Programs

What is a Regional Superintendent?

The Regional Superintendent of Schools is the chief administrative educational officer of an educational service region and the only elected education professional in Illinois. As an intermediate agency between the Illinois State Board of Education and local school districts, the Office of the Regional Superintendent performs regulatory functions as directed by the Illinois School Code.

The Code states: "The Regional Superintendent of Schools ...shall exercise supervision and control over all school districts in the county; ...shall act as the official advisor and assistant of the school officers and teachers in his/her region. In the performance of this duty he/she shall carry out the advice of the State Superintendent of Education."

In addition to coordinating and delivering state and local services, the Regional Superintendent acts as an advocate for education by providing positive leadership and disseminating information for educators, school districts, and the community.

Special duties of the Regional Superintendent are stated in the School Code and can be summarized in two major areas: Service and Assurances to the Public. Service components are generally grouped as legislative, legal, cooperative management, research dissemination, educational administration, and citizen representation.

Each component requires specific skills placing the Regional Superintendent in an alliance role. As the alliance agent, the Regional Superintendent brings together people, concepts, and resources to provide educational services. Assurances to the public include fiscal responsibilities, local performance, life safety, certification, supervision, and curriculum. In all of these areas, legislation places enforcement responsibilities on the Regional Superintendent to guarantee that certain minimums are met and legal parameters followed.

In most instances, enforcement responsibilities become services to help schools and school personnel meet at least minimum expectations. During the school year, the Regional Superintendent and her staff receive hundreds of telephone calls, letters and visits from parents, school personnel, and citizens concerning a multitude of educational concerns.

It is the policy of the Regional Superintendent to give prompt service and accurate information to any individual or group seeking assistance.

GED

For 70 years, adult educators and GED Testing Service have worked together to provide a bridge of opportunity for adult learners without a high school diploma. With the current version of the GED® test expiring in 2013, adult learners need to know about the change and how it could affect them. When the 2002 Series GED® Test expires, any incomplete scores will expire too. Test-takers who pass some but not all of the 2002 Series GED® Test will have to start over. Join the 2002 Series Closeout Campaign and tell adult learners to finish the GED® test by the end of 2013. Finishing the GED® test will assist you to open doors to college, better jobs, and the respect they deserve.

Many public libraries and retail bookstores carry study guides to help individuals prepare for the test, or go to:

http://www.GEDtestingservice.com

or

http://www.southwestern.cc.il.us/adultbasiced/constitution

Candidate Qualifications to take the GED Test.
An individual is eligible to take the GED Test given they meet the guidelines listed below:

17 years of age or older
is not a high school graduate or a GED graduate*
has maintained residence in the State of Illinois for thirty days
Individuals must provide proof of passing the constitution in high school.

Note: If an individual is of school age and has been enrolled in a public, private, or a home school setting in the last 12 months, they must present a withdrawal letter from the last school enrolled before taking GED Test.

Exceptions*
An individual may be eligible to take the GED Test at 16 years of age only if they meet the following criteria:

has maintained residence for thirty days in the State of Illinois
enrolled in an alternative education program under Section 2-3.81, 13A, or 13B of the Illinois School Code; or
enrolled in a youth education program under the Illinois National Guard (i.e., Lincoln’s Challenge)

Identification Requirements
An individual who takes the GED must show an acceptable form of identification that displays the name, address, date of birth, signature, and photograph. The acceptable forms of identification are listed below:

a driver’s license
valid passport
military ID,
other forms of government-issued, state, national or foreign identification
other acceptable identification as identified by the ICCB**

*Exceptions to this policy can be for GED graduates who would like to retake the test to get a higher score for purposes of post-secondary education qualification or employment. These requests should be submitted to the Illinois Community College Board State Director for GED Testing for review.

**GED Testing Centers are required to verify the individuals who take the GED test. In the event that a test candidate does not have the proper identification or the testing center is not able to verify the candidate from the information presented, the testing center may choose to submit information to the Illinois Community College Board for further review. Special Note: If an individual submits a court order for GED Testing, all court orders must be submitted to the ICCB for review.

Testing Dates for 2013

COST FOR TESTING

The $50.00 fee for testing and issuance of the High School Equivalency Certificate must accompany the application, which will permit candidates to take the Tests of General Educational Development.

COST FOR RETEST
$15.00 for the writing test.
$10.00 for each of the remaining tests.

COST FOR DUPLICATE
Duplicate Transcript is $5.00
Duplicate Certificate is $10.00
Transcript and Certificate is $15.00

Click Here for Duplicate Transcript Request Form

For G.E.D. testing schedules or further information contact Geri Brooks or Lori Morgan

Certification

For current state certification information go to:

http://www.isbe.net/certification/html/current_prospective.htm
Or
Contact our certification officers, Geri Brooks or Lori Morgan, they will be happy to assist you.

Life Safety

Authority
Since 1915, ROEs have been charged with the duty:

“…to inspect the building plans and specifications…of public school rooms and buildings…” (ILCS 5/3-14.20)

“…to inspect and survey all public schools under his or her supervision…” (ILCS 5/3-14/21)

“…to request the Department of Public Health, the State Fire Marshal, or the State Superintendent of Education to inspect public school buildings and temporary facilities which appear to him to be unsafe, unsanitary, or unfit for occupancy. These officials shall inspect such buildings or temporary school facilities and if, in their opinion, such buildings and temporary facilities are unsafe, unsanitary or unfit for occupancy, shall state in writing in what particular(s) they are unsafe, unsanitary, or unfit for occupancy. Upon the receipt of such statement the Regional Superintendent shall condemn the building or temporary facility and notify the school board thereof in writing and the reasons for such condemnation”… (ILCS 5/3-14.22)

To fulfill these duties, ROEs are to utilize the “minimum standards” established by the State Board of Education pursuant to Section 2-3.12 of the School Code. In 1965, ROEs were charged with the additional duty to review and approve “Safety Survey Reports” pursuant to the provisions of Section 2-3.12 of the School Code as amended. They were also charged with duties concerning the review and approval of amounts of funds to be raised through tax levies or sale of bonds for fire prevention, safety, energy conservation, handicapped accessibility, school security and specific repair purposes. (ILCS 5/2-3.12 and 5/17-2.11) The rules established relative to these duties are contained in Title 23 Part 180 of the Illinois Administrative Code, also referred to as “The Health/Life Safety Code for Public Schools.”

Annual Building Inspection
Purpose
The primary purpose of an annual inspection is to ensure that schools are minimally safe, sanitary, and fit for occupancy. It may also serve to confirm that school boards are making reasonable progress with previously issued orders to effect compliance.

Frequency
By law, all public schools must be inspected at least once each year by the Regional Office of Education. This includes facilities that are leased or rented by the district and used for school purposes. The extent and detail involved in an inspection depends upon the nature of the facility to be inspected. Factors such as size, complexity, age, previous conditions, etc., should be taken into consideration in planning and conducting inspections. Districts must maintain their school buildings in continuous compliance with minimum standards and be inspected annually. When, during the course of the year, a particular facility should be inspected is up to the discretion of the ROE. Facilities may be inspected more frequently if or when the ROE determines that it is necessary to do so.

Overview of Ten-Year Survey Process
Ten-Year Safety Surveys are required of all public school buildings. Because of the interrelationships between the Ten-Year Safety Survey and the Amendment Process, some of the information is similar. For simplicity of explanation, each process has its own chapter. School boards are required to file a completed Safety Survey every 10 years for each of its school buildings. The information in this chapter will help one understand what the requirements are, how they are developed, and who is involved in the Ten-Year Safety Survey report.

The Life Safety Ten-Year Survey Process A Ten-Year Safety Survey serves a dual purpose:

1) It requires a complete and detailed inspection of the district’s facilities that identifies new additions, major improvements, and all non-compliance items.
2) The Ten-Year Safety Survey includes new or updated safety reference plans. The plans must identify new additions, the fire protection system, major improvements completed, and locations of all main shut-offs for utilities at the point where these utilities enter the building.

Keep in mind that buildings are surveyed under the code applicable at the time they were built. If the non-compliance is a repair or replacement of part of the structure, a component of an operating system, or total replacement, then the non-compliance will have to be remedied and you must adhere to IL Adm. Code Part 180.

Chapter I: Building Permit/Certificate of Occupancy Process

Homeless

McKinney-Vento Homeless Children and Youth Program

Who is homeless? (Sec. 2 57)
The term “homeless children and youth” –
     (A) means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and
     (B) includes –
          (1) children and youth who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of
housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; or are awaiting foster care placement.
          (2) children and youth who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings…
          (3) children and youth who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and
          (4) migratory children who qualify as homeless for the purposes of this subtitle     because the children are living in circumstances described in clauses 1 through 3.

Immediate Enrollment – All homeless children or unaccompanied youth have the right to be enrolled immediately in school, without medical or academic records, regardless of district policy.

Transportation – Homeless children are entitled to the same rights to transportation as other children in the district. If the parent or guardian chooses the school of origin and it is in another district, the districts must agree on how to divide responsibility and cost of providing transportation or share both equally.

Service – Homeless children are entitled to the same services, such as tutoring, that are available to other children in their districts.

Dispute Resolution – If problems arise between the school and parents or between districts, the parent shall be referred to the Homeless Liaison at the Regional Office of Education. In the meantime, the child must remain in school and receive transportation

Homeless Liaison Contact

(Connecting Homeless Students to Special Educational Services)

22 N. McLean Street
Lincoln, IL 62656

217- 732-8388
217-735-1569(Fax)

Darrell Sisk

Click here to visit the Homeless Web Site

Truancy

ROE 38 Truancy Program

Jean Anderson, Administrative Agent
122 N. McLean Street, Lincoln, IL 62656
Phone 217-732-8388          Fax 217-735-1569

Logan, Mason and Menard County Caseworker - Darrell Sisk
Phone 217-732-8388          Fax 217-735-1569

Logan, Mason and Menard County Caseworker - Suzette Atwood
Phone 217-732-8388          Fax 217-735-1569

PURPOSE:
      The purpose of the program is to assist schools and families by identifying truant students, diagnosing causes of truancy, and providing intervention services.
      The program supplements and strengthens local school service agencies without duplicating existing services. Elementary, junior high, and high school-age students are assisted through this program, which is funded through a grant obtained from the Illinois State Board of Education.

SERVICES PROVIDED:
Identify truants and chronic truant students.
Diagnose causes of truancy.
Provide redemption and intervention services.
Network with existing agencies.
Design and implement attendance awareness programs.
Design alternative/optional education programs utilizing existing resources in the community.
Provide tutoring or online classroom services.

ELIGIBILITY:
      1. Truants
      2. Chronic Truants
      3. Potential Dropouts

DEFINITIONS:

TRUANT – according to Illinois State law, any person subject to compulsory school attendance who is absent without valid cause from such attendance for a school day or a portion thereof. (Valid Cause for absence may include observance of a religious holiday, documented student illness or injury requiring a doctor’s care, a death in the student’s immediate family, situations beyond the control of the student as determined by a district board of education, or such other circumstances which cause reasonable concern to the parent for the safety of the student.)

CHRONIC TRUANT - any person subject to compulsory school attendance who is absent without valid cause from such attendance for 10% or more of the previous 180 school days.

POTENTIAL DROPOUT is a person who has been identified by school officials on the basis of academic and/or personal performance. (This may include a student who is uninvolved, unmotivated, and/or disaffected.)

Career & Technical Education

LINCOLNLAND REGIONAL DELIVERY SYSTEM EFE 290 ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT: LOGAN-MASON-MENARD REGIONAL OFFICE OF EDUCATION
Jean Anderson, Superintendent Terri McDowell, Assistant Reg. Supt.	Bret Hitchings, Director Sharon Cassens, Assisitant Director
Serving:
Schools Greenview High School Hartsburg-Emden HIgh School Illini Central High School Lincoln Community High School Mt. Pulaski High School PORTA High School Williamsville High School Lincolnland Technical Education Center	Board of Control Gary DePatis Don Beard Lori Harrison Bob Bagby Todd Hamm Mathew Brue David Root Bob Bagby


122 N. McLean Street, Lincoln, Illinois 62656 Phone: 217/732-8388 Fax: 217/735-1569


*2012-2013 BOARD MEETING DATES* Time: 8:30 am Breakfast--9:00 am Business Meeting August 13, 2012 October 15, 2012 December 10, 2012 February 11, 2013 April 8, 2013 June 10, 2013

Salt Creek Academy

The Regional Safe School Program (RSSP) serves expulsion-eligible and suspension-eligible students in grades 6-12. The statewide program began serving Illinois students in FY97 as established by 105 ILCS 5/13A of the Illinois School Code providing a system of alternative education programs for disruptive students. Because of the actions of a small number of disruptive students, local school districts face increasing problems in maintaining a safe environment for all students. Expelling or suspending disruptive students puts them on the street, which may increase safety and advance the learning environment inside the school premises, but does not serve the educational needs of the expelled or suspended students or the community’s need for public safety. The purpose of RSSP is twofold: 1) to increase safety and promote the learning environment in schools and 2) to meet the particular educational needs of disruptive students more appropriately and individually in alternative educational environments. The RSSP has 48 grants representing 47 Regional Offices of Education (ROEs) and the Chicago Public Schools. Grantees may run the RSSP programs or contract with local school districts. Individual programs may serve students in grades 6-12 or any combination of grades 6-12 based upon local needs and decision-making by the ROEs and local school districts. The RSSP has a set of guidelines, based upon best practices for alternative programs. Each student has an Individualized Optional Education Plan (IOEP) and positive outcomes include: reduction in disruptive behavior, regular attendance, coursework completion and credit received advancement in grade level, return to home school, grammar or high school graduation and where appropriate completing a program leading to taking the GED test and passing the GED. Behavior modification training and other counseling, life skills training, community service, and work-based learning experiences are aspects of RSSP. Computerized learning systems may supplement the primary academic instruction or may be used as the primary method of instruction.
SALT CREEK ACADEMY 30819 FANCY PRAIRIE AVENUE, ATHENS 62613
PHONE 217-566-3841	FAX 217-566-3653
Grades 6 - 12
Jean Anderson, Regional Superintendent Del Sutter, Director Teaching Staff
Debbie Albrecht Rachel Chalmers John Jensen Robert Letterly	Science English Social Science Math
Board Members
Don Beard Todd Hamm Mary Ahillen Todd Dugan Bailey Climer Robert Bagby Mark Twomey Lori Harrison Todd Hellrigel Gary DePatis Matt Brue Scott Laird	Hartsburg-Emden Mt. Pulaski Lincoln Elementary New Holland-Middletown West Lincoln-Broadwell Lincoln Comm. High School Havana Illini Central Midwest Central Greenview PORTA Athens

Bus Driver

Illinois law now requires a fingerprint check for all new bus drivers. Bus Driver Information** The following requirements must be fulfilled in order to become a bus driver or renew a bus driver permit in Logan, Mason and Menard counties:
New Bus Drivers	Permit Renewal
New bus drivers are required to participate in an eight-hour initial training course. To pre-register for this course, contact the Regional Office of Education. A $8.00 fee is required for the initial training course. Drivers must apply to a bus company or a school district that employs new bus drivers. PERMIT RENEWAL In accordance with Public Act 88-612, all school bus drivers are required to complete an annual refresher safety course before their school bus driver permit can be renewed. This course runs approximately two hours.	If a driver's permit expires, he or she has a 30-day grace period in which to make proper application, but he/she is not allowed to drive a school bus while that application is being processed. After the 30-day grace period expires, a driver cannot renew his/her permit. In this case, the driver would then have to begin the initial process for issuance (reinstatement) of a permit. The applicant / district is required to pay a fee of $8.00 per driver for this class. All drivers who attend the training will be issued a "Letter of Certification". After course completion, districts are billed for the number of employees attending the training courses. The district is required to pay a of $4.00 per driver for this class fee.
**Illinois law now requires a fingerprint check for all new bus drivers.
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE BUS SCHEDULE

CONTACT INFORMATION Contact Lori Morgan for Additional Information on Bus Driver Training and Certification in Logan, Mason and Menard Counties

Special Education

SANGAMON AREA SPECIAL EDUCATION DISTRICT

Ms. Chris Harms, Director of Special Education

Michelle Curran, Assistant Director

2500 Taylor Avenue, Springfield, IL 62703
Phone - 217-786-3250 Fax 217-786-3652
Web Page - http://www.sased.com/

Secretary – Judy Klemeyer

Menard County Services – Billie Meyers at Greenview
Cindy Denzer at Athens & PORTA

TRI-COUNTY SPECIAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

Scott Hogan, Director

105 E. Hamilton Road, Bloomington, IL 61704
Phone - 309-828-5231 Fax 309-828-3013
EMail – shogan@tcsea.k12.il.us or info@tcsea.k12.il.us
Web Page – http://www.tcsea.org

Kris Dean, Assistant Director
EMail – kdean@tcsea.k12.il.us

Secretaries Laurie Bowden, Cheryl Miller, Pam Ward, and Jody VanBibber

Donna Morris, Assistant Director
812 Lincoln Avenue, Lincoln, IL 62656
Phone - 217-732-2316 Fax 217-735-2711 EMail – morrisd@tcsea.k12.il.us
Bonnie Frawley, Secretary
Tara Block, Social Worker
Traci Graue, Social Worker
Dawn Lanning, Psychologist
Kelly McCraith, Psychologist

TAZEWELL-MASON COUNTIES SPECIAL EDUCATION ASSN.

Sally Masear, Director
300 Cedar Street, Pekin, IL 61554-2576
Phone - 309-347-5164 Fax 309-346-0440
EMail - tmcsea@roe53.k12.il.us
Website – http://www.tmcsea.org

Secretary – Terrie Schappaugh

Region V Special Education Office, 801 E. Laurel, Havana, 62644
Phone 309-543-6637 Fax 309-543-4984
Annette Gresham, Coordinator Sp. Services Dist. No. 126
EMail – agresham@havana126.net
Vivian Freeman, Secretary
Rebecca Foglesong, Psychologist Dist. No. 126
Erin Watson, Social Worker 126

Region V Special Education Office, 162 E. Chestnut St., P.O. Box 145, Mason City, 62664
Phone 217-482-5755 Fax 217-482-9118
Pam Johnson, Coordinator Sp. Services Dist. No. 189
EMail – pjohnson@illinicentral.org
Mary Ann Eden, Secretary
Susan Estoye, Psychologist Dist. No. 189
Bonnie Steffens, Social Worker 189

Regional V Special Education Office, 450 Southmoor St., Manito, 61546
Phone 309-968-7849 Fax 309-968-7652
Martha Willard, Coordinator Sp. Services Dist. No. 191
EMail – willard@midwestcentral.org
Ruth Cooper, Secretary
Michelle Reynolds, Social Worker 191
Tom Derby, Psychologist Dist. No. 191