State of Illinois
92nd General Assembly
Legislation

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92_SB2230

 
                                               LRB9216080NTpk

 1        AN ACT concerning schools.

 2        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:

 4        Section 5.   The  School  Code  is  amended  by  changing
 5    Section 7-6 as follows:

 6        (105 ILCS 5/7-6) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-6)
 7        Sec. 7-6.  Petition filing; Notice; Hearing; Decision.
 8        (a)  Upon  the filing of a petition with the secretary of
 9    the regional board of school trustees under the provisions of
10    Section 7-1 or 7-2 of this Code Act the secretary shall cause
11    a copy of such petition to be given  to  each  board  of  any
12    district  involved  in the proposed boundary change and shall
13    cause a notice thereof to be published once  in  a  newspaper
14    having  general  circulation within the area of the territory
15    described  in  the  petition  for  the  proposed  change   of
16    boundaries.
17        (b)  When   a   joint   hearing  is  required  under  the
18    provisions of Section 7-2, the secretary also shall  cause  a
19    copy of the notice to be sent to the regional board of school
20    trustees   of  each  region  affected.   Notwithstanding  the
21    foregoing provisions of this Section, if the secretary of the
22    regional board of school trustees with  whom  a  petition  is
23    filed  under  Section  7-2  fails,  within  30 days after the
24    filing of such  petition,  to  cause  notice  thereof  to  be
25    published  and  sent  as  required  by this Section, then the
26    secretary of the regional board of  school  trustees  of  any
27    other  region  affected  may  cause the required notice to be
28    published and sent, and the joint hearing may be held in  any
29    region affected as provided in the notice so published.
30        (b-5)  If  a  petition  filed  under  subsection  (a)  of
31    Section  7-1  or  under Section 7-2 proposes to annex all the
 
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 1    territory of a school district to  another  school  district,
 2    the petition shall request the submission of a proposition at
 3    a regular scheduled election for the purpose of voting for or
 4    against  the  annexation  of  the  territory described in the
 5    petition to the  school  district  proposing  to  annex  that
 6    territory.   No  petition  filed  or election held under this
 7    Article shall be null and void,  invalidated,  or  deemed  in
 8    noncompliance  with the Election Code because of a failure to
 9    publish a notice with respect to the petition  or  referendum
10    as required under subsection (g) of Section 28-2 of that Code
11    for  petitions  that  are  not  filed  under  this Article or
12    Article 7A, 11A, 11B, or 11D of the School Code.
13        (c)  When a petition contains more than 10 signatures the
14    petition shall designate a committee of 10 of the petitioners
15    as attorney in fact for all petitioners, any 7  of  whom  may
16    make  binding stipulations on behalf of all petitioners as to
17    any question with respect to the petition or hearing or joint
18    hearing, and  the  regional  board  of  school  trustees,  or
19    regional  boards  of  school  trustees  in  cases  of a joint
20    hearing may accept such stipulation in lieu  of  evidence  or
21    proof  of the matter stipulated. The committee of petitioners
22    shall have the same power  to  stipulate  to  accountings  or
23    waiver   thereof   between  school  districts;  however,  the
24    regional board of school  trustees,  or  regional  boards  of
25    school  trustees  in  cases  of a joint hearing may refuse to
26    accept such stipulation. Those designated as the committee of
27    10 shall serve in  that  capacity  until  such  time  as  the
28    regional  superintendent  of  schools  or the committee of 10
29    determines that, because of death, resignation,  transfer  of
30    residency  from  the  territory,  or  failure to qualify, the
31    office of a particular member  of  the  committee  of  10  is
32    vacant.   Upon  determination  that  a  vacancy  exists,  the
33    remaining  members  shall  appoint  a  petitioner to fill the
34    designated vacancy on the committee of 10.   The  appointment
 
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 1    of  any new members by the committee of 10 shall be made by a
 2    simple majority vote of the remaining designated members.
 3        (d)  The petition may  be  amended  to  withdraw  not  to
 4    exceed a total of 10% of the territory in the petition at any
 5    time prior to the hearing or joint hearing; provided that the
 6    petition  shall  after amendment comply with the requirements
 7    as to the  number  of  signatures  required  on  an  original
 8    petition.
 9        (e)  The petitioners shall pay the expenses of publishing
10    the  notice  and  of  any  transcript taken at the hearing or
11    joint hearing; and in case of an appeal from the decision  of
12    the  regional board of school trustees, or regional boards of
13    school trustees  in  cases  of  a  joint  hearing,  or  State
14    Superintendent   of   Education  in  cases  determined  under
15    subsection (l) of this Section, the appellants shall pay  the
16    cost of preparing the record for appeal.
17        (f)  The  notice shall state when the petition was filed,
18    the description of the territory, the prayer of the  petition
19    and the return day on which the hearing or joint hearing upon
20    the petition will be held which shall not be more than 15 nor
21    less than 10 days after the publication of notice.
22        (g)  On such return day or on a day to which the regional
23    board  of  school  trustees,  or  regional  boards  of school
24    trustees in cases of  a  joint  hearing  shall  continue  the
25    hearing  or  joint  hearing  the  regional  board  of  school
26    trustees, or regional boards of school trustees in cases of a
27    joint  hearing  shall  hear  the petition but may adjourn the
28    hearing or joint hearing from time to time  or  may  continue
29    the matter for want of sufficient notice or other good cause.
30        (h)  Prior  to the hearing or joint hearing the secretary
31    of the regional board of school trustees shall submit to  the
32    regional  board  of  school  trustees,  or regional boards of
33    school trustees in cases of a joint hearing maps showing  the
34    districts   involved,  a  written  report  of  financial  and
 
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 1    educational conditions of districts involved and the probable
 2    effect  of  the  proposed  changes.  The  reports  and   maps
 3    submitted  shall  be  made  a  part  of  the  record  of  the
 4    proceedings  of  the  regional  board  of school trustees, or
 5    regional boards of  school  trustees  in  cases  of  a  joint
 6    hearing.  A  copy  of  the report and maps submitted shall be
 7    sent by  the  secretary  of  the  regional  board  of  school
 8    trustees  to  each  board of the districts involved, not less
 9    than 5 days prior to the day upon which the hearing or  joint
10    hearing is to be held.
11        (i)  The  regional  board of school trustees, or regional
12    boards of school trustees in cases of a joint  hearing  shall
13    hear  evidence  as  to the school needs and conditions of the
14    territory in the area within and adjacent thereto and  as  to
15    the  ability  of the districts affected to meet the standards
16    of recognition as prescribed by the State Board of Education,
17    and shall take into consideration the division of  funds  and
18    assets  which  will  result from the change of boundaries and
19    shall determine whether it is to the best  interests  of  the
20    schools of the area and the educational welfare of the pupils
21    that  such  change  in  boundaries  be  granted,  and in case
22    non-high school territory is contained in  the  petition  the
23    normal  high  school attendance pattern of the children shall
24    be taken into consideration. If the non-high school territory
25    overlies an elementary district, a part of which is in a high
26    school district, such territory may be annexed to  such  high
27    school district even though not contiguous to the high school
28    district.  However,  upon resolution by the regional board of
29    school trustees, or regional boards  of  school  trustees  in
30    cases of a joint hearing the secretary or secretaries thereof
31    shall  conduct the hearing or joint hearing upon any boundary
32    petition and present a transcript  of  such  hearing  to  the
33    trustees  who  shall base their decision upon the transcript,
34    maps and information and any presentation of counsel.
 
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 1        (j)  At the hearing or joint hearing any resident of  the
 2    territory  described  in  the petition or any resident in any
 3    district affected by the proposed change  of  boundaries  may
 4    appear in person or by an attorney in support of the petition
 5    or  to object to the granting of the petition and may present
 6    evidence in support of his position.
 7        (k)  At the conclusion of the hearing, other than a joint
 8    hearing, the regional superintendent of schools as ex officio
 9    member of the regional board of school trustees shall  within
10    30  days  enter  an  order  either  granting  or  denying the
11    petition and shall deliver to the committee  of  petitioners,
12    if  any,  and  any  person  who  has  filed his appearance in
13    writing at the hearing and any attorney who appears  for  any
14    person  and any objector who testifies at the hearing and the
15    regional superintendent of schools a certified  copy  of  its
16    order.
17        (l)  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing  provisions  of this
18    Section, if within 9 months after  a  petition  is  submitted
19    under  the  provisions  of  Section  7-1  the petition is not
20    approved or denied by the regional board of  school  trustees
21    and  the order approving or denying that petition entered and
22    a copy thereof served as provided in this Section, the school
23    boards or registered voters of the  districts  affected  that
24    submitted  the  petition  (or  the  committee  of  10,  or an
25    attorney acting on its behalf, if designated in the petition)
26    may submit a copy of  the  petition  directly  to  the  State
27    Superintendent of Education for approval or denial.  The copy
28    of  the  petition  as  so submitted shall be accompanied by a
29    record of all proceedings had with respect to the petition up
30    to the time the copy of the  petition  is  submitted  to  the
31    State  Superintendent  of  Education (including a copy of any
32    notice given or published, any certificate or other proof  of
33    publication,  copies  of  any  maps  or written report of the
34    financial and educational conditions of the school  districts
 
                            -6-                LRB9216080NTpk
 1    affected  if furnished by the secretary of the regional board
 2    of school trustees, copies of any amendments to the  petition
 3    and  stipulations  made, accepted or refused, a transcript of
 4    any hearing or part of a hearing held, continued or adjourned
 5    on the petition, and any orders entered with respect  to  the
 6    petition  or  any  hearing held thereon).  The school boards,
 7    registered voters or committee of 10 submitting the  petition
 8    and  record  of  proceedings  to  the State Superintendent of
 9    Education shall give written notice by certified mail, return
10    receipt requested to the regional board  of  school  trustees
11    and to the secretary of that board that the petition has been
12    submitted  to  the  State  Superintendent  of  Education  for
13    approval or denial, and shall furnish a copy of the notice so
14    given  to the State Superintendent of Education.  The cost of
15    assembling the record of proceedings for  submission  to  the
16    State Superintendent of Education shall be the responsibility
17    of  the  school  boards, registered voters or committee of 10
18    that submits the petition and record of  proceedings  to  the
19    State  Superintendent  of  Education.   When  a  petition  is
20    submitted   to  the  State  Superintendent  of  Education  in
21    accordance with the provisions of this paragraph:
22             (1)  The regional board of school trustees loses all
23        jurisdiction over the petition and shall have no  further
24        authority  to  hear,  approve, deny or otherwise act with
25        respect to the petition.
26             (2)  All jurisdiction  over  the  petition  and  the
27        right  and  duty  to hear, approve, deny or otherwise act
28        with respect to the petition is transferred to and  shall
29        be  assumed  and exercised by the State Superintendent of
30        Education.
31             (3)  The State Superintendent of Education shall not
32        be required to repeat any proceedings that were conducted
33        in accordance with the provisions of this  Section  prior
34        to the time jurisdiction over the petition is transferred
 
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 1        to  him,  but the State Superintendent of Education shall
 2        be required to give and publish any notices and  hold  or
 3        complete  any  hearings  that  were  not  given,  held or
 4        completed by the regional board of school trustees or its
 5        secretary as required by this Section prior to  the  time
 6        jurisdiction  over  the  petition  is  transferred to the
 7        State Superintendent of Education.
 8             (4)  If so directed by the State  Superintendent  of
 9        Education,  the  regional superintendent of schools shall
10        submit to the State Superintendent of  Education  and  to
11        such   school  boards  as  the  State  Superintendent  of
12        Education shall prescribe accurate  maps  and  a  written
13        report of the financial and educational conditions of the
14        districts   affected  and  the  probable  effect  of  the
15        proposed boundary changes.
16             (5)  The  State  Superintendent  is  authorized   to
17        conduct further hearings, or appoint a hearing officer to
18        conduct  further  hearings, on the petition even though a
19        hearing thereon was held  as  provided  in  this  Section
20        prior  to  the  time  jurisdiction  over  the petition is
21        transferred to the State Superintendent of Education.
22             (6)  The State Superintendent of  Education  or  the
23        hearing  officer  shall hear evidence and approve or deny
24        the petition and shall enter an order to that effect  and
25        deliver  and serve the same as required in other cases to
26        be done by the regional board of school trustees and  the
27        regional  superintendent  of  schools  as  an  ex officio
28        member of that board.
29        (m)  Within 10 days  after  the  conclusion  of  a  joint
30    hearing  required  under  the provisions of Section 7-2, each
31    regional board of school trustees  shall  meet  together  and
32    render  a  decision  with  regard to the joint hearing on the
33    petition.  If the regional boards of school trustees fail  to
34    enter  a joint order either granting or denying the petition,
 
                            -8-                LRB9216080NTpk
 1    the regional superintendent of schools  for  the  educational
 2    service region in which the joint hearing is held shall enter
 3    an  order  denying the petition, and within 30 days after the
 4    conclusion of the joint hearing shall deliver a copy  of  the
 5    order  denying  the petition to the regional boards of school
 6    trustees  of  each  region  affected,  to  the  committee  of
 7    petitioners,  if  any,  to  any  person  who  has  filed  his
 8    appearance in writing at the hearing and to any attorney  who
 9    appears for any person at the joint hearing.  If the regional
10    boards of school trustees enter a joint order either granting
11    or  denying  the  petition,  the  regional  superintendent of
12    schools for the educational service region in which the joint
13    hearing is held shall, within 30 days of  the  conclusion  of
14    the  hearing, deliver a copy of the joint order to those same
15    committees and persons as are entitled to receive  copies  of
16    the  regional  superintendent's  order  in  cases  where  the
17    regional  boards  of  school  trustees have failed to enter a
18    joint order.
19        (n)  Within 10 days after service of a copy of the  order
20    granting  or  denying  the petition, any person so served may
21    petition for a rehearing and,  upon  sufficient  cause  being
22    shown,  a  rehearing may be granted. The filing of a petition
23    for rehearing shall operate as a stay  of  enforcement  until
24    the  regional board of school trustees, or regional boards of
25    school trustees  in  cases  of  a  joint  hearing,  or  State
26    Superintendent   of   Education  in  cases  determined  under
27    subsection (l) of this Section enter the final order on  such
28    petition for rehearing.
29        (o)  If  a petition filed under subsection (a) of Section
30    7-1 or under Section 7-2 is required under the provisions  of
31    subsection (b-5) of this Section 7-6 to request submission of
32    a proposition at a regular scheduled election for the purpose
33    of  voting  for  or  against  the annexation of the territory
34    described in the petition to the school district proposing to
 
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 1    annex that territory, and  if  the  petition  is  granted  or
 2    approved  by  the regional board or regional boards of school
 3    trustees or by the State  Superintendent  of  Education,  the
 4    proposition shall be placed on the ballot at the next regular
 5    scheduled election.
 6    (Source: P.A. 90-459, eff. 8-17-97.)

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