(105 ILCS 5/10-23.8b) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-23.8b)

Sec. 10-23.8b. Reclassification of principals and assistant principals. Upon non-renewal of a principal's or assistant principal's administrative contract, the principal or assistant principal shall be reclassified pursuant to this Section. No principal or assistant principal may be reclassified by demotion or reduction in rank from one position within a school district to another for which a lower salary is paid without written notice from the board of the proposed reclassification by April 1 of the year in which the contract expires.

Within 10 days of the principal's or assistant principal's receipt of this notice, the school board shall provide the principal or assistant principal with a written statement of the facts regarding reclassification, and the principal or assistant principal may request and receive a private hearing with the board to discuss the reasons for the reclassification. If the principal or assistant principal is not satisfied with the results of the private hearing, he or she may, within 5 days thereafter, request and receive a public hearing on the reclassification. Any principal or assistant principal may be represented by counsel at a private or public hearing conducted under this Section.

If the board decides to proceed with the reclassification, it shall give the principal or assistant principal written notice of its decision within 15 days of the private hearing or within 15 days of the public hearing held under this Section whichever is later. The decision of the board thereupon becomes final.

Nothing in this Section prohibits a board from ordering lateral transfers of principals or assistant principals to positions of similar rank and equal salary.

The changes made by Public Act 94-201 are declaratory of existing law.

(Source: P.A. 97-217, eff. 7-28-11.)