SB 1287

Abstract

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board shall, upon passage of a referendum after submission of a petition signed by no less than 5% of the school district's voters in the last consolidated election, or may, by resolution, enter into a joint agreement with other school boards to share the services of a superintendent or other administrator. Provides that any savings realized by sharing services must be divided equally between classroom needs and property tax relief. Provides that a school district wishing to withdraw from the joint agreement shall obtain from its school board a written resolution approving the withdrawal and shall present a petition for withdrawal to the other member school districts within the timelines designated by the joint agreement if the school district entered into the joint agreement by resolution. Provides that a school district wishing to withdraw from the joint agreement shall submit to the voters of the district the question of whether the school district shall withdraw from the joint agreement if the school district entered into the joint agreement by a referendum vote (also provides for a referendum upon submission of a petition). Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Excludes principals and assistant principals from joint agreements to share services with other school districts. Specifies what other administrators may be shared. Provides that the joint agreement must contain clear and equitable funding formulas covering each school district's obligations and must be filed with each applicable regional office of education (rather than only the State Board of Education). Requires the State Board of Education to provide technical support as requested by the school districts or the regional office of education. Provides that shared administrator services may not alter an individual school board's authority to make decisions on behalf of a school district. Provides that if, within 6 months after passage of a referendum or adoption of a resolution, the school boards who are parties to the joint agreement are unable to reach an agreement on how they will share the services of a superintendent or other administrator, the regional office of education that has supervision and control of the school districts that are sharing services or, if more than one, the regional office of education that has supervision and control of the largest portion of the affected school districts must assist in the development of the joint agreement. Provides that a petition to enter into or withdraw from a joint agreement must be filed with the school board's secretary (rather than the applicable election authority or, in the case of multiple election authorities, with the State Board of Elections) no more than 92 days (rather than no more 10 months and no less 3 months) prior to the election at which the question is to be submitted to the voters. Makes conforming and other changes.