98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
HB2768

 

Introduced 2/21/2013, by Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/10-21.4a  from Ch. 122, par. 10-21.4a
105 ILCS 5/22-20  from Ch. 122, par. 22-20

    Amends the School Code. In a Section concerning a principal's duties (in a school district other than the Chicago school district), provides that it shall be the responsibility of the principal to utilize resources of proper law enforcement agencies when the safety and welfare of students and teachers are threatened by illegal use or possession of weapons or by illegal gang activity. Specifically includes illegal gang activity as a criminal offense for which courts and law enforcement agencies must report to the principal of a public school whenever a child enrolled therein is detained.


LRB098 07026 NHT 37085 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB2768LRB098 07026 NHT 37085 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Sections
510-21.4a and 22-20 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/10-21.4a)  (from Ch. 122, par. 10-21.4a)
7    Sec. 10-21.4a. Principals and assistant principals -
8Duties. To employ principals and assistant principals who hold
9valid supervisory or administrative certificates. The
10principal, with the assistance of any assistant principals,
11shall supervise the operation of attendance centers as the
12board shall determine necessary. In an attendance center having
13fewer than 4 teachers, a head teacher who does not qualify as a
14principal may be assigned in the place of a principal.
15    The principal, with the assistance of any assistant
16principals, shall assume administrative responsibilities and
17instructional leadership, under the supervision of the
18superintendent, and in accordance with reasonable rules and
19regulations of the board, for the planning, operation and
20evaluation of the educational program of the attendance area to
21which he or she is assigned. However, in districts under a
22Financial Oversight Panel pursuant to Section 1A-8 for
23violating a financial plan, the duties and responsibilities of

 

 

HB2768- 2 -LRB098 07026 NHT 37085 b

1principals and assistant principals in relation to the
2financial and business operations of the district shall be
3approved by the Panel. In the event the Board refuses or fails
4to follow a directive or comply with an information request of
5the Panel, the performance of those duties shall be subject to
6the direction of the Panel.
7    School boards shall specify in their formal job description
8for principals that his or her primary responsibility is in the
9improvement of instruction. A majority of the time spent by a
10principal shall be spent on curriculum and staff development
11through both formal and informal activities, establishing
12clear lines of communication regarding school goals,
13accomplishments, practices and policies with parents and
14teachers.
15    Unless residency within a school district is made an
16express condition of a person's employment or continued
17employment as a principal or assistant principal of that school
18district at the time of the person's initial employment as a
19principal or assistant principal of that district, residency
20within that school district may not at any time thereafter be
21made a condition of that person's employment or continued
22employment as a principal or assistant principal of the
23district, without regard to whether the person's initial
24employment as a principal or assistant principal of the
25district began before or begins on or after the effective date
26of this amendatory Act of 1996 and without regard to whether

 

 

HB2768- 3 -LRB098 07026 NHT 37085 b

1that person's residency within or outside of the district began
2or was changed before or begins or changes on or after that
3effective date. In no event shall residency within a school
4district be considered in determining the compensation of a
5principal or assistant principal or the assignment or transfer
6of a principal or assistant principal to an attendance center
7of the district.
8    School boards shall ensure that their principals and
9assistant principals are evaluated on their instructional
10leadership ability and their ability to maintain a positive
11education and learning climate.
12    It shall also be the responsibility of the principal to
13utilize resources of proper law enforcement agencies when the
14safety and welfare of students and teachers are threatened by
15illegal use of drugs and alcohol, by illegal use or possession
16of weapons, or by illegal gang activity.
17    The principal shall submit recommendations to the
18superintendent concerning the appointment, retention,
19promotion and assignment of all personnel assigned to the
20attendance center.
21(Source: P.A. 97-217, eff. 7-28-11.)
 
22    (105 ILCS 5/22-20)  (from Ch. 122, par. 22-20)
23    Sec. 22-20. All courts and law enforcement agencies of the
24State of Illinois and its political subdivisions shall report
25to the principal of any public school in this State whenever a

 

 

HB2768- 4 -LRB098 07026 NHT 37085 b

1child enrolled therein is detained for proceedings under the
2Juvenile Court Act of 1987, as heretofore and hereafter
3amended, or for any criminal offense, including illegal gang
4activity, or any violation of a municipal or county ordinance.
5The report shall include the basis for detaining the child,
6circumstances surrounding the events which led to the child's
7detention, and status of proceedings. The report shall be
8updated as appropriate to notify the principal of developments
9and the disposition of the matter.
10    The information derived thereby shall be kept separate from
11and shall not become a part of the official school record of
12such child and shall not be a public record. Such information
13shall be used solely by the appropriate school official or
14officials whom the school has determined to have a legitimate
15educational or safety interest to aid in the proper
16rehabilitation of the child and to protect the safety of
17students and employees in the school.
18(Source: P.A. 97-1104, eff. 1-1-13.)