Regional Offices of Education consolidate
Two local Regional Offices of Education have consolidated as part of legislation passed in 2012.
Three years ago, Illinois lawmakers ordered consolidation of Regional Offices of Education (ROEs) from 44 to 35 offices statewide. The new combined offices were up for election last November, and the new officeholders took over on July 1.
Madison County was unaffected. However, two other ROEs were.
Bond, Christian, Effingham, Fayette and Montgomery counties are one such office. Julie Wollerman is the regional superintendent there.
“We are excited as we step forward into a new era of serving more schools and teachers than ever before. The ROE 3 team is eager to share their talents with our new counties and look forward to many years of great service,” Wollerman said.
Jefferson, Clinton, Marion and Washington counties make up another of the new consolidated offices. Ron Daniels is its regional superintendent.
“The newly consolidated ROE 13 will continue to provide the same quality service that educators and the community in Clinton, Jefferson, Marion and Washington counties have come to expect from the regional offices. Our four county offices will be staffed with many of the same friendly individuals who have worked in the offices for years,” Daniels said.
The consolidation process included combining staffs and office locations, coordinating programs with local school districts and shuffling management of some educational programs within the ROEs themselves.
Jeff Vose, who now heads the Sangamon-Menard ROE and is the new president of the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools (IARSS), credited a “selfless approach” by his organization’s members to making for a “seamless” transition.
“It is never easy to lose members and change how you serve your districts, but each of these regions and the many counties they serve have done it by putting what’s best for Illinois education first,” Vose said. “We have worked hard to ensure any complications are minimized and ask for our schools’ and the public’s patience as we go through a big transition these next few weeks. We look forward to working within our regions to put into practice our commitment to Safety, Support and Success in classrooms around the state.”
What is the Regional Office of Education?
Headed by the regional superintendent of Schools, the office serves as the liaison between the local public school systems in county, or counties, and the Illinois State Board of Education. The main functions of this office include:
▪ Supervision of operations of school boards and administrators.
▪ Disbursement of state funds to schools.
▪ Examination of the financial records of each school treasurer and bonding of treasures.
▪ Keeping records and reports on all schools and submitting and annual report to the state superintendent of education.
▪ Administering teacher examinations, conducting teacher institutes, and administering the high school equivalency (GED) and U.S. and state constitution tests.
This story was originally published July 6, 2015 at 10:34 AM with the headline "Regional Offices of Education consolidate."