93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
HB4693

 

Introduced 02/04/04, by Wyvetter H. Younge

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Katherine Dunham Academy for Performing, Visual, and Cultural Arts Act. Establishes the academy, to be located in East St. Louis, Illinois. Provides that the school shall admit students in grades prekindergarten through 12 and students seeking baccalaureate degrees who have been determined eligible to attend. Provides that the school shall be funded by federal grants and State appropriations. Provides that private contribution and endowment programs may be established. Provides that the school shall be governed by a board of trustees, who shall appoint a director to be the chief administrative officer. Lists the powers and duties of the board.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1     AN ACT concerning an academy for performing, visual, and
2 cultural arts.
 
3     Be it enacted by the People of the State of
4 Illinois,represented in the General Assembly:
 
5     Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
6 Katherine Dunham Academy for Performing, Visual, and Cultural
7 Arts Act.
 
8     Section 5. Policy and purposes. It shall be the policy of
9 the State of Illinois to seek out and nurture the artistic
10 talent of students from throughout the State in grades
11 pre-kindergarten through 12 and students seeking baccalaureate
12 degrees who exhibit unique artistic ability, in order to
13 preserve and enhance the State's historic commitment to the
14 cultural richness that contributes to the ability of the State
15 to attract and maintain a citizenry who choose to reside in
16 Illinois for its support of a quality life as well as for its
17 economic advantages. It shall further be the policy of this
18 State to enlist the support of the educational, professional,
19 and commercial communities in a cooperative effort to provide
20 excellence in arts education and to serve as a model for the
21 development of innovative instructional techniques and
22 curricula. As a symbol of this cooperative endeavor, there
23 shall be established the Katherine Dunham Academy for
24 Performing, Visual, and Cultural Arts to serve the people of
25 Illinois as a place to nourish the creativity of its youth who
26 possess outstanding talent in the performing, visual, or
27 cultural arts and to return these young people to their home
28 community better prepared to make a contribution to the
29 cultural opportunities available in their town.
30     The primary mission of the Academy is to seek out
31 artistically talented students from throughout the State and to
32 immerse them in challenging arts programs, unlike those

 

 

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1 typically available in local schools, where, under the
2 instruction of outstanding teachers and professional artists,
3 they will better understand how their talents can be further
4 developed. The visual arts program shall include painting,
5 weaving, pottery, silk screen design, and sculpture. The
6 performing arts program shall include performances in
7 theaters, operas, television, colleges, schools, and federal,
8 State, and local programs. Additionally, the Academy will
9 provide opportunities to test new approaches in the teaching of
10 the arts and staff development and serve as a model for school
11 programming that can be carried out in schools statewide. The
12 Academy shall also carry a responsibility to provide
13 instruction about how the participants, whether student,
14 intern, or teacher, can make a positive contribution to the
15 development of the arts in their local community upon their
16 return home.
17     The mission of the Academy shall be carried out through the
18 following means:
19         (1) Regionally based talent searches shall be
20     conducted to identify the most artistically talented
21     students from throughout the State in the arts.
22         (2) Teachers for the Academy shall be selected from
23     throughout the State and the world based upon criteria that
24     insure the highest quality faculty represented by
25     professional artists known for the quality of their work,
26     teachers of the arts recognized for their excellence in
27     teaching and curriculum development by their colleagues,
28     and individuals possessing unique insights about the
29     commercial and professional possibilities available to
30     aspiring artists.
31         (3) The instructional program shall be enhanced by
32     visiting lecturers, performers, and special exhibits open
33     to the public by way of open houses and audience
34     participation.
35         (4) The Academy shall network with existing
36     professional organizations, universities, and arts

 

 

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1     programs to foster the exchange of personnel, equipment,
2     and conceptual enrichment. Such interaction shall include
3     contributions in kind as well as consulting relationships.
4         (5) Faculty of the Academy shall present professional
5     papers and lectures around the State and in professional
6     conferences nationally about the program and the potential
7     for improved arts programming at the local level.
8         (6) Participants will have access to facilities and
9     equipment seldom available in most school settings where
10     they will be able to expand their knowledge of the mediums
11     available to creative artists in the professional and
12     commercial worlds.
 
13     Section 10. Establishment, funding, and location. There is
14 hereby created the Katherine Dunham Academy for Performing,
15 Visual, and Cultural Arts, which shall be an arts program
16 located in East St. Louis, Illinois. The Academy shall be
17 funded by federal grants and State appropriations. Private
18 contributions and endowment programs may be established.
19 Special scholarships shall be available to assist economically
20 disadvantaged students and special needs students who require
21 assistance or who may have other exceptional needs that, if not
22 addressed, would deny their participation in the program. The
23 Academy shall admit students in grades pre-kindergarten
24 through 12 and students seeking baccalaureate degrees who have
25 been determined to be eligible to attend based upon the
26 criteria established for the arts area of their talent.
27 Furthermore, students shall be selected from throughout the
28 State to maintain a geographically representative population.
 
29     Section 15. Board of trustees. The Katherine Dunham Academy
30 for Performing, Visual, and Cultural Arts shall become an
31 independent, freestanding program governed by a board of
32 trustees. The board shall be appointed by the Governor from
33 nominations submitted by the Illinois Arts Council and State
34 Superintendent of Education. Representation on the board shall

 

 

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1 include individuals knowledgeable about the arts, quality
2 educational standards, and the business community. The board of
3 trustees shall be not fewer than 11 nor greater than 17. The
4 Illinois Arts Council and the State Superintendent of Education
5 shall each nominate 2 candidates for consideration by the
6 Governor for each vacancy. With the exception of the initial
7 appointments, the members' terms of office shall be for 6
8 years. At the first meeting, members shall draw lots for
9 appointments of 2-year, 4-year, or 6-year initial terms.
10 Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the
11 terms by appointment of a nominated candidate submitted by
12 whomever nominated the person causing such vacancy. The initial
13 terms shall commence upon appointment and upon expiration of a
14 term. The member shall continue to serve until a successor is
15 appointed. The board shall select a chair from among its
16 members who shall serve a 2-year term as chair. Members shall
17 receive no salary but shall be reimbursed for all ordinary and
18 necessary expenses incurred in performing their duties as
19 members of the board.
20     Within 30 days after the effective date of this Act,
21 nominations shall be submitted to the Governor for membership
22 on the board. The Governor shall appoint a minimum of 11
23 members to the board within 60 days of receiving the
24 nominations for board membership from the Illinois Arts Council
25 and the State Superintendent of Education. The board shall
26 convene within 30 days after being appointed. The first order
27 of business shall be the selection of a chair and the selection
28 of a Director for the Academy.
 
29     Section 20. Powers and duties of the board.
30     (a) The board of trustees is hereby authorized to:
31         (1) Accept non-cash donations and direct financial
32     assistance toward scholarships from any public or private
33     person or agency, seek out federal grants, and comply with
34     rules and regulations governing grants from the federal
35     government or from any other person or agency, which are

 

 

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1     not in contravention of the Illinois Constitution or the
2     laws of the State of Illinois.
3         (2) Purchase equipment, materials, and supplies
4     necessary for the use of the Academy in accordance with the
5     Illinois Procurement Code.
6         (3) Adopt, amend, or repeal rules and policies
7     necessary or proper for the conduct of the business of the
8     board.
9         (4) Award certificates, recognition, and distinguished
10     service or professional accomplishment distinctions for
11     persons deserving of such recognition.
12         (5) Appoint a Director who shall be the chief
13     administrative officer of the school and who shall
14     administer the rules and policies adopted by the board
15     pursuant to this Act. The Director shall also be the chief
16     administrative officer of the board and shall be
17     responsible for all the administrative functions, duties,
18     and needs of the board.
19         (6) Determine faculty and staff positions necessary
20     for the efficient operation of the Academy and select
21     personnel for such positions. The appointment of such
22     faculty and staff shall not be subject to the Personnel
23     Code.
24         (7) Prepare and adopt an annual budget necessary for
25     the continued operation of the Academy.
26         (8) Enter into contracts and agreements in accordance
27     with applicable law, and, to the extent that funds are
28     specifically appropriated therefore, with other public
29     agencies with respect to cooperative enterprises and
30     undertakings related to or associated with an education in
31     the Academy. This shall not preclude the board from
32     entering into other such contracts and agreements that may
33     be deemed necessary to carry out its duties and functions.
34         (9) Perform such other functions as are necessary to
35     the supervision and control of those phases of education
36     under its supervision and control.

 

 

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1     (b) The Board shall delegate to the Director such of its
2 administrative powers and duties as it deems appropriate to aid
3 the Director in the efficient administration of his or her
4 responsibility for the implementation of the policies of the
5 board.
6     (c) In addition to the authorities granted in this Section
7 and any powers, duties, and responsibilities vested by any
8 other applicable laws, the board shall:
9         (1) Adopt rules and policies necessary for the
10     efficient operation of the Academy.
11         (2) Establish criteria to be used in determining
12     eligibility of applicants for enrollment. Such criteria
13     shall ensure adequate geographic, sexual, and ethnic
14     representation.
15         (3) Determine subject and arts experiences and
16     extracurricular activities to be offered.
17         (4) Pay salaries and expenses, including but not
18     necessarily restricted to facilities, equipment, and
19     supplies of the faculty and staff of the Academy, out of
20     funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the
21     operating and administrative expenses of the board.
22         (5) Exercise budgetary responsibility and allocate for
23     expenditure by the Academy and programs under its
24     jurisdiction all moneys appropriated or otherwise made
25     available for purposes of the board and of such Academy
26     programs.
27         (6) Prepare and adopt or approve programs of study and
28     rules and bylaws for the conduct of students and for the
29     government of the Academy and programs under its
30     jurisdiction.
31         (7) Employ such personnel as may be needed, establish
32     policies governing their employment and dismissal, and fix
33     the amount of their compensation. In the employment,
34     establishment of policies, and fixing of compensation, the
35     Board may make no discrimination on account of sex, race,
36     creed, color, or national origin.