State of Illinois
91st General Assembly
Legislation

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91_HB3956

 
                                               LRB9111872NTks

 1        AN  ACT  concerning  an  East  St.  Louis mathematics and
 2    science academy.

 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    East St. Louis Mathematics and Science Academy Act.

 7        Section 5.  Policy and purposes. It shall be  the  policy
 8    of the State of Illinois to provide excellence in mathematics
 9    and  science  education  in  order  to  nourish  an  informed
10    citizenry,  assure  technological  skills for the work force,
11    and assist in the preparation of professionals to  serve  the
12    interests   of   Illinois  in  such  fields  as  engineering,
13    research,  teaching,  and  computer  technology.   It   shall
14    further   be   the  policy  to  enlist  the  support  of  the
15    educational, industrial,  and  scientific  communities  in  a
16    cooperative  effort  to  provide  excellence  in  science and
17    mathematics education.   As  a  symbol  of  this  cooperative
18    endeavor,  there  shall  be  established  the  East St. Louis
19    Mathematics and  Science  Academy  to  serve  the  people  of
20    Illinois  as  a preparatory institution and the school system
21    of the State as a catalyst and laboratory for the advancement
22    of teaching.
23        The primary role of the  Academy  shall  be  to  offer  a
24    uniquely  challenging  education for students talented in the
25    areas of mathematics and  science.    Both  high  school  and
26    college  levels  of  instruction will be provided in order to
27    assure appropriate  linkage  with  higher  education.   Other
28    programs  deemed necessary to assure the elements of a strong
29    general education required of  creative  scientists  will  be
30    provided.
31        The   Academy   shall  also  carry  a  responsibility  to
 
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 1    stimulate further excellence  for  all  Illinois  schools  in
 2    mathematics   and   science.    That  responsibility  may  be
 3    exercised through any or all of the following means:
 4             (1)  Stimulating    curriculum    development    and
 5        revisions  through  the  collaborative  efforts  of   the
 6        interacting   institutions   involved   in  the  Academy,
 7        including universities, secondary schools, the industrial
 8        sector, and national laboratories.
 9             (2)  Providing preservice training sites for persons
10        in  preparation  for  the   teaching   of   science   and
11        mathematics.
12             (3)  Hosting   summer  institute  opportunities  for
13        Illinois teachers modeled after the  successful  National
14        Science Foundation program prevalent in the 1960s.
15             (4)  Providing opportunities for exchanging teaching
16        or  faculty  seats  at  the  Academy for science and math
17        educators in the elementary and secondary schools in this
18        State.
19             (5)  Creating the opportunity and potential to  link
20        vocational   programs,   education  for  technology,  and
21        employment programs to the work of the Academy.
22             (6)  Offering  speakers  and  programs  for  teacher
23        institutes and in-service training around the State.
24             (7)  Producing   videotapes    of    lectures    and
25        experiments for use in the schools of this State.
26             (8)  Providing  assistance  in identifying necessary
27        competencies to be incorporated in public school district
28        graduation requirements.

29        Section 10.  Establishment, funding, and location.  There
30    is  hereby created the East St. Louis Mathematics and Science
31    Academy, which shall be a residential institution located  in
32    East  St.  Louis,  Illinois.    The  Academy shall be a State
33    agency,   funded    by    State    appropriations,    private
 
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 1    contributions,  and endowments.  Minimal fees for residential
 2    students  may  be  charged.   The  Academy  may  admit  those
 3    students who have completed the academic  equivalent  of  the
 4    9th   grade   and  may  offer  a  program  of  secondary  and
 5    postsecondary course work. Admission shall be  determined  by
 6    competitive examination.
 7        In  order  to  be  eligible for State appropriations, the
 8    Academy shall submit to the Board  of  Higher  Education  not
 9    later  than  the  1st  day of October of each year its budget
10    proposal for the operation and capital needs of  the  Academy
11    for its next fiscal year.

12        Section  15.  Board  of  Trustees.  The  East  St.  Louis
13    Mathematics  and Science Academy shall be governed by a Board
14    of Trustees, which shall consist of the following members:
15             (1)  Four ex officio nonvoting members, who shall be
16        the State  Superintendent  of  Education,  the  Executive
17        Director  of  the  Illinois  Community College Board, the
18        Executive Director of the Board of Higher Education,  and
19        the  Superintendent  of Schools in the school district in
20        which the Academy is located.
21             (2)  Three Representatives of  Secondary  Education,
22        one  of whom must be a math or science teacher, appointed
23        by the State Superintendent of Education.
24             (3)  Two Representatives of Higher Education, one of
25        whom must be  a  Dean  of  Education,  appointed  by  the
26        Executive Director of the Board of Higher Education.
27             (4)  Three   representatives   of   the   scientific
28        community in Illinois appointed by the Governor.
29             (5)  Three  representatives  of the Illinois private
30        industrial sector appointed by the Governor.
31             (6)  Two  members  representative  of  the   general
32        public at large appointed by the Governor.
33        With  the  exception  of  the  initial  appointments, the
 
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 1    members terms of office shall be for 6 years.  At  the  first
 2    meeting,  members shall draw lots for appointments of 2-year,
 3    4-year, or 6-year initial terms.  Vacancies shall  be  filled
 4    for  the unexpired portion of the terms by appointment of the
 5    officer who appointed the person causing such  vacancy.   The
 6    initial  terms  shall  commence  upon  appointment  and  upon
 7    expiration of a term; the member shall continue serving until
 8    a successor is appointed. The Board shall select a chair from
 9    among  its  members  who  shall serve a 2-year term as chair.
10    Members shall receive no salary but shall be  reimbursed  for
11    all  ordinary  and  necessary expenses incurred in performing
12    their duties as members of the Board.

13        Section 20.  Powers of the Board.
14        (a)  The Board is hereby authorized to:
15             (1)  Accept donations, bequests, or other  forms  of
16        financial  assistance  for  educational purposes from any
17        public or private person or agency and comply with  rules
18        and   regulations   governing  grants  from  the  federal
19        government or from any other person or agency, which  are
20        not  in contravention of the Illinois Constitution or the
21        laws of the State of Illinois.
22             (2)  Purchase equipment  and  make  improvements  to
23        facilities  necessary  for  the  use  of  the  school, in
24        accordance with applicable law.
25             (3)  Adopt, amend, or repeal rules, regulations, and
26        policies necessary or  proper  for  the  conduct  of  the
27        business of the Board.
28             (4)  Award   certificates  and  issue  diplomas  for
29        successful completion of programs of study requirements.
30             (5)  Select  a  Director  who  shall  be  the  chief
31        administrative officer  of  the  Academy  and  who  shall
32        administer  the  rules, regulations, and policies adopted
33        by the Board pursuant hereto.  The Director shall also be
 
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 1        the chief administrative officer of the Board  and  shall
 2        be  responsible  for  all  the  administrative functions,
 3        duties, and needs of the Board.
 4             (6)  Determine faculty and staff positions necessary
 5        for the efficient operation  of  the  school  and  select
 6        personnel for such positions.
 7             (7)  Prepare  and  adopt  an annual budget necessary
 8        for the continued operation of the school.
 9             (8)  Enter into contracts and agreements  that  have
10        been  recommended  by  the  Director,  in accordance with
11        applicable  law,  and  to  the  extent  that  funds   are
12        specifically  appropriated  therefor,  with  other public
13        agencies with  respect  to  cooperative  enterprises  and
14        undertakings related to or associated with an educational
15        purpose  or  program  affecting  education in the school.
16        This shall not preclude  the  Board  from  entering  into
17        other  such  contracts  and  agreements  that it may deem
18        necessary to carry out its duties and functions.
19             (9)  Perform such other functions as  are  necessary
20        to  the  supervision  and  control  of  those  phases  of
21        education under its supervision and control.
22        (b)  The Board shall delegate to the Director such of its
23    administrative  powers  and duties as it deems appropriate to
24    aid the Director in the efficient administration  of  his  or
25    her  responsibility for the implementation of the policies of
26    the Board.
27        (c)  The Academy shall be empowered to lease or  purchase
28    real  and  personal property on commercially reasonable terms
29    for the use of the Academy.  Any leases or purchases of  real
30    or  personal  property  and  any  disposition  thereof by the
31    Academy must be in compliance  with  the  provisions  of  the
32    Civil  Administrative Code of Illinois and the State Property
33    Control Act.  Personal property acquired for the use  of  the
34    Academy  shall  be  inventoried and disposed of in accordance
 
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 1    with the State Property Control Act.
 2        (d)  In addition to the authorities  granted  herein  and
 3    any  powers, duties, and responsibilities vested by any other
 4    applicable laws, the Board shall:
 5             (1)  Adopt   rules,   regulations,   and    policies
 6        necessary for the efficient operation of the school.
 7             (2)  Establish  criteria  to  be used in determining
 8        eligibility of applicants for enrollment.  Such  criteria
 9        shall  ensure  adequate  geographic,  sexual  and  ethnic
10        representation.
11             (3)  Determine    subjects    and    extracurricular
12        activities to be offered.
13             (4)  Pay  salaries  and  expenses, including but not
14        necessarily  restricted  to  facilities,  equipment,  and
15        supplies of the faculty and staff of the Academy  out  of
16        funds  appropriated  or  otherwise made available for the
17        operating and administrative expenses of  the  Board  and
18        the Academy.
19             (5)  Exercise  budgetary responsibility and allocate
20        for expenditure by the Academy  and  programs  under  its
21        jurisdiction  all  moneys  appropriated or otherwise made
22        available for purposes of the Board and  of  the  Academy
23        and programs.
24             (6)  Prescribe and select for use in the school free
25        school  books  and  other  materials  of  instruction for
26        children enrolled in the school and  programs  under  its
27        jurisdiction  for  which  the  General  Assembly provides
28        funds.
29             (7)  Prepare and adopt or approve programs of  study
30        and  rules,  bylaws,  and  regulations for the conduct of
31        students  and  for  the  government  of  the  school  and
32        programs under its jurisdiction.
33             (8)  Employ  such  personnel  as  may   be   needed,
34        establish   policies   governing   their  employment  and
 
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 1        dismissal, and fix the amount of their compensation.   In
 2        the  employment, establishment of policies, and fixing of
 3        compensation, the Board may  make  no  discrimination  on
 4        account of sex, race, creed, color or national origin.
 5        (e)  The   Academy,   its  Board  of  Trustees,  and  its
 6    employees shall be represented  and  indemnified  in  certain
 7    civil  law  suits  in  accordance with "An Act to provide for
 8    representation  and  indemnification  in  certain  civil  law
 9    suits", approved December 3, 1977, as amended.
10        (f)  Neither the Academy nor its officers, employees,  or
11    Board  members  shall  participate  in  the  creation  of any
12    corporation,  joint  venture,  partnership,  association,  or
13    other  organizational  entity  that  exercises,  expands,  or
14    enhances the  powers,  duties,  or  responsibilities  of  the
15    Academy   unless   specifically  authorized  by  the  General
16    Assembly by law.
17        This Section does not restrict the Academy from  creating
18    any  organization  entity  which  is  within or a part of the
19    Academy.

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