105 ILCS 5/34-8
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 105 - SCHOOLS|105 ILCS 5/ - School Code.|Article 34 - Cities Of Over 500,000 Inhabitants - Board Of Education

 (from Ch. 122, par. 34-8)Sec. 34-8. Powers and duties of general superintendent. The general superintendent of schools shall prescribe and control,  subject to the approval of the board and to other provisions of this  Article, the courses of study mandated by State law, textbooks,  educational apparatus and equipment, discipline in and conduct of the  schools, and shall perform such other duties as the board may by rule  prescribe. The superintendent shall also notify the State Board of  Education, the board and the chief administrative official, other than the  alleged perpetrator himself, in the school where the alleged perpetrator  serves, that any person who is employed in a school or otherwise comes into  frequent contact with children in the school has been named as a  perpetrator in an indicated report filed pursuant to the Abused and  Neglected Child Reporting Act, approved June 26, 1975, as amended.The general superintendent may be granted the authority by the board  to hire a specific number of employees to assist in meeting immediate  responsibilities. Conditions of employment for such personnel shall not be  subject to the provisions of Section 34-85.The general superintendent may, pursuant to a delegation of authority by  the board and Section 34-18, approve contracts and expenditures.Pursuant to other provisions of this Article, sites shall be selected,  schoolhouses located thereon and plans therefor approved, and textbooks  and educational apparatus and equipment shall be adopted and purchased  by the board only upon the recommendation of the general superintendent  of schools or by a majority vote of the full membership of the board  and, in the case of textbooks, subject to Article 28 of this Act. The  board may furnish free textbooks to pupils and may publish its own  textbooks and manufacture its own apparatus, equipment and supplies.In addition, in January of each year,  the general  superintendent of schools shall report to the State Board of Education the number of high school students  in the district who are enrolled in accredited courses (for which high  school credit will be awarded upon successful completion of the courses) at  any community college, together with the name and number of the course or  courses which each such student is taking.The general superintendent shall also have the authority to monitor the  performance of attendance centers, to identify and place an attendance  center on remediation and probation, and to recommend to the board that the  attendance center be placed on intervention and be reconstituted, subject to  the provisions of Sections 34-8.3 and 8.4.The general superintendent, or his or her designee, shall  conduct an annual evaluation of each principal in the district  pursuant to guidelines promulgated by the Board and the Board approved  principal evaluation form.  The evaluation  shall be based on factors, including the following:  (i) student academic improvement, as defined by the  school improvement plan; (ii) student absenteeism rates at the school;  (iii) instructional leadership;  (iv) effective implementation of programs, policies, or strategies to  improve student academic achievement; (v) school management;  and (vi) other factors, including, without limitation, the principal's  communication skills and ability to create and maintain a  student-centered learning environment, to develop  opportunities for professional development, and to encourage parental  involvement and community partnerships to achieve school improvement.Effective no later than September 1, 2012, the general superintendent or his or her designee shall develop a written principal evaluation plan.  The evaluation plan must be in writing and shall supersede the evaluation requirements set forth in this Section.  The evaluation plan must do at least all of the following:(1)  Provide for annual evaluation of all principals     employed under a performance contract by the general superintendent or his or her designee, no later than July 1st of each year.(2) Consider the principal's specific duties,     responsibilities, management, and competence as a principal.(3) Specify the principal's strengths and weaknesses,     with supporting reasons.(4) Align with research-based standards.(5) Use data and indicators on student growth as a     significant factor in rating principal performance. (Source: P.A. 95-496, eff. 8-28-07; 96-861, eff. 1-15-10.)