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91_HB2680eng
HB2680 Engrossed LRB9105956NTsb
1 AN ACT concerning the Southwestern Illinois Teacher's
2 Academy for Math, Science, and Technology.
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 Southwestern Illinois Teacher's Academy for Math, Science,
7 and Technology Act.
8 Section 5. Policy and purposes. It shall be the policy
9 of the State of Illinois to provide excellence in mathematics
10 and science education in order to nourish an informed
11 citizenry, assure technological skills for the work force,
12 and assist in the preparation of professionals to serve the
13 interests of Illinois in such fields as engineering,
14 research, teaching, and computer technology. It shall
15 further be the policy to enlist the support of the
16 educational, industrial, and scientific communities in a
17 cooperative effort to provide excellence in science and
18 mathematics education. As a symbol of this cooperative
19 endeavor, there shall be established the Southwestern
20 Illinois Teacher's Academy for Math, Science, and Technology
21 to serve the people of Illinois as a teacher's institution
22 and the school system of the State as a catalyst and
23 laboratory for the advancement of teaching.
24 The Academy shall carry a responsibility to stimulate
25 further excellence for all Illinois schools in mathematics
26 and science. That responsibility may be exercised through
27 any or all of the following means:
28 (1) Stimulating curriculum development and
29 revisions through the collaborative efforts of the
30 interacting institutions involved in the Academy
31 including: universities, secondary schools, the
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1 industrial sector, and national laboratories.
2 (2) Providing preservice training sites for persons
3 in preparation for the teaching of science and
4 mathematics.
5 (3) Hosting summer institute opportunities for
6 Illinois teachers modeled after the successful National
7 Science Foundation program prevalent in the 1960s.
8 (4) Offering speakers and programs for teacher
9 institutes and in-service training around the State.
10 (5) Producing videotapes of lectures and
11 experiments for use in the schools of this State.
12 Section 10. Establishment, funding, and location. There
13 is hereby created the Southwestern Illinois Teacher's Academy
14 for Math, Science, and Technology, which shall be an
15 institution located at the former Parks College campus site
16 in Cahokia, Illinois. The Academy shall be a State agency,
17 funded by State appropriations, private contributions, and
18 endowments. The Academy may offer a program of postsecondary
19 course work to teachers. Minimal fees for students may be
20 charged.
21 In order to be eligible for State appropriations, the
22 Academy shall submit to the Board of Higher Education not
23 later than the 1st day of October of each year its budget
24 proposal for the operation and capital needs of the Academy
25 for its next fiscal year.
26 Section 15. Board of Trustees. The Southwestern Illinois
27 Teacher's Academy for Math, Science, and Technology shall be
28 governed by a Board of Trustees, which shall consist of the
29 following members:
30 (1) Four ex officio nonvoting members who shall be:
31 the State Superintendent of Education; the Executive
32 Director of the Illinois Community College Board; the
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1 Executive Director of the State Board of Higher
2 Education; and the Superintendent of Schools in the
3 school district in which the Academy is located.
4 (2) Three representatives of secondary education,
5 one of whom must be a math or science teacher, appointed
6 by the State Superintendent of Education.
7 (3) Two representatives of higher education, one of
8 whom must be a Dean of Education, appointed by the
9 Executive Director of the Board of Higher Education.
10 (4) Three representatives of the scientific
11 community in Illinois appointed by the Governor.
12 (5) Three representatives of the Illinois private
13 industrial sector appointed by the Governor.
14 (6) Two members representative of the general
15 public at large appointed by the Governor.
16 With the exception of the initial appointments, the
17 members' terms of office shall be for 6 years. At the first
18 meeting members shall draw lots for appointments of 2, 4, or
19 6 year initial terms. Vacancies shall be filled for the
20 unexpired portion of the terms by appointment of the officer
21 who appointed the person causing such vacancy. The initial
22 terms shall commence upon appointment and upon expiration of
23 a term, the member shall continue serving until a successor
24 is appointed. The Board shall select a chair from among its
25 members who shall serve a 2-year term as chair. Members shall
26 receive no salary but shall be reimbursed for all ordinary
27 and necessary expenses incurred in performing their duties as
28 members of the Board.
29 Section 20. Powers of the Board.
30 (a) The Board of Trustees is hereby authorized to:
31 (1) Accept donations, bequests, or other forms of
32 financial assistance for educational purposes from any
33 public or private person or agency and comply with rules
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1 and regulations governing grants from the federal
2 government or from any other person or agency, which are
3 not in contravention of the Illinois Constitution or the
4 laws of the State of Illinois.
5 (2) Purchase equipment and make improvements to
6 facilities necessary for the use of the school, in
7 accordance with applicable law.
8 (3) Adopt, amend, or repeal rules, regulations, and
9 policies necessary or proper for the conduct of the
10 business of the Board.
11 (4) Award certificates for successful completion of
12 programs of study requirements.
13 (5) Select a Director who shall be the chief
14 administrative officer of the Academy and who shall
15 administer the rules, regulations, and policies adopted
16 by the Board pursuant hereto. The Director shall also be
17 the chief administrative officer of the Board and shall
18 be responsible for all the administrative functions,
19 duties, and needs of the Board.
20 (6) Determine faculty and staff positions necessary
21 for the efficient operation of the school and select
22 personnel for such positions.
23 (7) Prepare and adopt an annual budget necessary
24 for the continued operation of the school.
25 (8) Enter into contracts and agreements that have
26 been recommended by the Director, in accordance with
27 applicable law, and to the extent that funds are
28 specifically appropriated therefor, with other public
29 agencies with respect to cooperative enterprises and
30 undertaking related to or associated with an educational
31 purpose or program affecting education in the school.
32 This shall not preclude the Board from entering into
33 other such contracts and agreements that it may deem
34 necessary to carry out its duties and functions.
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1 (9) Perform such other functions as are necessary
2 to the supervision and control of those phases of
3 education under its supervision and control.
4 (10) The Board shall delegate to the Director such
5 of its administrative powers and duties as it deems
6 appropriate to aid the Director in the efficient
7 administration of his responsibility for the
8 implementation of the policies of the Board.
9 (11) The Academy shall be empowered to lease or
10 purchase real and personal property on commercially
11 reasonable terms for the use of the Academy. Any leases
12 or purchases of real or personal property and any
13 disposition thereof by the Academy must be in compliance
14 with the provisions of The Civil Administrative Code of
15 Illinois and the State Property Control Act. Personal
16 property acquired for the use of the Academy shall be
17 inventoried and disposed of in accordance with the State
18 Property Control Act.
19 (b) In addition to the authorities granted herein and
20 any powers, duties, and responsibilities vested by any other
21 applicable laws, the Board shall:
22 (1) Adopt rules, regulations, and policies
23 necessary for the efficient operation of the school.
24 (2) Establish criteria to be used in determining
25 eligibility of applicants for enrollment.
26 (3) Determine subjects to be offered.
27 (4) Pay salaries and expenses, including but not
28 necessarily restricted to facilities, equipment, and
29 supplies of the faculty and staff of the Academy out of
30 funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the
31 operating and administrative expenses of the Board and
32 the Academy.
33 (5) Exercise budgetary responsibility and allocate
34 for expenditure by the Academy and programs under its
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1 jurisdiction, all moneys appropriated or otherwise made
2 available for purposes of the Board and of such Academy
3 and programs.
4 (6) Prepare and adopt or approve programs of study
5 and rules, bylaws, and regulations for the government of
6 the school and programs under its jurisdiction.
7 (7) Employ such personnel as may be needed,
8 establish policies governing their employment and
9 dismissal, and fix the amount of their compensation. In
10 the employment, establishment of policies, and fixing of
11 compensation the Board may make no discrimination on
12 account of sex, race, creed, color or national origin.
13 The Academy, its Board of Trustees, and its employees
14 shall be represented and indemnified in certain civil law
15 suits in accordance with "An Act to provide for
16 representation and indemnification in certain civil
17 lawsuits", approved December 3, 1977, as amended.
18 Neither the Academy, nor its officers, employees, or
19 Board members shall participate in the creation of any
20 corporation, joint venture, partnership, association, or
21 other organizational entity that exercises, expands, or
22 enhances the powers, duties, or responsibilities of the
23 Academy unless specifically authorized by the General
24 Assembly by law.
25 This Section does not restrict the Academy from creating
26 any organization entity which is within or a part of the
27 Academy.
28 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
29 becoming law.
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