99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
HB4301

Introduced , by Rep. Fred Crespo

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
105 ILCS 5/10-21.4 from Ch. 122, par. 10-21.4
105 ILCS 5/10-23.8 from Ch. 122, par. 10-23.8

Amends the School Code. In provisions requiring a school board (other than the Chicago school district) to employ a superintendent, allows the school board in a school district with boundaries that lie in 3 counties, one county of which has a population exceeding 1,000,000 inhabitants, that has on staff properly licensed assistant superintendents or directors in the areas of instruction, finance, special education, assessments, and career and technology education, to instead appoint a chief executive officer to serve as its superintendent. Requires this chief executive officer to be a person of recognized administrative ability and management experience, hold a master's degree, have been employed with the school district for a minimum of 5 years in an administrative capacity, be responsible for the management of the district, and have all other powers and duties of a superintendent. Exempts the chief executive officer from provisions of the School Code concerning educator qualifications for a period of 5 years. Allows the school board to reappoint the chief executive officer after the 5-year period if the chief executive officer has made substantial progress towards a standard or alternative administrative license, if a program for such is available. Makes related changes.
LRB099 14498 SXM 38615 b

A BILL FOR

HB4301LRB099 14498 SXM 38615 b
1 AN ACT concerning education.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Sections
510-21.4 and 10-23.8 as follows:
6 (105 ILCS 5/10-21.4) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-21.4)
7 Sec. 10-21.4. Superintendent - Duties. Except in districts
8in which there is only one school with fewer less than 4 four
9teachers, to employ a superintendent, who shall have charge of
10the administration of the schools under the direction of the
11board of education. However, in any school district with
12boundaries that lie in 3 counties, one county of which has a
13population exceeding 1,000,000 inhabitants, that has on staff
14properly licensed assistant superintendents or directors in
15the areas of instruction, finance, special education,
16assessments, and career and technology education, the school
17board may instead, by a vote of a majority of its full
18membership, appoint a chief executive officer to serve as its
19superintendent, who shall be a person of recognized
20administrative ability and management experience, hold a
21master's degree, have been employed with the school district
22for a minimum of 5 years in an administrative capacity, be
23responsible for the management of the district, and have all

HB4301- 2 -LRB099 14498 SXM 38615 b
1other powers and duties of a superintendent as set forth in
2this Code, but who shall be exempt from the provisions and
3requirements of Section 21B-15 of this Code for a period of 5
4years. The school board may reappoint this chief executive
5officer after the 5-year period if the chief executive officer
6has made substantial progress towards a standard or alternative
7administrative license, if a program for such is available.
8 In addition to the administrative duties, the
9superintendent shall make recommendations to the board
10concerning the budget, building plans, the locations of sites,
11the selection, retention and dismissal of teachers and all
12other employees, the selection of textbooks, instructional
13material and courses of study. However, in districts under a
14Financial Oversight Panel pursuant to Section 1A-8 for
15violating a financial plan, the duties and responsibilities of
16the superintendent in relation to the financial and business
17operations of the district shall be approved by the Panel. In
18the event the Board refuses or fails to follow a directive or
19comply with an information request of the Panel, the
20performance of those duties shall be subject to the direction
21of the Panel. The superintendent shall also notify the State
22Board of Education, the board and the chief administrative
23official, other than the alleged perpetrator himself, in the
24school where the alleged perpetrator serves, that any person
25who is employed in a school or otherwise comes into frequent
26contact with children in the school has been named as a

HB4301- 3 -LRB099 14498 SXM 38615 b
1perpetrator in an indicated report filed pursuant to the Abused
2and Neglected Child Reporting Act, approved June 26, 1975, as
3amended. The superintendent shall keep or cause to be kept the
4records and accounts as directed and required by the board, aid
5in making reports required by the board, and perform such other
6duties as the board may delegate to him.
7 In addition, each year at a time designated by the State
8Superintendent of Education, each superintendent shall report
9to the State Board of Education the number of high school
10students in the district who are enrolled in accredited courses
11(for which high school credit will be awarded upon successful
12completion of the courses) at any community college, together
13with the name and number of the course or courses which each
14such student is taking.
15 The provisions of this Section section shall also apply to
16board of director districts.
17 Notice of intent not to renew a contract must be given in
18writing stating the specific reason therefor by April 1 of the
19contract year unless the contract specifically provides
20otherwise. Failure to do so will automatically extend the
21contract for an additional year. Within 10 days after receipt
22of notice of intent not to renew a contract, the superintendent
23may request a closed session hearing on the dismissal. At the
24hearing the superintendent has the privilege of presenting
25evidence, witnesses and defenses on the grounds for dismissal.
26The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to a district

HB4301- 4 -LRB099 14498 SXM 38615 b
1under a Financial Oversight Panel pursuant to Section 1A-8 for
2violating a financial plan.
3(Source: P.A. 97-256, eff. 1-1-12.)
4 (105 ILCS 5/10-23.8) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-23.8)
5 Sec. 10-23.8. Superintendent contracts. After the
6effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997 and the
7expiration of contracts in effect on the effective date of this
8amendatory Act, school districts may only employ a
9superintendent or, if authorized by law, a chief executive
10officer under either a contract for a period not exceeding one
11year or a performance-based contract for a period not exceeding
125 years.
13 Performance-based contracts shall be linked to student
14performance and academic improvement within the schools of the
15districts. No performance-based contract shall be extended or
16rolled-over prior to its scheduled expiration unless all the
17performance and improvement goals contained in the contract
18have been met. Each performance-based contract shall include
19the goals and indicators of student performance and academic
20improvement determined and used by the local school board to
21measure the performance and effectiveness of the
22superintendent and such other information as the local school
23board may determine.
24 By accepting the terms of a multi-year contract, the
25superintendent or chief executive officer waives all rights

HB4301- 5 -LRB099 14498 SXM 38615 b
1granted him or her under Sections 24-11 through 24-16 of this
2Act only for the term of the multi-year contract. Upon
3acceptance of a multi-year contract, the superintendent or
4chief executive officer shall not lose any previously acquired
5tenure credit with the district.
6(Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 1-1-98; 91-314, eff. 1-1-00.)