January 1 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which that consolidated election is held, provided that if after the election, the trustees of schools by resolution elect to abolish the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools effective on July 1 immediately following the election, then the offices shall be abolished on July 1 immediately following the election. On the date that the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of a township are deemed abolished by operation of law, the school board of each elementary and unit school district and the school board of each high school district that is subject to the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of that township at the time those offices are abolished: (i) shall appoint its own school treasurer as provided in Section 8-1; and (ii) unless the term of the contract of a township treasurer expires on the date that the office of township treasurer is abolished, shall pay to the former township treasurer its proportionate share of any aggregate compensation that, were the office of township treasurer not abolished at that time, would have been payable to the former township treasurer after that date over the remainder of the term of the contract of the former township treasurer that began prior to but ends after that date. In addition, on the date that the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of a township are deemed abolished as provided in this subsection, the school board of each elementary school, high school and unit school district that until that date is subject to the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of that township shall be deemed by operation of law to have agreed and assumed to pay and, when determined, shall pay to the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund a proportionate share of the unfunded liability existing in that Fund at the time these offices are abolished in that calendar year for all annuities or other benefits then or thereafter to become payable from that Fund with respect to all periods of service performed prior to that date as a participating employee in that Fund by persons serving during those periods of service as a trustee of schools, township treasurer or regular employee in the office of the township treasurer of that township. That unfunded liability shall be actuarially determined by the board of trustees of the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, and the board of trustees shall thereupon notify each school board required to pay a proportionate share of that unfunded liability of the aggregate amount of the unfunded liability so determined. The amount so paid to the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund by each of those school districts shall be credited to the account of the township in that Fund. For each elementary school, high school and unit school district under the jurisdiction and authority of a township treasurer and trustees of schools of a township in which those offices are abolished as provided in this subsection, each such district's proportionate share of the aggregate compensation payable to the former township treasurer as provided in this paragraph and each such district's proportionate share of the aggregate amount of the unfunded liability payable to the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund as provided in this paragraph shall be computed in accordance with the ratio that the number of pupils in average daily attendance in each such district for the school year last ending prior to the date on which the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of that township are abolished bears to the aggregate number of pupils in average daily attendance in all of those districts as so reported for that school year.

Upon abolition of the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of a township as provided in this subsection: (i) the regional board of school trustees, in its corporate capacity, shall be deemed the successor in interest to the former trustees of schools of that township with respect to the common school lands and township loanable funds of the township; (ii) all right, title and interest existing or vested in the former trustees of schools of that township in the common school lands and township loanable funds of the township, and all records, moneys, securities and other assets, rights of property and causes of action pertaining to or constituting a part of those common school lands or township loanable funds, shall be transferred to and deemed vested by operation of law in the regional board of school trustees, which shall hold legal title to, manage and operate all common school lands and township loanable funds of the township, receive the rents, issues and profits therefrom, and have and exercise with respect thereto the same powers and duties as are provided by this Code to be exercised by regional boards of school trustees when acting as township land commissioners in counties having at least 220,000 but fewer than 2,000,000 inhabitants; (iii) the regional board of school trustees shall select to serve as its treasurer with respect to the common school lands and township loanable funds of the township a person from time to time also serving as the appointed school treasurer of any school district that was subject to the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of that township at the time those offices were abolished, and the person selected to also serve as treasurer of the regional board of school trustees shall have his compensation for services in that capacity fixed by the regional board of school trustees, to be paid from the township loanable funds, and shall make to the regional board of school trustees the reports required to be made by treasurers of township land commissioners, give bond as required by treasurers of township land commissioners, and perform the duties and exercise the powers of treasurers of township land commissioners; (iv) the regional board of school trustees shall designate in the manner provided by Section 8-7, insofar as applicable, a depositary for its treasurer, and the proceeds of all rents, issues and profits from the common school lands and township loanable funds of that township shall be deposited and held in the account maintained for those purposes with that depositary and shall be expended and distributed therefrom as provided in Section 15-24 and other applicable provisions of this Code; and (v) whenever there is vested in the trustees of schools of a township at the time that office is abolished under this subsection the legal title to any school buildings or school sites used or occupied for school purposes by any elementary school, high school or unit school district subject to the jurisdiction and authority of those trustees of school at the time that office is abolished, the legal title to those school buildings and school sites shall be deemed transferred by operation of law to and invested in the school board of that school district, in its corporate capacity under Section 10-22.35B of this Code, the same to be held, sold, exchanged leased or otherwise transferred in accordance with applicable provisions of this Code.

Notwithstanding Section 2-3.25g of this Code, a waiver of a mandate established under this Section may not be requested.

(Source: P.A. 103-144, eff. 6-30-23.)

(105 ILCS 5/5-1a) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-1a)

Sec. 5-1a. High school districts. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article or the School Code, the school board of any high school district that is located in a Class II county school unit and that on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1991 is subject to the jurisdiction and authority of a township treasurer and trustees of schools of a township in which all or any part of that school district is located may not withdraw from the jurisdiction and authority of that township treasurer and those trustees of schools and transfer or otherwise submit to the jurisdiction and authority of a township treasurer or trustees of school of another township, unless the school board of each underlying elementary school district whose territory includes all or any part of the territory included within that high school district, by resolution, consents to the proposed withdrawal by the school board of that high school district from the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of the township to which that high school district is subject and the transfer or other submission by the school board of that high school district to the jurisdiction and authority of a township treasurer or trustees of schools of another township.

A high school district that is subject to the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of a township in which those offices are abolished as provided in subsection (c) of Section 5-1 shall thereupon be required to appoint its own school treasurer as provided in paragraph (4) of subsection (c) of Section 5-1 and subsection (c) of Section 8-1, and shall be subject to and governed by the other changes made to the School Code by this amendatory Act of 1991, insofar as the same are applicable to a high school district.

(Source: P.A. 87-473.)

(105 ILCS 5/5-1b)

Sec. 5-1b. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 94-432, eff. 8-2-05. Repealed internally, eff. 1-1-10.)

(105 ILCS 5/5-2) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-2)

Sec. 5-2. Governing board.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b), the school business of all school townships having school trustees shall be transacted by three trustees, to be elected by the qualified voters of the township, as provided in this Article 5.

(b) This subsection (b) applies only to the trustees of schools of Township 38 North, Range 12 East. The school business of the township shall be transacted by 4 trustees elected by the qualified voters of the township, as provided in this Article 5, and 3 trustees appointed by the school districts within the township, as provided in this subsection (b). An elected trustee and an appointed trustee may represent the same school district. Any trustee, whether elected or appointed, may serve as an officer of the trustees of schools.

The 3 trustees to be appointed shall each be appointed for a term of one year as follows:

(1) The school boards of Argo Community High School District 217, Summit School District 104, Willow Springs School District 108, and Indian Springs School District 109 shall collectively appoint one school board member as a trustee through a nomination process and by a majority vote or by consensus among the school boards. A trustee appointed under this paragraph (1) may be reappointed for a second term as provided under this paragraph (1). After the appointed term or reappointed term of the trustee expires, the school boards shall appoint a successor trustee pursuant to this paragraph (1).

(2) The school boards of Western Springs School District 101, La Grange School District 102, Lyons School District 103, La Grange School District 105 South, LaGrange Highlands School District 106, and Pleasantdale School District 107 shall collectively appoint one school board member as a trustee through a nomination process and by a majority vote or by consensus among the school boards. A trustee appointed under this paragraph (2) may be reappointed for a second term as provided under this paragraph (2). After the appointed term or reappointed term of the trustee expires, the school boards shall appoint a successor trustee pursuant to this paragraph (2).

(3) Each year, among the school board presidents of the school districts within the township, one school board president shall be selected through a nomination process and by a majority vote to appoint a trustee. If no president of a school board is nominated, another officer of one of the school boards may be nominated. For the even-numbered year term, a trustee appointed under this paragraph (3) must be from a feeder elementary school district for Argo Community High School District 217, and, for the odd-numbered year term, a trustee appointed under this paragraph (3) must be from a feeder elementary school district for Lyons Township High School District 204.

(c) The trustees shall be a body politic and corporate, by the name of "trustees of schools of township No. ...., range No. ....," according to the number, or in case of school townships created from two or more congressional townships, such name shall be "trustees of .... township .... county, Illinois." Such corporation shall have perpetual existence, with power to sue and be sued, and to plead and be impleaded, in all courts and places where judicial proceedings are had.

(Source: P.A. 102-924, eff. 5-27-22.)

(105 ILCS 5/5-2.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-2.1)

Sec. 5-2.1. Eligible Voters: For the purposes of this Article persons who are qualified to vote in school elections shall be eligible to vote for the trustees of schools who have jurisdiction over the elementary school district or unit school district in which the person resides.

If the application of this Section results in an elector voting for trustees of a school township in which he does not reside because the elementary or unit school district crosses township boundaries and has been assigned to the jurisdiction of the trustees of an adjoining township, that elector shall also be eligible to vote for the trustees of the township within which he resides. Moreover, an elector who resides in a high school district that crosses township boundaries and has been assigned to the jurisdiction of the trustees of an adjoining township shall be eligible to vote for both the trustees of the township in which he or she resides and the trustees of the township having jurisdiction over the high school district in which he or she resides.

(Source: P.A. 94-432, eff. 8-2-05.)

(105 ILCS 5/5-2.2)

Sec. 5-2.2. Designation of trustees; Township 36 North, Range 13 East. After the April 5, 2011 consolidated election, the trustees of schools in Township 36 North, Range 13 East shall no longer be elected pursuant to the provisions of Sections 5-2, 5-2.1, 5-3, 5-4, 5-12, and 5-13 of this Code. Any such trustees elected before such date may complete the term to which that trustee was elected, but shall not be succeeded by election. Instead, the board of education or board of school directors of each of the elementary and high school districts that are subject to the jurisdiction of Township 36 North, Range 13 East shall appoint one of the members to serve as trustee of schools. The trustees of schools shall be appointed by each board of education or board of school directors within 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly and shall reorganize within 30 days after all the trustees of schools have been appointed or within 30 days after all the trustees of schools were due to have been appointed, whichever is sooner. Trustees of schools so appointed shall serve at the pleasure of the board of education or board of school directors appointing them, but in no event longer than 2 years unless reappointed.

A majority of members of the trustees of schools shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The trustees shall organize by appointing one of their number president, who shall hold the office for 2 years. If the president is absent from any meeting, or refuses to perform any of the duties of the office, a president pro-tempore may be appointed. Trustees who serve on the board as a result of appointment or election at the time of the reorganization shall continue to serve as a member of the trustees of schools, with no greater or lesser authority than any other trustee, until such time as their elected term expires.

Each trustee of schools appointed by a board of education or board of school directors shall be entitled to indemnification and protection against claims and suits by the board that appointed that trustee of schools for acts or omissions as a trustee of schools in the same manner and to the same extent as the trustee of schools is entitled to indemnification and protection for acts or omissions as a member of the board of education or board of school directors under Section 10-20.20 of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 99-642, eff. 7-28-16.)

(105 ILCS 5/5-3) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-3)

Sec. 5-3. Eligibility of trustees. No person shall be eligible to the office of trustee of schools who is not a resident of the township and at least 18 years of age. If there are 3 or more school districts in a township which are subject to the jurisdiction of the trustees of schools of that township, no 2 trustees shall reside, when elected, in the same school district; except that in townships in which at least 90% of the electors reside in one school district which is subject to the jurisdiction of the trustees of schools of that township, this restriction shall not apply. No person shall be eligible to the office of trustee of schools and school director or school board member at the same time.

This Section does not apply to trustees appointed under subsection (b) of Section 5-2.

(Source: P.A. 102-924, eff. 5-27-22.)

(105 ILCS 5/5-4) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-4)

Sec. 5-4. Election of trustees. The election of trustees of schools shall be held in odd-numbered years at the election specified in the general election law. In townships in which no election for school trustees has been held, or in townships in which from any cause there are no trustees of schools and the law requires that there be school trustees, the election of trustees of schools shall be held at the same time.

No person shall be nominated for the office of trustee of schools, in townships containing 20,000 inhabitants or over, except by petition signed by at least 5% or 500 of the voters of the school township in which the person is seeking nomination and election who last cast votes in the most recent election, whichever is less, filed with the township treasurer, or, in case of a first election, with the county clerk.

A candidate for election as a school trustee, who has petitioned for nomination to fill a full term and to fill a vacant term to be voted upon at the same election, must withdraw his or her petition for nomination from either the full term or the vacant term by written declaration, which shall be signed and acknowledged by an officer authorized to take such acknowledgments and which is filed with the township treasurer in the township in which he or she is a candidate within the time provided by the general election law.

(Source: P.A. 102-924, eff. 5-27-22.)

(105 ILCS 5/5-12) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-12)

Sec. 5-12. Trustees' names and townships to regional superintendent. The returns of an election for trustees of schools shall be made to the county clerk. He shall furnish to the regional superintendent of schools, within 7 days after the returns have been made, the names of the trustees so returned to him, and shall specify the townships in which they have been elected.

(Source: P.A. 81-1490.)

(105 ILCS 5/5-13) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-13)

Sec. 5-13. Term of office of trustees. In townships already organized, the school trustee shall be elected in each odd numbered year for a term of 6 years to succeed the trustee whose term expires in such odd numbered year.

The first-elected trustees in a newly organized township shall at their first meeting cast lots for their respective terms of office, for 2, 4 and 6 years; and thereafter 1 trustee shall be elected in each odd-numbered year.

(Source: P.A. 81-1490.)

(105 ILCS 5/5-14) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-14)

Sec. 5-14. Term of office of successors - Vacancies. Successors to the trustees whose terms of office expire at the time prescribed in Section 5-13, and their successors, shall hold their offices for 6 years and until their respective successors are elected and qualified. Trustees of schools shall enter upon the duties of their office on the third Monday of the month following their election.

Whenever a vacancy occurs, the remaining trustees shall fill the vacancy until the next regular school election, at which election a successor shall be elected to serve the remainder of the unexpired term. However, if the vacancy occurs with less than 28 months remaining in the term, or if the vacancy occurs less than 88 days before the next regularly scheduled election for this office then the person so appointed shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term, and no election to fill the vacancy shall be held. The successor shall have the same residential qualifications as his predecessor. Should they fail so to act, within 30 days after the vacancy occurs, the regional superintendent of the region in which the township lies, or if the township is divided by a county line or lines, the regional superintendent of the region in which a majority of the children, who reside in districts subject to the jurisdiction of the trustees of schools of such township, attend school, shall within 15 days after the remaining trustees have failed to fill the vacancy, fill the vacancy as provided for herein. The successor shall have the same type of residential qualifications as his predecessor.

(Source: P.A. 93-847, eff. 7-30-04.)

(105 ILCS 5/5-15) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-15)

Sec. 5-15. Organization. Within 10 days following commencement of their terms, the trustees shall organize by appointing 1 of their number president, who shall hold his office for 2 years. The president shall preside at all meetings of the board and shall sign the proceedings thereof when recorded. If the president is absent from any meeting, or refuses to perform any of the duties of his office, a president pro tempore may be appointed. The president may be removed by the trustees of schools for sufficient cause.

(Source: P.A. 81-1490.)

(105 ILCS 5/5-16) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-16)

Sec. 5-16. Meetings - Quorum. The trustees of school shall hold regular meetings on the first Monday of each calendar quarter or if such Monday falls on a holiday, then on the following Monday. Special meetings may be called at any time by the president or by two members. Two members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

(Source: P.A. 81-338.)