At Tuesday night’s Washington County Board meeting, Keri Garrett, Regional Superintendent of the Regional Office of Education #13, made a report for 2013 – 2014 school year that covered all schools in the district, which includes Clinton and Marion Counties in addition to Washington County.  She discussed the report, which is mandatory per the schools’ codes.  There were 389 at-risk children ages 3 to 5 in the Preschool for All Program, 26 students in the Regional Safe School program, which are students that are referred from local school districts due to behavior or disruptive activities, while there were 50 students attending the Truant Alternative School because they are at risk of academic failure.  She said this is the most students in any year at the alternative school.  Garrett told the Board that the “Preschool for All Programs” received top honors in a recent compliance visit from the Illinois State Board of Education.  They were evaluated on the learning environment, teaching quality, administrative standards, as well as staff training and education.  It means their programs met or went beyond the highest quality goals.  She added that it has taken 8 years to reach this pinnacle.  The office also provides for administration and teachers.  They provided certification services for over 1,200 of these individuals, as well as there being 548 teachers and administrators benefiting from professional development opportunities, including the Mount Vernon Conference and the Tri-County Conference, among other services for administration and training for bus drivers.  The R.O.E. office also provided for approximately 230 G.E.D. applicants.  They also work with the Illinois State Board of Education on implementation of procedures and rules for the schools.  As part of this, Garrett’s staff has to visit all 32 schools in the 3 counties to ensure compliance.  The office also helps fill openings with substitute teachers.  Garrett also reported to the Board that they were audited and no findings of problems were found.