[ Search ] [ Legislation ]
[ Home ] [ Back ] [ Bottom ]
91_HB3956
LRB9111872NTks
1 AN ACT concerning an East St. Louis mathematics and
2 science academy.
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 East St. Louis Mathematics and Science Academy Act.
7 Section 5. Policy and purposes. It shall be the policy
8 of the State of Illinois to provide excellence in mathematics
9 and science education in order to nourish an informed
10 citizenry, assure technological skills for the work force,
11 and assist in the preparation of professionals to serve the
12 interests of Illinois in such fields as engineering,
13 research, teaching, and computer technology. It shall
14 further be the policy to enlist the support of the
15 educational, industrial, and scientific communities in a
16 cooperative effort to provide excellence in science and
17 mathematics education. As a symbol of this cooperative
18 endeavor, there shall be established the East St. Louis
19 Mathematics and Science Academy to serve the people of
20 Illinois as a preparatory institution and the school system
21 of the State as a catalyst and laboratory for the advancement
22 of teaching.
23 The primary role of the Academy shall be to offer a
24 uniquely challenging education for students talented in the
25 areas of mathematics and science. Both high school and
26 college levels of instruction will be provided in order to
27 assure appropriate linkage with higher education. Other
28 programs deemed necessary to assure the elements of a strong
29 general education required of creative scientists will be
30 provided.
31 The Academy shall also carry a responsibility to
-2- LRB9111872NTks
1 stimulate further excellence for all Illinois schools in
2 mathematics and science. That responsibility may be
3 exercised through any or all of the following means:
4 (1) Stimulating curriculum development and
5 revisions through the collaborative efforts of the
6 interacting institutions involved in the Academy,
7 including universities, secondary schools, the industrial
8 sector, and national laboratories.
9 (2) Providing preservice training sites for persons
10 in preparation for the teaching of science and
11 mathematics.
12 (3) Hosting summer institute opportunities for
13 Illinois teachers modeled after the successful National
14 Science Foundation program prevalent in the 1960s.
15 (4) Providing opportunities for exchanging teaching
16 or faculty seats at the Academy for science and math
17 educators in the elementary and secondary schools in this
18 State.
19 (5) Creating the opportunity and potential to link
20 vocational programs, education for technology, and
21 employment programs to the work of the Academy.
22 (6) Offering speakers and programs for teacher
23 institutes and in-service training around the State.
24 (7) Producing videotapes of lectures and
25 experiments for use in the schools of this State.
26 (8) Providing assistance in identifying necessary
27 competencies to be incorporated in public school district
28 graduation requirements.
29 Section 10. Establishment, funding, and location. There
30 is hereby created the East St. Louis Mathematics and Science
31 Academy, which shall be a residential institution located in
32 East St. Louis, Illinois. The Academy shall be a State
33 agency, funded by State appropriations, private
-3- LRB9111872NTks
1 contributions, and endowments. Minimal fees for residential
2 students may be charged. The Academy may admit those
3 students who have completed the academic equivalent of the
4 9th grade and may offer a program of secondary and
5 postsecondary course work. Admission shall be determined by
6 competitive examination.
7 In order to be eligible for State appropriations, the
8 Academy shall submit to the Board of Higher Education not
9 later than the 1st day of October of each year its budget
10 proposal for the operation and capital needs of the Academy
11 for its next fiscal year.
12 Section 15. Board of Trustees. The East St. Louis
13 Mathematics and Science Academy shall be governed by a Board
14 of Trustees, which shall consist of the following members:
15 (1) Four ex officio nonvoting members, who shall be
16 the State Superintendent of Education, the Executive
17 Director of the Illinois Community College Board, the
18 Executive Director of the Board of Higher Education, and
19 the Superintendent of Schools in the school district in
20 which the Academy is located.
21 (2) Three Representatives of Secondary Education,
22 one of whom must be a math or science teacher, appointed
23 by the State Superintendent of Education.
24 (3) Two Representatives of Higher Education, one of
25 whom must be a Dean of Education, appointed by the
26 Executive Director of the Board of Higher Education.
27 (4) Three representatives of the scientific
28 community in Illinois appointed by the Governor.
29 (5) Three representatives of the Illinois private
30 industrial sector appointed by the Governor.
31 (6) Two members representative of the general
32 public at large appointed by the Governor.
33 With the exception of the initial appointments, the
-4- LRB9111872NTks
1 members terms of office shall be for 6 years. At the first
2 meeting, members shall draw lots for appointments of 2-year,
3 4-year, or 6-year initial terms. Vacancies shall be filled
4 for the unexpired portion of the terms by appointment of the
5 officer who appointed the person causing such vacancy. The
6 initial terms shall commence upon appointment and upon
7 expiration of a term; the member shall continue serving until
8 a successor is appointed. The Board shall select a chair from
9 among its members who shall serve a 2-year term as chair.
10 Members shall receive no salary but shall be reimbursed for
11 all ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in performing
12 their duties as members of the Board.
13 Section 20. Powers of the Board.
14 (a) The Board is hereby authorized to:
15 (1) Accept donations, bequests, or other forms of
16 financial assistance for educational purposes from any
17 public or private person or agency and comply with rules
18 and regulations governing grants from the federal
19 government or from any other person or agency, which are
20 not in contravention of the Illinois Constitution or the
21 laws of the State of Illinois.
22 (2) Purchase equipment and make improvements to
23 facilities necessary for the use of the school, in
24 accordance with applicable law.
25 (3) Adopt, amend, or repeal rules, regulations, and
26 policies necessary or proper for the conduct of the
27 business of the Board.
28 (4) Award certificates and issue diplomas for
29 successful completion of programs of study requirements.
30 (5) Select a Director who shall be the chief
31 administrative officer of the Academy and who shall
32 administer the rules, regulations, and policies adopted
33 by the Board pursuant hereto. The Director shall also be
-5- LRB9111872NTks
1 the chief administrative officer of the Board and shall
2 be responsible for all the administrative functions,
3 duties, and needs of the Board.
4 (6) Determine faculty and staff positions necessary
5 for the efficient operation of the school and select
6 personnel for such positions.
7 (7) Prepare and adopt an annual budget necessary
8 for the continued operation of the school.
9 (8) Enter into contracts and agreements that have
10 been recommended by the Director, in accordance with
11 applicable law, and to the extent that funds are
12 specifically appropriated therefor, with other public
13 agencies with respect to cooperative enterprises and
14 undertakings related to or associated with an educational
15 purpose or program affecting education in the school.
16 This shall not preclude the Board from entering into
17 other such contracts and agreements that it may deem
18 necessary to carry out its duties and functions.
19 (9) Perform such other functions as are necessary
20 to the supervision and control of those phases of
21 education under its supervision and control.
22 (b) The Board shall delegate to the Director such of its
23 administrative powers and duties as it deems appropriate to
24 aid the Director in the efficient administration of his or
25 her responsibility for the implementation of the policies of
26 the Board.
27 (c) The Academy shall be empowered to lease or purchase
28 real and personal property on commercially reasonable terms
29 for the use of the Academy. Any leases or purchases of real
30 or personal property and any disposition thereof by the
31 Academy must be in compliance with the provisions of the
32 Civil Administrative Code of Illinois and the State Property
33 Control Act. Personal property acquired for the use of the
34 Academy shall be inventoried and disposed of in accordance
-6- LRB9111872NTks
1 with the State Property Control Act.
2 (d) In addition to the authorities granted herein and
3 any powers, duties, and responsibilities vested by any other
4 applicable laws, the Board shall:
5 (1) Adopt rules, regulations, and policies
6 necessary for the efficient operation of the school.
7 (2) Establish criteria to be used in determining
8 eligibility of applicants for enrollment. Such criteria
9 shall ensure adequate geographic, sexual and ethnic
10 representation.
11 (3) Determine subjects and extracurricular
12 activities to be offered.
13 (4) Pay salaries and expenses, including but not
14 necessarily restricted to facilities, equipment, and
15 supplies of the faculty and staff of the Academy out of
16 funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the
17 operating and administrative expenses of the Board and
18 the Academy.
19 (5) Exercise budgetary responsibility and allocate
20 for expenditure by the Academy and programs under its
21 jurisdiction all moneys appropriated or otherwise made
22 available for purposes of the Board and of the Academy
23 and programs.
24 (6) Prescribe and select for use in the school free
25 school books and other materials of instruction for
26 children enrolled in the school and programs under its
27 jurisdiction for which the General Assembly provides
28 funds.
29 (7) Prepare and adopt or approve programs of study
30 and rules, bylaws, and regulations for the conduct of
31 students and for the government of the school and
32 programs under its jurisdiction.
33 (8) Employ such personnel as may be needed,
34 establish policies governing their employment and
-7- LRB9111872NTks
1 dismissal, and fix the amount of their compensation. In
2 the employment, establishment of policies, and fixing of
3 compensation, the Board may make no discrimination on
4 account of sex, race, creed, color or national origin.
5 (e) The Academy, its Board of Trustees, and its
6 employees shall be represented and indemnified in certain
7 civil law suits in accordance with "An Act to provide for
8 representation and indemnification in certain civil law
9 suits", approved December 3, 1977, as amended.
10 (f) Neither the Academy nor its officers, employees, or
11 Board members shall participate in the creation of any
12 corporation, joint venture, partnership, association, or
13 other organizational entity that exercises, expands, or
14 enhances the powers, duties, or responsibilities of the
15 Academy unless specifically authorized by the General
16 Assembly by law.
17 This Section does not restrict the Academy from creating
18 any organization entity which is within or a part of the
19 Academy.