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92_HB2519
LRB9205042NTsb
1 AN ACT concerning a performing arts school.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5 Katherine Dunham Performing Arts School Act.
6 Section 5. Policy and purposes. It shall be the policy
7 of the State of Illinois to seek out and nurture the artistic
8 talent of students from throughout the State in grades
9 prekindergarten through 12 and students seeking baccalaureate
10 degrees who exhibit unique artistic ability in the expressive
11 areas of Dance, Music, and Theatre, in order to preserve and
12 enhance the State's historic commitment to the cultural
13 richness that contributes to the ability of the State to
14 attract and maintain a citizenry who choose to reside in
15 Illinois for its support of a quality life as well as for its
16 economic advantages. It shall further be the policy of this
17 State to enlist the support of the educational, professional,
18 and commercial communities in a cooperative effort to provide
19 excellence in performing arts education and to serve as a
20 model for the development of innovative instructional
21 techniques and curricula. As a symbol of this cooperative
22 endeavor, there shall be established the Katherine Dunham
23 Performing Arts School to serve the people of Illinois as a
24 place to nourish the creativity of its youth who possess
25 outstanding talent in the various performing arts areas and
26 to return these young people to their home community better
27 prepared to make a contribution to the cultural opportunities
28 available in their town.
29 The primary mission of the school is to seek out
30 artistically talented students from throughout the State and
31 to immerse them in challenging performing arts programs,
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1 unlike those typically available in local schools, where,
2 under the instruction of outstanding teachers and
3 professional performing artists, they will better understand
4 how their talents can be further developed. Additionally,
5 the school will provide opportunities to test new approaches
6 in the teaching of the performing arts and staff development
7 and serve as a model for school programming that can be
8 carried out in schools state-wide. The school shall also
9 carry a responsibility to provide instruction about how the
10 participants, whether student, intern, or teacher, can make a
11 positive contribution to the development of the performing
12 arts in their local community upon their return home.
13 The mission of the school shall be carried out through
14 the following means:
15 (1) Regionally based talent searches shall be
16 conducted to identify the most artistically talented
17 students from throughout the State in the performing arts
18 components of Dance, Music, and Theatre.
19 (2) Teachers for the school shall be selected from
20 throughout the State based upon criteria that insure the
21 highest quality faculty represented by professional
22 performing artists known for the quality of their work,
23 teachers of the performing arts recognized for their
24 excellence in teaching and curriculum development by
25 their colleagues, and individuals possessing unique
26 insights about the commercial and professional
27 possibilities available to aspiring performing artists.
28 (3) The instructional program shall be enhanced by
29 visiting lecturers, performers, and special exhibits open
30 to the public by way of open houses and audience
31 participation.
32 (4) The school shall network with existing
33 professional organizations, universities, and performing
34 arts programs to foster the exchange of personnel,
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1 equipment, and conceptual enrichment. Such interaction
2 shall include contributions in kind as well as consulting
3 relationships.
4 (5) Faculty of the school shall present
5 professional papers and lectures around the State and in
6 professional conferences nationally about the program and
7 the potential for improved performing arts programming at
8 the local level.
9 (6) Participants will have access to facilities and
10 equipment seldom available in most school settings where
11 they will be able to expand their knowledge of the
12 mediums available to creative performing artists in the
13 professional and commercial worlds.
14 Section 10. Establishment, funding, and location. There
15 is hereby created the Katherine Dunham Performing Arts
16 School, which shall be a performing arts program located at
17 the Rock (Hughes Quinn) School in East St. Louis, Illinois.
18 The school shall be funded by federal grants and State
19 appropriations. Private contributions and endowment programs
20 may be established. Special scholarships shall be available
21 to assist economically disadvantaged students and special
22 needs students who require assistance or who may have other
23 exceptional needs that, if not addressed, would deny their
24 participation in the program. The school shall admit
25 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 and students
26 seeking baccalaureate degrees who have been determined to be
27 eligible to attend based upon the criteria established for
28 the arts area of their talent. Furthermore, students shall
29 be selected from throughout the State to maintain a
30 geographically representative population.
31 Section 15. Board of trustees. The Katherine Dunham
32 Performing Arts School shall become an independent, free
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1 standing program governed by a board of trustees. The board
2 shall be appointed by the Governor from nominations submitted
3 by the Illinois Arts Council and State Superintendent of
4 Education. Representation on the board shall include
5 individuals knowledgeable about each of the performing arts
6 components of Dance, Music, and Theatre, quality educational
7 standards, and the business community. The board of trustees
8 shall be not fewer than 11 nor greater than 17. The Illinois
9 Arts Council and the State Superintendent of Education shall
10 each nominate 2 candidates for consideration by the Governor
11 for each vacancy. With the exception of the initial
12 appointments, the members' terms of office shall be for 6
13 years. At the first meeting, members shall draw lots for
14 appointments of 2-year, 4-year, or 6-year initial terms.
15 Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the
16 terms by appointment of a nominated candidate submitted by
17 whomever nominated the person causing such vacancy. The
18 initial terms shall commence upon appointment and upon
19 expiration of a term. The member shall continue to serve
20 until a successor is appointed. The board shall select a
21 chair from among its members who shall serve a 2-year term as
22 chair. Members shall receive no salary but shall be
23 reimbursed for all ordinary and necessary expenses incurred
24 in performing their duties as members of the board.
25 Within 30 days after the effective date of this Act,
26 nominations shall be submitted to the Governor for membership
27 on the board. The Governor shall appoint a minimum of 11
28 members to the board within 60 days of receiving the
29 nominations for board membership from the Illinois Arts
30 Council and the State Superintendent of Education. The board
31 shall convene within 30 days after being appointed. The
32 first order of business shall be the selection of a chair and
33 the selection of a Director for the school.
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1 Section 20. Powers and duties of the board.
2 (a) The board of trustees is hereby authorized to:
3 (1) Accept non-cash donations and direct financial
4 assistance toward scholarships from any public or private
5 person or agency, seek out federal grants, and comply
6 with rules and regulations governing grants from the
7 federal government or from any other person or agency,
8 which are not in contravention of the Illinois
9 Constitution or the laws of the State of Illinois.
10 (2) Purchase equipment, materials, and supplies
11 necessary for the use of the school in accordance with
12 the Illinois Procurement Code.
13 (3) Adopt, amend, or repeal rules and policies
14 necessary or proper for the conduct of the business of
15 the board.
16 (4) Award certificates, recognition, and
17 distinguished service or professional accomplishment
18 distinctions for persons deserving of such recognition.
19 (5) Appoint a Director who shall be the chief
20 administrative officer of the school and who shall
21 administer the rules and policies adopted by the board
22 pursuant to this Act. The Director shall also be the
23 chief administrative officer of the board and shall be
24 responsible for all the administrative functions, duties,
25 and needs of the board.
26 (6) Determine faculty and staff positions necessary
27 for the efficient operation of the school and select
28 personnel for such positions. The appointment of such
29 faculty and staff shall not be subject to the Personnel
30 Code.
31 (7) Prepare and adopt an annual budget necessary
32 for the continued operation of the school.
33 (8) Enter into contracts and agreements in
34 accordance with applicable law, and, to the extent that
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1 funds are specifically appropriated therefore, with other
2 public agencies with respect to cooperative enterprises
3 and undertakings related to or associated with an
4 education in the school. This shall not preclude the
5 board from entering into other such contracts and
6 agreements that may be deemed necessary to carry out its
7 duties and functions.
8 (9) Perform such other functions as are necessary
9 to the supervision and control of those phases of
10 education under its supervision and control.
11 (b) The Board shall delegate to the Director such of its
12 administrative powers and duties as it deems appropriate to
13 aid the Director in the efficient administration of his or
14 her responsibility for the implementation of the policies of
15 the board.
16 (c) In addition to the authorities granted in this
17 Section and any powers, duties, and responsibilities vested
18 by any other applicable laws, the board shall:
19 (1) Adopt rules and policies necessary for the
20 efficient operation of the school.
21 (2) Establish criteria to be used in determining
22 eligibility of applicants for enrollment. Such criteria
23 shall ensure adequate geographic, sexual, and ethnic
24 representation.
25 (3) Determine subject and arts experiences and
26 extracurricular activities to be offered.
27 (4) Pay salaries and expenses, including but not
28 necessarily restricted to facilities, equipment, and
29 supplies of the faculty and staff of the school, out of
30 funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the
31 operating and administrative expenses of the board.
32 (5) Exercise budgetary responsibility and allocate
33 for expenditure by the school and programs under its
34 jurisdiction all moneys appropriated or otherwise made
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1 available for purposes of the board and of such school
2 programs.
3 (6) Prepare and adopt or approve programs of study
4 and rules and by-laws for the conduct of students and for
5 the government of the school and programs under its
6 jurisdiction.
7 (7) Employ such personnel as may be needed,
8 establish policies governing their employment and
9 dismissal, and fix the amount of their compensation. In
10 the employment, establishment of policies, and fixing of
11 compensation, the Board may make no discrimination on
12 account of sex, race, creed, color, or national origin.