REPORT DIGEST

REGIONAL OFFICE OF EDUCATION #10

CHRISTIAN AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES

FINANCIAL AUDIT

(In Accordance with the
Single Audit Act and OMB Circular A-133)

For the Year Ended:

June 30, 2006

Summary of Findings:

Total this audit                          1

Total last audit                          1

Repeated from last audit           1

Release Date:

April 5, 2007

State of Illinois

Office of the Auditor General

WILLIAM G. HOLLAND

AUDITOR GENERAL

To obtain a copy of the Report contact:

Office of the Auditor General

Iles Park Plaza

740 E. Ash Street

Springfield, IL 62703

(217) 782-6046 or TTY (888) 261-2887

This Report Digest and Full Report is also available on the worldwide web at

www.auditor.illinois.gov

SYNOPSIS

·        The Regional Office of Education #10 did not comply with certain statutory administrative requirements.

                        {Expenditures and Revenues are summarized on the reverse page.}

The Regional Office of Education #10 did not comply with certain statutory administrative requirements.

FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

CONTROLS OVER COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS

         The Illinois School Code (105 ILCS 5/3-14.11) requires the Regional Superintendent to examine at least once each year all books, accounts, and vouchers of every school treasurer in his educational service region, and if he finds any irregularities in them, to report them at once, as directed by the School Code.

         The Regional Office did not examine at least once each year all books, accounts, and vouchers of every school treasurer in the educational service region.  Regional Office officials noted they believe the mandate is outdated and that they are satisfying the intent of the statute by other reviews they undertake.  This mandate has existed in its current form since at least 1953.  

         The Illinois School Code (105 ILCS 5/3-5) also requires the Regional Superintendent to present under oath or affirmation to the county board at its meeting in September and as nearly quarterly thereafter as it may have regular or special meetings, a report of all his acts as county superintendent, including a list of all the schools visited with the dates of visitation.  This mandate has existed in its current form since at least 1953.

         The Regional Office did not present at the September county board meeting, and as nearly quarterly thereafter, a report of all his acts including a list of all the schools visited and dates of visitation.  The Regional Superintendent presents an annual report to the county boards of the counties in the two-county region.  The Regional Superintendent also maintains regular communication with the county boards, including attendance at committee meetings and at meetings of the full board.  The Regional Superintendent was not aware of specific details required for his reports. 

         Finally, the Illinois School Code (105 ILCS 5/3-14.5)  requires the Regional Superintendent to visit each public school in the county at least once a year, noting the methods of instruction, the branches taught, the textbooks used, and the discipline, government and general condition of the schools.  This mandate has existed in its current form since at least 1953.

         The Regional Superintendent performs compliance inspections for each public school in his region on a rotational basis every three years instead of annually.  The Illinois Public School Accreditation Process Compliance Component document completed at these visits includes many of the items delineated in 105 ILCS 5/3-14.5, but does not include a review of the methods of instruction and the textbooks used in the district.  (Finding 06-01, pages 13-15)

         The Regional Office accepted the recommendation to comply with the statutory requirements.  The Regional Office responded that with regards to compliance with 105 ILCS 5/3-14.11 and 105 ILCS 5/3-14.5, the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools and the Illinois State Board of Education have agreed to seek legislation to remove duplicative and/or obsolete sections of the Illinois School Code.  Both parties believe that 105 ILCS 5/3-7 of the Illinois School Code and 23 Ill. Adm. Code 1.20, respectively, contain more current, thorough, and comprehensive requirements concerning a public school district’s financial transactions and visitation of public schools by the Regional Superintendent.  As a result, the two parties working together will seek legislation to repeal these two sections of the Illinois School Code.   With regards to 105 ILCS 5/3-5, the Regional Superintendent will make the required presentation in September of each year and has asked to be placed on the county boards’ agenda for quarterly meetings in each quarter thereafter.

AUDITORS’ OPINION

         Our auditors state the Regional Office of Education #10’s financial statements as of June 30, 2006 are fairly presented in all material respects.

_____________________________________

WILLIAM G. HOLLAND, Auditor General

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SPECIAL ASSISTANT AUDITORS

         Our special assistant auditors were West & Company, LLC.