REPORT DIGEST

 

REGIONAL OFFICE OF EDUCATION #55

 

WHITESIDE  COUNTY

 

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                         3

Repeated from last audit          1

 

Release Date:

August 23, 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 are also available on

the worldwide web at

http://www.auditor.illinois.gov

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

 

·        The Regional Office of Education #55 did not comply with certain statutory administrative requirements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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


 

                                                                                   

                                               REGIONAL OFFICE OF EDUCATION #55

         WHITESIDE COUNTY

 

                                                                  FINANCIAL AUDIT

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

                                                       For The Year Ended June 30, 2006

 

 

 

FY 2006

FY 2005

TOTAL REVENUES

$1,435,335

$1,286,844

Local Sources

$204,514

$164,722

% of Total Revenues

14.25%

12.80%

State Sources

$818,748

$769,135

% of Total Revenues

57.04%

59.77%

Federal Sources

$412,073

$352,987

% of Total Revenues

28.71%

27.43%

 

TOTAL EXPENDITURES

$1,432,502

$1,315,336

Salaries and Benefits

$1,032,012

$985,867

% of Total Expenditures

72.04%

74.95%

Purchased Services

$264,492

$220,069

% of Total Expenditures

18.46%

16.73%

All Other Expenditures

$135,998

$109,400

% of Total Expenditures

9.49%

8.32%

 

 

 

TOTAL NET ASSETS

$340,991

$338,158

 

 

 

INVESTMENT IN CAPITAL ASSETS

 

$58,964

 

$65,452

 

        Percentages may not add due to rounding.

 

REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENT 

During Audit Period: Honorable Gary Steinert

Currently:  Honorable Gary Steinert

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Regional Office of Education #55 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.   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.