Annexation Detachment Procedures

Article 7 of the School Code of Illinois charges the Regional Board of School Trustees with primary responsibility for deciding issues of school district reorganization. This includes accepting or rejecting proposals for school district boundary changes – annexations and detachments, consolidations, divisions, and dissolutions. The Regional Board is a popularly elected body consisting of seven members, not fewer than one of whom must reside in each county of a multi-county region.
Quarterly meetings are scheduled the first Monday in January, April, July, and October unless there is no business for the agenda, in which case the meetings may be canceled. Special meetings may be held at the discretion of the Board. The Regional Superintendent of Schools serves as ex-officio secretary for the Regional Board of School Trustees, but the Superintendent is not a voting member of the Board.

How to Petition for Detachment and Annexation

1. File a petition with the Office of the Regional Superintendent of Education. The petition must state the desired result and must include a complete legal description of all territory involved. The petition must be signed by a majority of all registered voters living within the territory. If there are none, it must be signed by all owners of record.
2. Deposit an anticipated expense fee of $1,000.00. All expenses are the responsibility of the petitioner(s). Any unused funds will be returned; additional expenses will be invoiced to the petitioner.
3. Although it is not a requirement in the law, petitioners are encouraged to consider securing the services of an attorney to prepare the petition and to present the case at the time of hearing.
4. Completion of PA 99-0475 Screening Form is not required but recommended.
5. The Regional Board of School Trustees will decide the petition. The Board meets quarterly in January, April, July, and October.

The Charge to Regional Board of School Trustees in Detachment Proceedings

In regard to the granting of a detachment petition, “Illinois courts have consistently held that the denial of a petition…cannot be based on the fear of setting a precedent. The courts have also held that where there is no great detriment or benefit to either district…, then the determinations should be made upon the welfare of the pupil(s).”

Regional Boards of Trustees should consider the following factors in making their decisions on a
detachment petition.

1. The financial impact on all the districts involved.
2. The relative merits of the educational program such as:
   
   1. Curriculum
   2. Library facilities
   3. Racial environment
   4. Social environment
3. Convenience and preference of parents and students living in the area sought to be detached.
4. Physical proximity to school districts of the area to be detached.
5. The welfare of the affected districts, and their pupils as a whole.
6. The benefits to the annexing district and affected areas outweighing the detriment resulting to detaching district and surrounding community as a whole.
7. Educational factors including the following:
   
   1. The difference between the facilities of the school districts.
   2. The effects detachment would have upon the ability of either district to meet prescribed Standards.
   3. The effects on tax revenues of both districts.
   4. The distances from petitioners’ homes to schools in both districts.
   5. The identity of the petitioning territory with the district to which annexation is sought.
   6. Per capita expenditures by both districts.
8. The likelihood of increased participation in school activities by the parents and children in the petitioning territory if detachment were granted.

HOW TO FILE A PETITION FOR DETACHMENT AND ANNEXATION

The following steps must be taken to petition the Regional Board of School Trustees for the Regional Office of Education #21 to consider the transfer of territory from one school district to another district:

1. Public Act 099-0475 was passed by the Illinois General Assembly and signed by Governor Bruce Rauner in August 2015 to become effective on January 1, 2016. This new law makes some important changes to the criteria which Regional Boards must consider before granting any petition for detachment and annexation of a parcel(s) of land from one school district to another. The most significant change for potential petitioners is the provision found in Subsection (i)(4). It prevents a Regional Board from approving a petition that “will increase the percentage of minority or low-income students or English learners by more than 3% at the attendance center where students in the detaching territory currently attend.” Therefore, in an effort to ensure that potential petitioners before the Regional Board can meet that standard before they go to the effort and expense of filing their petition. It is recommended that all potential petitioners complete PA 99-0475 Screening Form and submit it to the ROE for evaluation before they proceed. Completion of this form is not required but is recommended.
2. A petition must be prepared and filed calling for the detachment of territory from one district and annexation to another.
   
   1. Petition must be addressed to and filed with the Regional Board of School Trustees for the Regional Office of Education #21 (105 ILCS 5/7.6). This Board meets in January, April, July, and October.
   2. Petition must state the purpose of the petition.
   3. Petition must give the legal description of territory in question (105 ILCS 5/7.2).
   4. Petition must give reasons why the request is being made.
   5. Each page of the petition must include the full prayer (requestor) of the petition.
   6. Each person’s address must be included in the petition.
   7. Petition must be signed and dated by petitioners (2/3 of legal voters residing in the area to be detached – 105 ILCS 5/7.2).
   8. A simple map must be attached to petition. We suggest a marked page from the Plat Book showing location of property described in the petition.
   9. Petition must be filed with the Ex-Officio Secretary of the Regional Board of School Trustees, Mrs. Lorie LeQuatte (105 ILCS 5/7.6).
3. A deposit of $1,000 must be made before the petition filing process is considered complete. This is to cover the cost of the court reporter, transcript, cost of legal notice, and other incidental expenditures. A record of expenditures will be given to the petitioner and unused funds will be returned to the petitioner.
4. Residents of legal voting age who reside in the territory to be detached must be listed in the petition (2/3 of legal voters residing in the area to be detached – 105 ILCS 5/7.2). The original petition and sufficient copies for Boards of School Districts involved. Copies need not be signed by petitioner as required on original (105 ILSC 5/7-4.1).
5. The petition must address the following issues:
   
   1. Are there any bond issues pending in any district in question? (105 ILCS 5/7-3)
   2. Will any non-high school territory result? (105 ILCS 5/7-4)
   3. Will any district be left with less than 2,000 population? (105 ILCS 5/7-4)
   4. Will any district be left with less than $6,000.000 EAV? (105 ILCS 5/7-4)
6. Regional Superintendent as Ex-Officio Secretary to the Board must:
   
   1. Notify districts and/or counties involved.
   2. Check description on petition and plat for correctness.
   3. Check that petitioner (s) is/are a legal voter (s).
   4. Prepare financial report – valuation of the property involved, probable effects on school districts involved, report on procedures followed and appropriate maps. Send these reports to trustees, districts, and counties involved within 5 days of hearing.
7. Regional Board of School Trustees must:
   
   1. Receive the petition.
   2. Set hearing date.
   3. Employ court reporter and order transcripts as required.
   4. Order maps made for hearing.
   5. Designate newspapers for publication of notice of hearing.
8. Legal notice of hearing must be published by Secretary of the Regional Board of School Trustees in a newspaper of general circulation once, not less than 10, nor more than 15 days before hearing. Notice of hearing is also sent to all petitioners, school districts, and counties involved.
9. The hearing is held before the Regional Board of School Trustees. Petitioners may be represented by an attorney if they so choose, but they may present their own case.
10. Regional Board of School Trustees render a decision in open meeting immediately following the conclusion of statements by all parties concerned, or within ten days following the hearing.
11. Order is prepared when required by law. (Within 30 days of decision, notice sent to all petitioners, school districts, and counties involved.)
    
    1. If a second Region is involved, a joint hearing will be held unless one Region has the greatest portion of the territory under their supervision.
    2. Within 30 days of the second Region hearing (if separate hearings are conducted), notice of decision will be sent to all petitioners, school districts, and first Region.
12. If petition is denied, petitioners may petition for a rehearing within 10 days, or may file for Administrative Review (Sec. 7-7) in the Circuit Court of original county within 35 days.
13. Effective date of changes (105 ILCS 5/7-9)
    
    1. If between Sept.1 and June 30, action becomes effective July 1.
    2. If final action is between July 1 and before September 1, becomes effective immediately.
14. If petition is granted by both Regions, a copy of the order and map are filed with both County Clerks within 30 days.

The changing of school boundaries is a very serious matter. Petitions for changing of school boundaries are not granted unless there is a preponderance of evidence that the change is in the best interest of schools and/or students.