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 of Education #35 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Office officials noted they believe the mandate is outdated and that they are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 5/3-14.5) also 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 Office of Education #35 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.
The Illinois School Code (105 ILCS 5/3-5) 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 of Education #35 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 submitted to the county board his Office’s annual
report. The annual report included
statistics on major areas of activities of the ROE, including the inspections
of school buildings within its region.
Details of the dates of visits and other statistics are provided to
the board upon request.
Finally, the
Illinois School Code (105 ILCS 5/13B-25.35) states that based on district
plans to provide alternative learning opportunities, the Regional Office of
Education must submit an annual plan summarizing the number, needs, and
demographics of students at risk of academic failure expected to be served in
its region. This plan must be updated
annually and be submitted to the State Board.
The Regional Office of Education #35 did not provide
ISBE with an annual regional plan summarizing the number, needs, and
demographics of students at risk of academic failure expected to be served in
its region, even though a school district within the Regional Office’s region
participated in an Alternative Learning Opportunities Program. (Finding 06-1, pages 12-15)
The
Regional Office of Education #35 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 report to the
county board on a quarterly basis and present the list of schools visited
including the dates of visitations for compliance purposes. The Illinois Association of Regional
Superintendents of Schools is attempting to repeal these requirements for the
Office. As for 105 ILCS 5/13B-25.35,
the Regional Office responded it will comply with this law but has no
district in the county which submitted a plan.
AUDITORS’ OPINION
Our auditors
state the Regional Office of Education #35’s financial statements as of June
30, 2006 are fairly presented in all material respects.
WILLIAM
G. HOLLAND, Auditor General
WGH:JRB
SPECIAL ASSISTANT AUDITORS
Our special assistant auditors
were E.C. Ortiz & Co., LLP.
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