The ISSA admitted ineligible students in an effort
to increase student enrollment
The ISSA processed 24 vouchers, totaling $21,875,
between 25 and 114 days prior to the performance of
services
The ISSA failed to file its rules with the
Secretary of State's Office
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FINDINGS,
CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
NONCOMPLIANCE WITH THE ILLINOIS SUMMER SCHOOL FOR
THE ARTS ACT
The Illinois Summer School for the Arts (ISSA) did not
comply with the Illinois Summer School for the Arts Act
(Act) (105 ILCS 310/3) when admitting students to the
Summer School. The Act requires the ISSA to admit only
those students who have completed the 9th , 10th
, or 11th grades, and who reside in the State
of Illinois. The ISSA inappropriately admitted 5 eighth
grade students and 3 high school graduates to attend the
July 1997 Summer School. Additionally, one of the
ineligible students was not an Illinois resident.
(Finding 1, page 10)
ISSA officials defended the decision to admit the
eighth grade students, citing ambiguities in the Act as
substantiation for their actions. Despite the
ambiguities, the ISSA responded it will not, in the
future, knowingly admit students who have not completed
the ninth grade, students who have completed the twelfth
grade, and students who reside outside the State of
Illinois.
ADVANCED PROCESSING OF VOUCHERS
The ISSA processed 24 vouchers for counselors,
faculty, guest artists, and student assistants up to 114
days prior to the performance of services. Twenty-three
of the checks were retained by the ISSA until services
had been performed. One check was mistakenly mailed to
the payee 114 days prior to the performance of services.
(Finding 2, page 11)
The ISSA accepted our recommendation to ensure
vouchers not be processed prior to the performance of
services.
FAILURE TO FILE RULES
The ISSA did not file its rules and regulations with
the Secretary of State's Office. The Illinois
Administrative Procedures Act requires each agency to
adopt rules and file them with the Secretary of State's
Office (5 ILCS 100/5-10). Agency rules and regulations
are not valid or effective against any person or party
until the rules and regulations have been made available
for public inspection and filed.
The ISSA Board adopted rules and regulations regarding
the operation of the summer school, including the
assessment of tuition fees, on February 17, 1994, but did
not file them with the Secretary of State's Office. ISSA
personnel believe such filing is not necessary. Rules
with respect to operation of the School were no longer
considered in effect by the ISSA Board when it retained
Illinois State University to run the School during 1997.
Should the ISSA resume running the School, it would
propose to submit its rules to the Secretary of State's
Office. (Finding 3, page 12)
Regardless of who administers the Summer School, the
ISSA is responsible for developing rules and regulations
and filing them with the Secretary of State's Office. The
Summer School for the Arts has the responsibility to
comply with applicable statutory requirements, whether
the Summer School is administered by employees of the
Illinois Summer School for the Arts or a contractor
contracted by the School.
OTHER FINDINGS
The remaining finding was less significant and,
according to the ISSA, is being given appropriate
attention. We will review progress toward implementing
our recommendations in our next audit.
Responses to the recommendations were provided by the
Chairman of the Board, Mr. Louis Tiemann.
SUBSEQUENT EVENT
On September 8, 1997 the ISSA was notified that it
will not receive repeat funding from the Illinois Board
of Higher Education for the July 1998 summer school. The
ISSA does not have any alternate plans for funding.
AUDITOR'S OPINION
We have stated the financial statements of the
Illinois Summer School for the Arts Grant Fund as of and
for the years ended June 30, 1997 and 1996 are fairly
presented. The financial statements do not include any
adjustments that might result from the outcome of the
uncertainty of the ISSA's ability to continue as a going
concern.
_____________________________________
WILLIAM G. HOLLAND, Auditor General
WGH:GSS:pp
AUDITORS ASSIGNED
This audit was performed by the Auditor General's
staff.
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