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Regional Office officials noted they believe the mandate is outdated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. For example, the Regional
Superintendent has been examining school district financial statements on an
annual basis. 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 the dates
of visitation.
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 06-1, pages 12-14)
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 stated he will attend the county board
meeting in September and quarterly thereafter to present the report of
official acts, including a list of all schools visited and dates of
visitation as required.
AUDITORS’ OPINION
Our auditors state the Regional
Office of Education #55’s financial statements as of June 30, 2006 are fairly
stated in all material respects.
_____________________________________
WILLIAM
G. HOLLAND, Auditor General
WGH:KJM:ro
SPECIAL ASSISTANT AUDITORS
Our special assistant auditors were Clifton
Gunderson, LLP.
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