(105 ILCS 5/11E-20)

Sec. 11E-20. Combined school district formation.

(a)(1) The territory of 2 or more entire contiguous elementary districts may be organized into a combined elementary district under the provisions of this Article.

(2) Any 2 or more entire elementary districts that collectively are within or substantially coterminous with the boundaries of a high school district, regardless of whether the districts are compact and contiguous with each other, may be organized into a combined school district in accordance with this Article.

(3) Any 2 or more entire elementary districts that are not contiguous may be organized into a combined school district in accordance with this Article if the following requirements are met and documented within 2 calendar years prior to the petition filing date:

(A) the distance between each district administrative office is documented as no more than 30 miles; and

(B) every district contiguous to a district wishing to organize into a combined school district under the provisions of this paragraph (3) determines that it is not interested in participating in a petition for a combined school district filed in accordance with this Article, through a vote of its school board, and documents that non-interest in a letter to the regional superintendent of schools containing approved minutes that record the school board vote.

(b)(1) The territory of 2 or more entire contiguous high school districts may be organized into a combined high school district under the provisions of this Article.

(2) Any 2 or more entire high school districts that are not contiguous may be organized into a combined school district in accordance with this Article if the following requirements are met and documented within 2 calendar years prior to the petition filing date:

(A) the distance between each district administrative office is documented as no more than 30 miles; and

(B) every district contiguous to a district wishing to organize into a combined school district under the provisions of this paragraph (2) determines that it is not interested in participating in a petition for a combined school district filed in accordance with this Article, through a vote of its school board, and documents that non-interest in a letter to the regional superintendent of schools containing approved minutes that record the school board vote.

(c)(1) The territory of 2 or more entire contiguous unit districts may be organized into a combined unit district under the provisions of this Article.

(2) Any 2 or more entire unit districts that are not contiguous may be organized into a combined school district in accordance with this Article if the following requirements are met and documented within 2 calendar years prior to the petition filing date:

(A) the distance between each district administrative office is documented as no more than 30 miles; and

(B) every district contiguous to the district wishing to organize into a combined school district under the provisions of this paragraph (2) determines that it is not interested in participating in a petition for a combined school district filed in accordance with this Article, through a vote of its school board, and documents that non-interest in a letter to the regional superintendent of schools containing approved minutes that record the school board vote.

(Source: P.A. 98-125, eff. 8-2-13.)