Regional Office of Education #12

Message from the Regional Superintendent:

With all the recent publicity surrounding Governor Quinn’s decision to line-item veto ROE state funds, it is important to note that the facilities of the Regional Office of Education #12 will remain open for business as usual. Additionally, I will continue to fulfill the duties of my oath of office to the citizens of Clay, Crawford, Jasper, Lawrence, and Richland Counties. It is an affirmation that I take seriously.

With continued chatter about the significance of the Regional Offices of Education, I feel it is necessary to make known many of the duties and roles of the ROEs. Below is only a small listing:

▪ Respond to legal questions from educators, boards of education and other citizens

▪ Issue, register, and renew teacher certificates

▪ Supervise and assist in transportation programs, scientific literacy programs and other staff development programs

▪ Provide G.E.D. educational programs, testing, and diplomas

▪ Disseminate information on scholarships and teacher vacancies

▪ Conduct professional growth opportunities

▪ Approve school calendars, in-service days, workshops, and institutes

▪ Conduct hearings for formation of Unit Districts and consolidation of existing school districts

▪ Assist the Illinois State Board of Education, Compliance Division, in the evaluation and recognition of public schools, and private schools, and private schools who ask to be recognized

▪ Maintain maps of all school districts

▪ Administer cooperative programs

▪ Monitor public schools during strikes

▪ Remove any member of a school board for failure to perform official duties

▪ Assist with cooperatives, special education programs, and vocational programs

▪ Serve as Ex-Officio Secretary of the Regional Board of School Trustees

▪ Audit district claims for General State Aid, Categorical Funds, and Federal Grants.

▪ Review budgets, audits, evidence of indebtedness and annual financial reports

▪ Check bonding of school treasurers

▪ Disburse state and federal funds

▪ Act as administrative and/or fiscal agent for appropriate programs

▪ Visit and inspect each public school annually

▪ Supervise school buildings for health and life safety and condemn buildings if necessary

▪ Provide courses in safety and first aid for bus drivers

▪ Approve building permits and occupancy permits

▪ Respond to questions and concerns, including legal questions, from parents, teachers, administrators, board of education and other citizens

▪ Promote and support educational programs and achievements of the schools and educators

▪ Hold public hearings on topics vital to education

▪ Serve as liaison between the state legislature and local school districts

▪ Serve as liaison between the Illinois State Board of Education and local school districts

Although this July and August have proven to be a “long hot summer” for the ROEs indeed, I do want to take this opportunity to extend my sincere thanks and gratitude for all those who have expressed support and kindness toward me and my staff during this difficult time. Your encouragement means the world! Unfortunately, as a result of the Governor’s decision to eliminate salaries for Regional Superintendents and Assistant Regional Superintendents, we lost Andy Julian from the ROE at the end of July. A professional opportunity presented itself to Andy in the Edwards County School District. Although he (and we) would have preferred for him to stay with the ROE, the continuing uncertainty and upheaval here lead him to choose to seek the stability of a position in the public schools. We here at ROE 12 wish Andy all the best! Personally, I want to thank Andy for the gracious assistance and guidance he provided to me during our short tenure together here. I know that our loss is truly Edwards County’s gain. I plan to bring on a replacement for Andy when salaries resume and the ‘dust settles.’ Hopefully, we’ll have a new Assistant in place by January.

In summary, we’re here and we’re here to help you! Please let us know how we can be of assistance.

If you feel strongly about the importance of the Regional Offices of Education, please take any opportunity to make your voices heard. Recent legislation has created the Illinois Classrooms First Commission. This group, headed by Lt. Governor Sheila Simon, has been charged with getting public input and studying the issue of tax dollar efficiency in relation to the elimination of administrative overhead and duplicative services so that those funds can be redirected to the classroom. The commission will study how districts can improve educational opportunities, reduce duplicative spending, and lower the tax burden through shared services, consolidation or other realignment options. I welcome the fact that the Regional Offices will be part of that study. I believe that when viewed objectively, it will be obvious that the ROEs provide a huge ‘bang for the buck.’

To Contact:

Governor Pat Quinn

http://www2.illinois.gov/gov/Pages/ContacttheGovernor.aspx

Lt. Governor Sheila Simon

http://www2.illinois.gov/ltgov/Pages/ContactUs.aspx

State Senator John O. Jones

http://jones.senategop.org/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=1&Itemid=3

State Senator Dale Righter http://www.dalerighter.com/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=1&Itemid=3

State Representative David Reis

http://www.davidreis.org/contact.htm

State Representative Roger Eddy

http://www.peopleforeddy.com/msg2us.html