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 #43 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believe the mandate is outdated and that they are satisfying the intent of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 Superintendent performs compliance
inspections for each public school in his region on a rotational basis every
four 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.
Finally, 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 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 Office did
submit an annual report to its counties but the report did not contain all of
the items mentioned in the School Code.
(Finding 06-1, pages 13-14)
The Regional Office of Education #43 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 plans to present under
affirmation to the county boards, quarterly reports of all his acts as
Regional Superintendent, including a list of all the schools visited with the
dates of visitation.
AUDITORS’ OPINION
Our auditors state
the Regional Office of Education #43’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 Ginoli & Company LTD.
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