State of Illinois
91st General Assembly
Legislation

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91_SB0652

 
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 1        AN ACT to amend  the  School  Code  by  changing  Section
 2    34-2.3.

 3        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 4    represented in the General Assembly:

 5        Section 5.   The  School  Code  is  amended  by  changing
 6    Section 34-2.3 as follows:

 7        (105 ILCS 5/34-2.3) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-2.3)
 8        Sec.  34-2.3.   Local school councils; powers and duties.
 9    Each local school council shall have and exercise, consistent
10    with the provisions of this Article and the powers and duties
11    of the board of education, the following powers and duties:
12        1.  To evaluate the performance of the principal  of  the
13    attendance   center  taking  into  consideration  the  annual
14    evaluation  of  the  principal  conducted  by   the   general
15    superintendent  pursuant to subsection (h) of Section 34-8.3,
16    to determine in the manner  provided  by  subsection  (c)  of
17    Section  34-2.2  whether  the  performance  contract  of  the
18    principal  shall  be  renewed,  and to directly select in the
19    manner provided by subsection (c) of  Section  34-2.2  a  new
20    principal  (including  a  new  principal  to fill a vacancy),
21    without submitting any list of candidates for  that  position
22    to  the  general superintendent as provided in paragraph 2 of
23    this Section, to serve under a 4 year  performance  contract;
24    provided   that   (i)   the   determination  of  whether  the
25    principal's performance contract is to  be  renewed  and,  in
26    cases  where  the such performance contract is not renewed, a
27    direct selection of a new principal -- to  serve  under  a  4
28    year  performance  contract shall be made by the local school
29    council by April 15 of the calendar year in which the current
30    performance contract of the principal  expires,  and  (ii)  a
31    direct  selection  by  the  local  school  council  of  a new
 
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 1    principal to fill  a  vacancy  under  a  4  year  performance
 2    contract  shall  be  made  within 90 days after the date such
 3    vacancy occurs.  A Council shall be required, if requested by
 4    the principal, to provide in  writing  the  reasons  for  the
 5    council's not renewing the principal's contract.
 6        2.  In  the  event  (i) the local school council does not
 7    renew the performance  contract  of  the  principal,  or  the
 8    principal  fails to receive a satisfactory rating as provided
 9    in subsection (h) of Section  34-8.3,  or  the  principal  is
10    removed  for  cause during the term of his or her performance
11    contract in the  manner  provided  by  Section  34-85,  or  a
12    vacancy  in  the position of principal otherwise occurs prior
13    to the expiration of the term of  a  principal's  performance
14    contract, and (ii) the local school council fails to directly
15    select  a  new principal (including a new principal to fill a
16    vacancy) to serve under a 4 year  performance  contract,  the
17    local  school  council  in  such  event  shall  submit to the
18    general superintendent a list of 3 candidates  --  listed  in
19    the  local  school  council's  order of preference -- for the
20    position of principal, one of which shall be selected by  the
21    general   superintendent   to   serve  as  principal  of  the
22    attendance center.  If the general  superintendent  fails  or
23    refuses  to select one of the candidates on the list to serve
24    as principal within 30 days after being  furnished  with  the
25    candidate list, the local school council within 15 days after
26    such  failure  or  refusal  shall  itself  select  one of the
27    candidates from the  list  as  principal  of  the  attendance
28    center.   There  shall  be  no discrimination on the basis of
29    race, sex, creed, color or disability unrelated to ability to
30    perform in connection with the submission of candidates  for,
31    and  the selection of a candidate to serve as principal of an
32    attendance center.  No person  shall  be  directly  selected,
33    listed  as a candidate for, or selected to serve as principal
34    of an attendance center (i) if such person has  been  removed
 
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 1    for cause from employment by the Board or (ii) if such person
 2    does  not  hold  a valid administrative certificate issued or
 3    exchanged under Article 21 and endorsed as required  by  that
 4    Article  for  the  position  of principal.  A principal whose
 5    performance  contract  is  not  renewed  as  provided   under
 6    subsection   (c)  of  Section  34-2.2  may  nevertheless,  if
 7    otherwise qualified and certified as herein provided  and  if
 8    he  or  she has received a satisfactory rating as provided in
 9    subsection (h) of Section 34-8.3,  be  included  by  a  local
10    school  council as one of the 3 candidates listed in order of
11    preference on any candidate list from which one person is  to
12    be  selected  to  serve as principal of the attendance center
13    under a new performance contract.  The initial candidate list
14    required to be submitted by a local  school  council  to  the
15    general  superintendent  in  cases  where  the  local  school
16    council  does  not  renew  the  performance  contract  of its
17    principal and does not directly select  a  new  principal  to
18    serve  under a 4 year performance contract shall be submitted
19    not later than May 1 of  the  calendar  year  in  which  such
20    performance  contract expires.  In cases where a principal is
21    removed for cause  or  a  vacancy  otherwise  occurs  in  the
22    position of principal and the vacancy is not filled by direct
23    selection  by  the  local  school council, the candidate list
24    shall be submitted by the local school council to the general
25    superintendent not later than 90 days  after  the  date  such
26    removal or vacancy occurs.
27        2.5.  Whenever  a  vacancy  in  the office of a principal
28    occurs for any reason, the vacancy shall  be  filled  in  the
29    manner  provided  by  this  Section by the selection of a new
30    principal to serve under a 4 year performance contract.
31        3.  To establish additional criteria to  be  included  as
32    part  of  the performance contract of its principal, provided
33    that such additional criteria shall not discriminate  on  the
34    basis  of  race, sex, creed, color or disability unrelated to
 
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 1    ability to perform, and shall not be  inconsistent  with  the
 2    uniform  4 year performance contract for principals developed
 3    by the board as provided in Section 34-8.1 of the School Code
 4    or with  other  provisions  of  this  Article  governing  the
 5    authority and responsibility of principals.
 6        4.  To  approve  the  expenditure  plan  prepared  by the
 7    principal with respect to all funds allocated and distributed
 8    to the attendance center by the Board.  The expenditure  plan
 9    shall  be  administered by the principal. Notwithstanding any
10    other provision of this Act or any other law, any expenditure
11    plan approved and  administered  under  this  Section  34-2.3
12    shall  be  consistent  with  and  subject to the terms of any
13    contract for services with a third party entered into by  the
14    Chicago  School  Reform  Board of Trustees or the board under
15    this Act.
16        Via a supermajority vote of 7 members of the local school
17    council or 8 members of a high school local  school  council,
18    the  Council  may  transfer  allocations  pursuant to Section
19    34-2.3  within  funds;  provided  that  such  a  transfer  is
20    consistent with  applicable  law  and  collective  bargaining
21    agreements.
22        Beginning  in  fiscal  year  1991 and in each fiscal year
23    thereafter, the Board may reserve  up  to  1%  of  its  total
24    fiscal year budget for distribution on a prioritized basis to
25    schools  throughout  the  school  system  in  order to assure
26    adequate programs  to  meet  the  needs  of  special  student
27    populations  as  determined  by the Board.  This distribution
28    shall  take  into  account  the  needs  catalogued   in   the
29    Systemwide  Plan  and  the  various  local school improvement
30    plans of the local school councils.  Information about  these
31    centrally  funded  programs shall be distributed to the local
32    school  councils  so  that  their  subsequent  planning   and
33    programming will account for these provisions.
34        Beginning  in  fiscal  year  1991 and in each fiscal year
 
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 1    thereafter, from other amounts available  in  the  applicable
 2    fiscal  year  budget,  the  board  shall  allocate a lump sum
 3    amount to each local school based upon such  formula  as  the
 4    board  shall  determine taking into account the special needs
 5    of the  student  body.   The  local  school  principal  shall
 6    develop  an  expenditure  plan in consultation with the local
 7    school council, the professional personnel advisory committee
 8    and with all  other  school  personnel,  which  reflects  the
 9    priorities  and activities as described in the school's local
10    school improvement plan and is consistent with applicable law
11    and collective bargaining agreements and with board  policies
12    and  standards;  however, the local school council shall have
13    the right to request waivers of board policy from  the  board
14    of  education  and  waivers of employee collective bargaining
15    agreements pursuant to Section 34-8.1a.
16        The expenditure plan  developed  by  the  principal  with
17    respect  to  amounts  available from the fund for prioritized
18    special needs programs and the allocated lump sum amount must
19    be approved by the local school council.
20        The lump sum  allocation  shall  take  into  account  the
21    following principles:
22             a.  Teachers:  Each  school shall be allocated funds
23        equal to the amount appropriated in the  previous  school
24        year   for  compensation  for  teachers  (regular  grades
25        kindergarten through 12th grade) plus whatever  increases
26        in  compensation  have  been  negotiated contractually or
27        through  longevity  as   provided   in   the   negotiated
28        agreement.   Adjustments  shall  be made due to layoff or
29        reduction in force, lack of  funds  or  work,  change  in
30        subject  requirements,  enrollment  changes, or contracts
31        with third parties for the performance of services or  to
32        rectify  any  inconsistencies with system-wide allocation
33        formulas or for other legitimate reasons.
34             b.  Other  personnel:  Funds   for   other   teacher
 
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 1        certificated  and  uncertificated  personnel paid through
 2        non-categorical funds  shall  be  provided  according  to
 3        system-wide  formulas based on student enrollment and the
 4        special needs of the school as determined by the Board.
 5             c.  Non-compensation items: Appropriations  for  all
 6        non-compensation  items  shall  be  based  on system-wide
 7        formulas based on student enrollment and on  the  special
 8        needs  of  the  school or factors related to the physical
 9        plant, including but not limited to textbooks,  supplies,
10        electricity, equipment, and routine maintenance.
11             d.  Funds  for  categorical  programs: Schools shall
12        receive personnel and funds based on, and shall use  such
13        personnel  and funds in accordance with State and Federal
14        requirements  applicable  to  each  categorical   program
15        provided  to  meet  the special needs of the student body
16        (including  but  not  limited  to,  Federal  Chapter   I,
17        Bilingual, and Special Education).
18             d.1.  Funds  for  State  Title I:  Each school shall
19        receive funds  based  on  State  and  Board  requirements
20        applicable  to  each State Title I pupil provided to meet
21        the special needs of the student body.  Each school shall
22        receive the proportion of funds as  provided  in  Section
23        18-8  to  which  they are entitled.  These funds shall be
24        spent only with  the  budgetary  approval  of  the  Local
25        School Council as provided in Section 34-2.3.
26             e.  The Local School Council shall have the right to
27        request  the  principal  to  close positions and open new
28        ones consistent with the provisions of the  local  school
29        improvement   plan  provided  that  these  decisions  are
30        consistent with applicable law and collective  bargaining
31        agreements.   If  a  position is closed, pursuant to this
32        paragraph, the local school shall have for  its  use  the
33        system-wide average compensation for the closed position.
34             f.  Operating  within  existing  laws and collective
 
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 1        bargaining agreements, the  local  school  council  shall
 2        have   the   right  to  direct  the  principal  to  shift
 3        expenditures within funds.
 4             g.  (Blank).
 5        Any funds unexpended at the end of the fiscal year  shall
 6    be available to the board of education for use as part of its
 7    budget for the following fiscal year.
 8        5.  To  make  recommendations to the principal concerning
 9    textbook  selection  and  concerning   curriculum   developed
10    pursuant  to  the school improvement plan which is consistent
11    with systemwide  curriculum  objectives  in  accordance  with
12    Sections  34-8 and 34-18 of the School Code and in conformity
13    with the collective bargaining agreement.
14        6.  To advise the principal concerning the attendance and
15    disciplinary policies for the attendance center,  subject  to
16    the provisions of this Article and Article 26, and consistent
17    with  the  uniform  system  of  discipline established by the
18    board pursuant to Section 34-19.
19        7.  To approve a school  improvement  plan  developed  as
20    provided in Section 34-2.4. The process and schedule for plan
21    development   shall   be  publicized  to  the  entire  school
22    community,  and  the  community   shall   be   afforded   the
23    opportunity  to make recommendations concerning the plan.  At
24    least twice a year the principal  and  local  school  council
25    shall  report  publicly on progress and problems with respect
26    to plan implementation.
27        8.  To evaluate the allocation of teaching resources  and
28    other certificated and uncertificated staff to the attendance
29    center  to  determine  whether  such allocation is consistent
30    with and  in  furtherance  of  instructional  objectives  and
31    school  programs  reflective  of  the school improvement plan
32    adopted   for   the   attendance   center;   and   to    make
33    recommendations  to the board, the general superintendent and
34    the  principal  concerning  any  reallocation   of   teaching
 
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 1    resources or other staff whenever the council determines that
 2    any    such   reallocation   is   appropriate   because   the
 3    qualifications of any existing staff at the attendance center
 4    do not adequately match or support  instructional  objectives
 5    or school programs which reflect the school improvement plan.
 6        9.  To  make  recommendations  to  the  principal and the
 7    general   superintendent    concerning    their    respective
 8    appointments,  after  August  31,  1989,  and  in  the manner
 9    provided by Section 34-8 and Section 34-8.1,  of  persons  to
10    fill  any  vacant,  additional or newly created positions for
11    teachers at the attendance center or  at  attendance  centers
12    which  include  the  attendance  center  served  by the local
13    school council.
14        10.  To request of the Board the manner in which training
15    and assistance shall be provided to the local school council.
16    Pursuant to  Board  guidelines  a  local  school  council  is
17    authorized  to direct the Board of Education to contract with
18    personnel or not-for-profit organizations not associated with
19    the school district to train or assist council  members.   If
20    training or assistance is provided by contract with personnel
21    or organizations not associated with the school district, the
22    period  of  training  or assistance shall not exceed 30 hours
23    during a given school year; person shall not be employed on a
24    continuous basis longer than said period and shall  not  have
25    been  employed  by  the Chicago Board of Education within the
26    preceding six months.  Council members shall receive training
27    in at least the following areas:
28             1.  school budgets;
29             2.  educational theory pertinent to  the  attendance
30        center's  particular  needs, including the development of
31        the  school  improvement   plan   and   the   principal's
32        performance contract; and
33             3.  personnel selection.
34    Council  members  shall,  to  the  greatest  extent possible,
 
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 1    complete such training within 90 days of election.
 2        11.  In accordance with systemwide  guidelines  contained
 3    in  the  System-Wide  Educational Reform Goals and Objectives
 4    Plan,  criteria  for  evaluation  of  performance  shall   be
 5    established  for  local  school  councils  and  local  school
 6    council  members.   If  a  local  school  council persists in
 7    noncompliance with systemwide  requirements,  the  Board  may
 8    impose   sanctions  and  take  necessary  corrective  action,
 9    consistent with Section 34-8.3.
10        12.  Each local school council shall comply with the Open
11    Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act.  Each  local
12    school  council  shall  issue  and  transmit  to  its  school
13    community   a  detailed  annual  report  accounting  for  its
14    activities  programmatically  and  financially.   Each  local
15    school council  shall  convene  at  least  2  well-publicized
16    meetings  annually  with  its entire school community.  These
17    meetings shall include presentation  of  the  proposed  local
18    school  improvement  plan, of the proposed school expenditure
19    plan, and the annual report, and shall provide an opportunity
20    for public comment.
21        13.  Each local school council is encouraged  to  involve
22    additional  non-voting  members  of  the  school community in
23    facilitating the council's exercise of its responsibilities.
24        14.  The local school council may adopt a school  uniform
25    or  dress  code policy that governs the attendance center and
26    that is necessary to maintain the orderly process of a school
27    function or prevent endangerment of student health or safety,
28    consistent with the  policies  and  rules  of  the  Board  of
29    Education. A school uniform or dress code policy adopted by a
30    local school council: (i) shall not be applied in such manner
31    as  to discipline or deny attendance to a transfer student or
32    any other student for noncompliance with that  policy  during
33    such  period of time as is reasonably necessary to enable the
34    student to acquire a school uniform or otherwise comply  with
 
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 1    the  dress  code  policy  that is in effect at the attendance
 2    center into which the student's  enrollment  is  transferred;
 3    and  (ii)  shall include criteria and procedures under  which
 4    the local school council will accommodate  the  needs  of  or
 5    otherwise  provide  appropriate resources to assist a student
 6    from an indigent  family  in  complying  with  an  applicable
 7    school  uniform or dress code policy. A student whose parents
 8    or  legal  guardians  object  on  religious  grounds  to  the
 9    student's compliance with an  applicable  school  uniform  or
10    dress  code  policy shall not be required to comply with that
11    policy if the student's parents or legal guardians present to
12    the local school council  a  signed  statement  of  objection
13    detailing the grounds for the objection.
14        15.  All  decisions  made  and actions taken by the local
15    school council in the exercise of its powers and duties shall
16    comply with State and federal laws, all applicable collective
17    bargaining  agreements,  court  orders  and  rules   properly
18    promulgated by the Board.
19        15a.  To  grant,  in  accordance  with  board  rules  and
20    policies,  the  use of assembly halls and classrooms when not
21    otherwise needed, including lighting, heat,  and  attendants,
22    for  public  lectures,  concerts,  and  other educational and
23    social activities.
24        15b.  To approve, in  accordance  with  board  rules  and
25    policies, receipts and expenditures for all internal accounts
26    of  the  attendance  center,  and to approve all fund-raising
27    activities by nonschool organizations  that  use  the  school
28    building.
29        16.  (Blank).
30        17.   Names and addresses of local school council members
31    shall be a matter of public record.
32    (Source:  P.A.  89-15,  eff.  5-30-95;  89-610,  eff. 8-6-96;
33    89-636, eff. 8-9-96; 90-14, eff. 7-1-97.)

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