SB3773 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 38381 RJT 68516 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB3773

Introduced 2/9/2024, by Sen. Adriane Johnson

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/10-1

from Ch. 122, par. 10-1

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning the board of school directors, provides that, beginning July 1, 2025, a school district or unit school district with at least one high school shall have at least one student board member selected to be a member of the board of school directors from a high school within the district. Provides that a student board member shall serve a term of one year, beginning on July 1 or on the date of his or her selection, whichever is later, and expiring on the next succeeding June 30. Provides that a student board member shall have all of the privileges of membership, except that the student board member shall only shall have the right to cast an advisory vote, the right to make and second motions, and to attend executive sessions. Sets forth provisions concerning, conflict of interest, election, and requirements for a student board member. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

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

Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section 10-1 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/10-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-1)

Sec. 10-1. Board of school directors.

(a) School districts having a population of fewer than 1000 inhabitants and not governed by any special act shall be governed by a board of school directors to consist of 3 members who shall be elected in the manner provided in Article 9 of this Act. In consolidated districts and in districts in which the membership of the board of school directors is increased as provided in subsection (b), 7 members shall be so elected.

(b) Upon presentment to the board of school directors of a school district having a population of fewer than 1,000 inhabitants of a petition signed by the lesser of 5% or 25 of the registered voters of the district to increase the membership of the district's board of school directors to 7 directors and to elect a new 7-member board of school directors to replace the district's existing board of 3 school directors, the clerk or secretary of the board of school directors shall certify the proposition to the proper election authorities for submission to the electors of the district at a regular scheduled election in accordance with the general election law. If the proposition is approved by a majority of those voting on the proposition, the members of the board of school directors of that district thereafter shall be elected in the manner provided by subsection (c) of Section 10-4.

(c) Until July 1, 2025, a A board of school directors may appoint a student to the board to serve in an advisory capacity. The student member shall serve for a term as determined by the board. The board may not grant the student member any voting privileges, but shall consider the student member as an advisor. The student member may not participate in or attend any executive session of the board.

Beginning July 1, 2025, a school district or unit school district with at least one high school shall have at least one student board member of the board of school directors selected from a high school within the district. A student board member shall serve a term of one year, beginning on July 1 or on the date of the student's selection, whichever is later, and expiring on the next succeeding June 30.

A student board member shall have all of the privileges of membership, except that the student board member shall only have the right to cast an advisory vote, the right to make and second motions, and to attend executive sessions.

A student board member shall be governed by the same conflict of interest standards, where applicable. Pursuant to those standards, it may not be a conflict of interest for a student board member to vote on matters pertaining to students generally, such as tuition and fees. However, it shall be a conflict of interest for a student board member to vote on faculty member tenure or promotion. For the purposes of this Section, a student board member may not be deemed to have a direct conflict of interest in and may cast an advisory vote on any item involving the employment or compensation of the principal at any school, the superintendent of a school district, or the election of officers. A student board member may not be considered a board member for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present at the time that measure is voted upon.

A student board member shall be selected by all enrolled high school students through an election. For a school district with more than one high school, the school board may choose a process for determining which student shall serve on the board or allow multiple students to serve on the board. The election process shall be determined by the board or relegated to the superintendent or principal of a high school. The first election shall be held during the 2024-2025 school year, and annually thereafter.

To be eligible for selection as a student board member and to remain as a student board member, the student board member must have and maintain a grade point average that is equivalent to at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale and must be an enrolled student during the student's term of office except for that part of the term which follows the completion of the last full regular semester of a school year and precedes the first full regular semester of the succeeding school year, sometimes commonly referred to as the summer session or summer school. If a student board member fails to continue to meet or maintain the minimum grade point average or enrollment requirement established by this Section, then the student board member's membership on the Board shall be deemed terminated by operation of law.

If a student board member resigns or otherwise ceases to serve on the Board, the principal of the high school where the student vacancy exists shall appoint another qualified student for the remainder of the term.

(Source: P.A. 94-231, eff. 7-14-05.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.