093_HB2606
LRB093 10448 RCE 10702 b
1 AN ACT concerning an academy for performing, visual, and
2 cultural arts.
3 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
4 represented in the General Assembly:
5 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
6 Katherine Dunham Academy for Performing, Visual, and
7 Cultural Arts Act.
8 Section 5. Policy and purposes. It shall be the policy
9 of the State of Illinois to seek out and nurture the artistic
10 talent of students from throughout the State in grades
11 pre-kindergarten through 12 and students seeking
12 baccalaureate degrees who exhibit unique artistic ability, in
13 order to preserve and enhance the State's historic commitment
14 to the cultural richness that contributes to the ability of
15 the State to attract and maintain a citizenry who choose to
16 reside in Illinois for its support of a quality life as well
17 as for its economic advantages. It shall further be the
18 policy of this State to enlist the support of the
19 educational, professional, and commercial communities in a
20 cooperative effort to provide excellence in arts education
21 and to serve as a model for the development of innovative
22 instructional techniques and curricula. As a symbol of this
23 cooperative endeavor, there shall be established the
24 Katherine Dunham Academy for Performing, Visual, and Cultural
25 Arts to serve the people of Illinois as a place to nourish
26 the creativity of its youth who possess outstanding talent in
27 the performing, visual, or cultural arts and to return these
28 young people to their home community better prepared to make
29 a contribution to the cultural opportunities available in
30 their town.
31 The primary mission of the Academy is to seek out
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1 artistically talented students from throughout the State and
2 to immerse them in challenging arts programs, unlike those
3 typically available in local schools, where, under the
4 instruction of outstanding teachers and professional artists,
5 they will better understand how their talents can be further
6 developed. The visual arts program shall include painting,
7 weaving, pottery, silk screen design, and sculpture. The
8 performing arts program shall include performances in
9 theaters, operas, television, colleges, schools, and federal,
10 State, and local programs. Additionally, the Academy will
11 provide opportunities to test new approaches in the teaching
12 of the arts and staff development and serve as a model for
13 school programming that can be carried out in schools
14 statewide. The Academy shall also carry a responsibility to
15 provide instruction about how the participants, whether
16 student, intern, or teacher, can make a positive contribution
17 to the development of the arts in their local community upon
18 their return home.
19 The mission of the Academy shall be carried out through
20 the following means:
21 (1) Regionally based talent searches shall be
22 conducted to identify the most artistically talented
23 students from throughout the State in the arts.
24 (2) Teachers for the Academy shall be selected from
25 throughout the State and the world based upon criteria
26 that insure the highest quality faculty represented by
27 professional artists known for the quality of their work,
28 teachers of the arts recognized for their excellence in
29 teaching and curriculum development by their colleagues,
30 and individuals possessing unique insights about the
31 commercial and professional possibilities available to
32 aspiring artists.
33 (3) The instructional program shall be enhanced by
34 visiting lecturers, performers, and special exhibits open
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1 to the public by way of open houses and audience
2 participation.
3 (4) The Academy shall network with existing
4 professional organizations, universities, and arts
5 programs to foster the exchange of personnel, equipment,
6 and conceptual enrichment. Such interaction shall
7 include contributions in kind as well as consulting
8 relationships.
9 (5) Faculty of the Academy shall present
10 professional papers and lectures around the State and in
11 professional conferences nationally about the program and
12 the potential for improved arts programming at the local
13 level.
14 (6) Participants will have access to facilities and
15 equipment seldom available in most school settings where
16 they will be able to expand their knowledge of the
17 mediums available to creative artists in the professional
18 and commercial worlds.
19 Section 10. Establishment, funding, and location. There
20 is hereby created the Katherine Dunham Academy for
21 Performing, Visual, and Cultural Arts, which shall be an arts
22 program located in East St. Louis, Illinois. The Academy
23 shall be funded by federal grants and State appropriations.
24 Private contributions and endowment programs may be
25 established. Special scholarships shall be available to
26 assist economically disadvantaged students and special needs
27 students who require assistance or who may have other
28 exceptional needs that, if not addressed, would deny their
29 participation in the program. The Academy shall admit
30 students in grades pre-kindergarten through 12 and students
31 seeking baccalaureate degrees who have been determined to be
32 eligible to attend based upon the criteria established for
33 the arts area of their talent. Furthermore, students shall
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1 be selected from throughout the State to maintain a
2 geographically representative population.
3 Section 15. Board of trustees. The Katherine Dunham
4 Academy for Performing, Visual, and Cultural Arts shall
5 become an independent, freestanding program governed by a
6 board of trustees. The board shall be appointed by the
7 Governor from nominations submitted by the Illinois Arts
8 Council and State Superintendent of Education.
9 Representation on the board shall include individuals
10 knowledgeable about the arts, quality educational standards,
11 and the business community. The board of trustees shall be
12 not fewer than 11 nor greater than 17. The Illinois Arts
13 Council and the State Superintendent of Education shall each
14 nominate 2 candidates for consideration by the Governor for
15 each vacancy. With the exception of the initial
16 appointments, the members' terms of office shall be for 6
17 years. At the first meeting, members shall draw lots for
18 appointments of 2-year, 4-year, or 6-year initial terms.
19 Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the
20 terms by appointment of a nominated candidate submitted by
21 whomever nominated the person causing such vacancy. The
22 initial terms shall commence upon appointment and upon
23 expiration of a term. The member shall continue to serve
24 until a successor is appointed. The board shall select a
25 chair from among its members who shall serve a 2-year term as
26 chair. Members shall receive no salary but shall be
27 reimbursed for all ordinary and necessary expenses incurred
28 in performing their duties as members of the board.
29 Within 30 days after the effective date of this Act,
30 nominations shall be submitted to the Governor for membership
31 on the board. The Governor shall appoint a minimum of 11
32 members to the board within 60 days of receiving the
33 nominations for board membership from the Illinois Arts
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1 Council and the State Superintendent of Education. The board
2 shall convene within 30 days after being appointed. The
3 first order of business shall be the selection of a chair and
4 the selection of a Director for the Academy.
5 Section 20. Powers and duties of the board.
6 (a) The board of trustees is hereby authorized to:
7 (1) Accept non-cash donations and direct financial
8 assistance toward scholarships from any public or private
9 person or agency, seek out federal grants, and comply
10 with rules and regulations governing grants from the
11 federal government or from any other person or agency,
12 which are not in contravention of the Illinois
13 Constitution or the laws of the State of Illinois.
14 (2) Purchase equipment, materials, and supplies
15 necessary for the use of the Academy in accordance with
16 the Illinois Procurement Code.
17 (3) Adopt, amend, or repeal rules and policies
18 necessary or proper for the conduct of the business of
19 the board.
20 (4) Award certificates, recognition, and
21 distinguished service or professional accomplishment
22 distinctions for persons deserving of such recognition.
23 (5) Appoint a Director who shall be the chief
24 administrative officer of the school and who shall
25 administer the rules and policies adopted by the board
26 pursuant to this Act. The Director shall also be the
27 chief administrative officer of the board and shall be
28 responsible for all the administrative functions, duties,
29 and needs of the board.
30 (6) Determine faculty and staff positions necessary
31 for the efficient operation of the Academy and select
32 personnel for such positions. The appointment of such
33 faculty and staff shall not be subject to the Personnel
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1 Code.
2 (7) Prepare and adopt an annual budget necessary
3 for the continued operation of the Academy.
4 (8) Enter into contracts and agreements in
5 accordance with applicable law, and, to the extent that
6 funds are specifically appropriated therefore, with other
7 public agencies with respect to cooperative enterprises
8 and undertakings related to or associated with an
9 education in the Academy. This shall not preclude the
10 board from entering into other such contracts and
11 agreements that may be deemed necessary to carry out its
12 duties and functions.
13 (9) Perform such other functions as are necessary
14 to the supervision and control of those phases of
15 education under its supervision and control.
16 (b) The Board shall delegate to the Director such of its
17 administrative powers and duties as it deems appropriate to
18 aid the Director in the efficient administration of his or
19 her responsibility for the implementation of the policies of
20 the board.
21 (c) In addition to the authorities granted in this
22 Section and any powers, duties, and responsibilities vested
23 by any other applicable laws, the board shall:
24 (1) Adopt rules and policies necessary for the
25 efficient operation of the Academy.
26 (2) Establish criteria to be used in determining
27 eligibility of applicants for enrollment. Such criteria
28 shall ensure adequate geographic, sexual, and ethnic
29 representation.
30 (3) Determine subject and arts experiences and
31 extracurricular activities to be offered.
32 (4) Pay salaries and expenses, including but not
33 necessarily restricted to facilities, equipment, and
34 supplies of the faculty and staff of the Academy, out of
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1 funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the
2 operating and administrative expenses of the board.
3 (5) Exercise budgetary responsibility and allocate
4 for expenditure by the Academy and programs under its
5 jurisdiction all moneys appropriated or otherwise made
6 available for purposes of the board and of such Academy
7 programs.
8 (6) Prepare and adopt or approve programs of study
9 and rules and bylaws for the conduct of students and for
10 the government of the Academy and programs under its
11 jurisdiction.
12 (7) Employ such personnel as may be needed,
13 establish policies governing their employment and
14 dismissal, and fix the amount of their compensation. In
15 the employment, establishment of policies, and fixing of
16 compensation, the Board may make no discrimination on
17 account of sex, race, creed, color, or national origin.