105 ILCS 5/10-22.22d — Illinois Code / Chapter 105 / Act 5 / Section 10-22.22d
Section 10-22.22d
Status: in_force

(105 ILCS 5/10-22.22d) Sec. 10-22.22d. Pilot cooperative elementary school and pilot cooperative high school. (a) Subject to the provisions of this Section, 2 contiguous school districts that are (i) located all or in part in Vermilion County; (ii) have an enrollment in grades 6-8 of less than 150 during the 2008-2009 school year and in grades 9-12 of less than 400 during the 2008-2009 school year; and (iii) have a Junior High School serving grades 6, 7, and 8 in one of the districts may, when in their judgment the interest of the districts and of the students will be best served, jointly pilot a cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both. The board of each district contemplating a joint operation shall, by proper resolution, cause the proposition to enter into such joint operation for a period not to exceed 3 years. The school boards of the participating districts may, if they agree on terms, execute a contract for such joint operation subject to the provisions of this Section. (b) The agreement for joint operation of any such cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both, shall include, but not be limited to, provisions for administration, staff, programs, financing, facilities, and transportation. Agreements may be modified, by approval of each of the participating districts, provided that a district may withdraw from the agreement only if the district is reorganizing with one or more districts under other provisions of this Code. (c) A governing board, which shall govern the operation of any such cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both, shall be apportioned to reflect the number of students in each respective district who attend the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both. The membership of the governing board shall be 5 members. The school board of each participating district shall select, from its membership, its representatives on the governing board. The governing board shall prepare and adopt a budget for the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both. The governing board shall administer the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both, in accordance with the agreement of the districts and shall have the power to hire, supervise, and terminate staff; to enter into contracts; to adopt policies for the school or schools; and to take all other actions necessary and proper for the operation of the school or schools. The governing board may not levy taxes or incur any indebtedness except within the annual budget approved by the participating districts. (d) Each participating district shall pay its per capita cost of educating the students residing in its district and attending any cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school into the budget for the maintenance and operation of the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both. The manner of determining per capita cost shall be set forth in the agreement. Each district shall pay the amount owed the governing board under the terms of the agreement from the fund that the district would have used if the district had incurred the costs directly and may levy taxes and issue bonds as otherwise authorized for these purposes in order to make payments to the governing board. (e) Upon formation of the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both, the school board of each participating district shall: (1) confer and coordinate with each other and the governing board, if the governing