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92_HB2502eng HB2502 Engrossed LRB9205051NTsb 1 AN ACT concerning a 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 industrial HB2502 Engrossed -2- LRB9205051NTsb 1 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 in St. Clair County. The Academy shall be 16 a State agency, funded by State appropriations, private 17 contributions, and endowments. The Academy may offer a 18 program of postsecondary course work to teachers. Minimal 19 fees for students may be charged. 20 In order to be eligible for State appropriations, the 21 Academy shall submit to the Board of Higher Education not 22 later than the 1st day of October of each year its budget 23 proposal for the operation and capital needs of the Academy 24 for its next fiscal year. 25 Section 15. Board of Trustees. The Southwestern Illinois 26 Teacher's Academy for Math, Science, and Technology shall be 27 governed by a Board of Trustees, which shall consist of the 28 following members: 29 (1) Four ex officio nonvoting members, who shall be 30 the State Superintendent of Education, the Executive 31 Director of the Illinois Community College Board, the 32 Executive Director of the State Board of Higher HB2502 Engrossed -3- LRB9205051NTsb 1 Education, and the Superintendent of Schools in the 2 school district in which the Academy is located. 3 (2) Three Representatives of Secondary Education, 4 one of whom must be a math or science teacher, appointed 5 by the State Superintendent of Education. 6 (3) Two Representatives of Higher Education, one of 7 whom must be a Dean of Education, appointed by the 8 Executive Director of the Board of Higher Education. 9 (4) Three representatives of the scientific 10 community in Illinois appointed by the Governor. 11 (5) Three representatives of the Illinois private 12 industrial sector appointed by the Governor. 13 (6) Two members representative of the general 14 public at large appointed by the Governor. 15 With the exception of the initial appointments, the 16 members terms of office shall be for 6 years. At the first 17 meeting members shall draw lots for appointments of 2-year, 18 4-year, or 6-year initial terms. Vacancies shall be filled 19 for the unexpired portion of the terms by appointment of the 20 officer who appointed the person causing such vacancy. The 21 initial terms shall commence upon appointment and upon 22 expiration of a term, the member shall continue serving until 23 a successor is appointed. The Board shall select a chair from 24 among its members who shall serve a 2-year term as chair. 25 Members shall receive no salary but shall be reimbursed for 26 all ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in performing 27 their duties as members of the Board. 28 Section 20. Powers of the Board. 29 (a) The Board of Trustees is hereby authorized to: 30 (1) Accept donations, bequests, or other forms of 31 financial assistance for educational purposes from any 32 public or private person or agency and comply with rules 33 and regulations governing grants from the federal HB2502 Engrossed -4- LRB9205051NTsb 1 government or from any other person or agency, which are 2 not in contravention of the Illinois Constitution or the 3 laws of the State of Illinois. 4 (2) Purchase equipment and make improvements to 5 facilities necessary for the use of the school, in 6 accordance with applicable law. 7 (3) Adopt, amend, or repeal rules, regulations, and 8 policies necessary or proper for the conduct of the 9 business of the Board. 10 (4) Award certificates for successful completion of 11 programs of study requirements. 12 (5) Select a Director who shall be the chief 13 administrative officer of the Academy and who shall 14 administer the rules, regulations, and policies adopted 15 by the Board pursuant hereto. The Director shall also be 16 the chief administrative officer of the Board and shall 17 be responsible for all the administrative functions, 18 duties, and needs of the Board. 19 (6) Determine faculty and staff positions necessary 20 for the efficient operation of the school and select 21 personnel for such positions. 22 (7) Prepare and adopt an annual budget necessary 23 for the continued operation of the school. 24 (8) Enter into contracts and agreements that have 25 been recommended by the Director, in accordance with 26 applicable law, and to the extent that funds are 27 specifically appropriated therefor, with other public 28 agencies with respect to cooperative enterprises and 29 undertaking related to or associated with an educational 30 purpose or program affecting education in the school. 31 This shall not preclude the Board from entering into 32 other such contracts and agreements that it may deem 33 necessary to carry out its duties and functions. 34 (9) Perform such other functions as are necessary HB2502 Engrossed -5- LRB9205051NTsb 1 to the supervision and control of those phases of 2 education under its supervision and control. 3 (b) The Board shall delegate to the Director such of its 4 administrative powers and duties as it deems appropriate to 5 aid the Director in the efficient administration of his 6 responsibility for the implementation of the policies of the 7 Board. 8 (c) The Academy shall be empowered to lease or purchase 9 real and personal property on commercially reasonable terms 10 for the use of the Academy. Any leases or purchases of real 11 or personal property and any disposition thereof by the 12 Academy must be in compliance with the provisions of the 13 Civil Administrative Code of Illinois and the State Property 14 Control Act. Personal property acquired for the use of the 15 Academy shall be inventoried and disposed of in accordance 16 with the State Property Control Act. 17 (d) In addition to the authorities granted herein and 18 any powers, duties, and responsibilities vested by any other 19 applicable laws, the Board shall: 20 (1) Adopt rules, regulations, and policies 21 necessary for the efficient operation of the school. 22 (2) Establish criteria to be used in determining 23 eligibility of applicants for enrollment. 24 (3) Determine subjects to be offered. 25 (4) Pay salaries and expenses, including but not 26 necessarily restricted to facilities, equipment, and 27 supplies of the faculty and staff of the Academy out of 28 funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the 29 operating and administrative expenses of the Board and 30 the Academy. 31 (5) Exercise budgetary responsibility and allocate 32 for expenditure by the Academy and programs under its 33 jurisdiction, all moneys appropriated or otherwise made 34 available for purposes of the Board and of such Academy HB2502 Engrossed -6- LRB9205051NTsb 1 and programs. 2 (6) Prepare and adopt or approve programs of study 3 and rules, bylaws, and regulations for the government of 4 the school and programs under its jurisdiction. 5 (7) Employ such personnel as may be needed, 6 establish policies governing their employment and 7 dismissal, and fix the amount of their compensation. In 8 the employment, establishment of policies, and fixing of 9 compensation the Board may make no discrimination on 10 account of sex, race, creed, color or national origin. 11 (e) The Academy, its Board of Trustees, and its 12 employees shall be represented and indemnified in certain 13 civil law suits in accordance with "An Act to provide for 14 representation and indemnification in certain civil law 15 suits", approved December 3, 1977, as amended. 16 (f) Neither the Academy nor its officers, employees, or 17 Board members shall participate in the creation of any 18 corporation, joint venture, partnership, association, or 19 other organizational entity that exercises, expands, or 20 enhances the powers, duties, or responsibilities of the 21 Academy unless specifically authorized by the General 22 Assembly by law. 23 This Section does not restrict the Academy from creating 24 any organization entity which is within or a part of the 25 Academy.