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MCESA tackling improvement goals
by Amy Soper, The Midland Daily News, September 18, 2002
For more articles on disabilities and special ed visit
www.bridges4kids.org.
Quality, communication and collaboration are long-term goals
for the Midland County Educational Services Agency.
During a Tuesday meeting, board members discussed ways they
could accomplish those goals.
They will seek input about what their goals should be from
employees, area school administrators and county residents
during the next several weeks.
Later this year, board members will vote on final goals.
Because of the uncertainty of school finance, it’s important
to maintain fiscal stability, Superintendent Bill McKinstry
said.
Maintaining a fund balance of at least 10 percent of
operational expenses for the general fund and 5 percent for
special education, reviewing health insurance benefits,
implementing new special education rules, approving a
technology plan and improving employee morale were suggested
to improve quality and maintain financial responsibility. A
fund balance is money that remains in reserve for emergencies
or other unexpected costs.
While trying to maintain stability in an uncertain economy,
MCESA officials also will try to better inform people about
what the agency does.
"A lot of information has come our way that a lot of people
don’t know what the ESA is," McKinstry said. "It may be that
we need to improve communication within and without the ESA."
The MCESA serves several area school districts, including
Midland, Coleman, Bullock Creek and Meridian, by offering
programs such as work-based learning for teachers, job
shadowing, parent education, special education services and
technology training.
Communication efforts could include articles placed in local
school districts’ newsletters, conducting surveys and using
more posters and brochures.
Agency representatives also hope to improve and expand efforts
with other organizations such as supporting MI Tech Plus,
recreating a county school board association which would
include members from local school boards, and promoting
collaborative professional development activities between
counties and school districts.
MI Tech Plus is part of an effort to connect existing job
training programs and fill in gaps.
"I can’t say we’ll accomplish every goal and every aim, but
we’re sure going to try," McKinstry said.
In other business, board members
• approved using $5,540 from more than 130 contributions to
the Linda Reisig memorial fund for Project Find, a federal
program that provides evaluations and consultations for
children from birth to 6 years old who might need special
services. Reisig was a former MCESA board member and was the
first Project Find coordinator. She died in July.
• voted to hire a half-time paraeducator.
• voted to appoint Kristi Clark and Gail Marcoe as parent
representatives to the special education parent advisory
committee.
Next month’s board meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Oct.
7 at Windover High School, 32 S. Homer Road. It is a joint
meeting between the Windover and MCESA boards.
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