SCH CD-BOUNDARY CHANGES

Amends the Boundary Changes Article of the School Code. With respect to a county with a population in excess of 3,000,000 in which (i) affected students reside in a municipality with a population not exceeding 15,000, (ii) the elementary school district serving the property to be detached sends students to 2 or more high school districts, (iii) the annexing school district has a high school located in the municipality, (iv) the farthest point from the detached property to the new school is less than 4 miles, and (v) the detachment and annexation will put the entire municipality into a single high school district, provides that a hearing panel (rather than the trustees of schools of the township) shall have and perform all powers, duties, and responsibilities required under the Article to be exercised and performed by a regional board of school trustees; the petition for boundary change may be filed by a number of legal resident voters equal to at least 50% of the number of legal resident voters in the affected territory who voted in the last presidential election; and if there are no legal resident voters, the petitioners may deliver the petition by regular mail to the last taxpayer of record of real estate instead of by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the owner of record. Allows the hearing panel to compare school and district report cards and to consider the community of interest of the petitioners and their children. Effective immediately.