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
the educational service region, and if any irregularities are found, to
report them at once, as directed by the School Code.
The Regional Office of Education #50 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believe the mandate is outdated and that they are satisfying the intent of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
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.
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 of Education #50 did not
present at the September county board meeting, and as nearly quarterly
thereafter, a report of all acts, including a list of all the schools visited
and dates of visitation. (Finding
06-1, pages 12a-12b)
The Regional Office of Education #50
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. The Regional Office of Education #50 also
that they will visit each public school in the county annually to review all
items as required by 105 ILCS 5/3-14.5 until legislative action is taken.
With
regards to 105 ILCS 5/3-5, the Regional Superintendent accepted the
recommendation and will attend county board meetings quarterly and present
under oath or affirmation a report 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 # 50’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 Kemper CPA
Group, LLP.
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