(105 ILCS 5/3-15.14) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-15.14)

Sec. 3-15.14. Cooperative Educational and Operational Programs. To administer and direct a cooperative or joint educational or operational program or project when 2 or more districts request and authorize him or her to provide and administer these services. Each regional superintendent of schools is encouraged to offer school districts the opportunity to share in joint educational or operational programs and to urge school districts to participate in such programs when the school district determines that such participation is fiscally prudent. The regional superintendent of schools may provide and contract for the staff, space, necessary materials, supplies, books and apparatus for such agreements. The school boards of the respective districts shall pay to the regional superintendent the pro rata share of the expenses of the operation of such programs, and the regional superintendent shall use such funds in payment of such operational expenses. The regional superintendent shall collect and remit the required pension contributions from the participating districts if the board of control of the program participates in Article 7 of the Illinois Pension Code.

A board of control composed of one member from each cooperating district and one member from the office of the regional superintendent will set policy for the cooperative. The agreement establishing the cooperative may provide that the cooperative shall act as its own administrative district and shall be an entity separate and apart from the Educational Service Region.

Each regional superintendent that is the administrator of a joint agreement shall cause an annual financial statement to be submitted on forms prescribed by the State Board of Education exhibiting the financial condition of the program established pursuant to the joint agreement for the fiscal year ending on the immediately preceding June 30.

The regional superintendent may also administer, direct and account for educational programs of single or multi-county educational service region, or of multi-regional design which are sponsored and financed by State or federal educational agencies, or by both such agencies. In cases where funding for any such approved program is delayed, the regional superintendent may borrow the funds required to begin operation of the program in accordance with the terms of the grant; and the principal amount so borrowed, together with the interest due thereon, shall be paid from the grant moneys when received.

(Source: P.A. 97-357, eff. 1-1-12.)