§ 15-23 — Common school lands

The provisions of Sections 15-1 through 15-19, of this Article shall have no application to the sale of any of the common school lands of any township to a school district located within the township for use as a schoolhouse site, and the trustees of schools or township land commissioners in any township in which Section 16 or land granted in lieu thereof remains unsold may sell to the governing body of any such school district any tract of said common school lands where such tract has been legally selected as a schoolhouse site for said district. Where any tract of the common school lands of the township has been legally selected as a schoolhouse site by the voters of any school district within the township, the governing body of such school district may adopt a resolution reciting the fact that the voters have legally selected such tract as a schoolhouse site, describing it, setting forth the date of the election and the fact that a majority of the voters voting at the election selected the said tract as a schoolhouse site, and requesting the trustees of schools, or township land commissioners upon payment to them of not to exceed the sum authorized by the voters to be paid for any such tract, to execute an instrument indicating that said trustees of schools or township land commissioners of the township hold title to said tract for the use and benefit of such school district. A certified copy of such resolution shall be filed with the Clerk of the trustees of schools or township land commissioners, and it shall be the duty of said trustees of schools or township land commissioners of such township upon the filing of a certified copy of such resolution with the Clerk of the trustees of schools, or township land commissioners to execute an instrument of conveyance or an instrument of declaration, indicating that they hold title to such property for the use and benefit of said school district, which shall be filed of record in the office of the recorder. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, if the school district is a school district located in a Class I county school unit, or if the school district is a school district that has withdrawn from the jurisdiction and authority of the trustees of schools of a township and the township treasurer under subsection (b) of Section 5-1, the resolution of the school board shall request the trustees of schools, township land commissioners, regional board of school trustees, or other school officials having title to the property, upon payment to them of not to exceed the sum authorized by the voters, to deliver to the school board a deed, executed by their president and their clerk or secretary, conveying good legal title to the property selected as a schoolhouse site to the school board of the school district.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 88-155.)