Scrutinized Cook Co. Regional Office of Education closed

A Regional Superintendent may lose his  credentials.The office is responsible for services to 143 school districts and 400,000 students in suburban Cook County. One of its larger roles is to oversee teacher certifications and licensing.The office is so useless, it was eliminated altogether back in 1994 until a political deal was hatched in Springfield to bring it back to life. Now, the [Cook]County Board is calling on the state to eliminate the post again, while calling on investigators to look into possible criminal charges against Charles Flowers.

A few months after its Westchester office was raided by authorities, the new Broadview location of the Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education has been closed until further notice.

The closure was initiated by the village of Broadview, said Illinois State Board of Education spokeswoman Mary Fergus, who said she believed there was a problem with the office's business license. Broadview officials couldn't be reached for comment.

The new location opened on Nov. 2. According to the Nov. 10 posting on the office's Web site, the office was experiencing technical difficulties due to the relocation. The indefinite closing occurred three days later.

The office, which has racked up $1 million in debt according to a state audit, helps teachers and bus drivers get required certificates.

In July, the Cook County State's Attorney's office filed suit against the office and its head, Superintendent Charles Flowers, to get back a $190,000 loan from the county to the office. Authorities said Flowers defrauded the county because he knew the office couldn't repay the loan and that he spent the agency funds for personal use.

State's Attorney's spokesman Andy Conklin said the lawsuit is still pending. While no criminal charges have been filed, an investigation is ongoing, he said. The State Teacher Certification Board is also seeking to revoke Flowers' teaching and administrative certificates

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