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Illinois education officials address audit findings

[May 14, 2025] By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Illinois’ superintendent of education says state officials are taking steps to correct compliance issues identified by auditors.

Officials from the Illinois State Board of Education testified before the Legislative Audit Commission Tuesday, after a compliance review listed 15 findings.

State Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders said the board has taken corrective action for eight of the issues.

“Specific corrective action ISBE has taken include implementing financial controls to ensure the future appropriation amounts are properly stated and reported,” Sanders said.

Sanders said the board prioritized improving ISBE’s internal processes. He told state Rep. Amy Elik, R-Alton, that legislation was advancing in the General Assembly to address issues with the board’s climate survey results.

“House Bill 2986 is third reading in the second chamber, in the Senate. It is one vote away from being sent to the governor to sign,” Sanders said.

Sanders said he anticipated a vote on HB 2986 before the end of the legislative session. The measure was amended in the Senate and if it passes there, it must first be concurred on by the House before it can be sent to the governor's desk.

Illinois State University officials also appeared before the Legislative Audit Commission Tuesday and said they are addressing uncorrected issues found by state auditors.

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Greg Bishop | The Center Square

Several findings in the two-year report were related to internal controls for cybersecurity and confidential information. ISU President Aondover Tarhule said the school’s vice president for finance and planning, Glen Nelson, is reorganizing ISU’s information technology division to strengthen compliance.

Nelson joined the university in January and said Tuesday he’s not sure how many findings have been fixed, but he said there is a plan.

“I can address that a number of the findings from [2023], particularly those material findings in the IT security area, we’ve made progress on a number of the sub-points,” Nelson said.

Nelson told Elik that he expects improvement in the 2026-27 audit.

“I’m looking forward to coming back in the future, having fewer findings to answer to at that point,” Nelson said.

“Thank you for the honest answer. It’s not fixed today, but we’re working on it,’” Elik suggested.

“Yes,” Nelson affirmed.

Tarhule said ISU has had three different presidents, provosts and chief financial officers since 2020.

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