The West Central School Board voted last week to hand off the financial services responsibilities for their five-county special education cooperative to another corporation. West Central is one of nine school districts who are part of Rensselaer-based Cooperative School Services. Superintendent Don Street says the corporation will remain a member of the co-op but will no longer process claims or serve as the Local Educational Agency for special education services. He says having another corporation that is closer to Rensselaer in charge of operational duties makes more sense. The change will also allow West Central to do some internal restructuring of secretarial and treasurer positions as a result of some recent resignations.
West Central has served as the LEA for Cooperative School Services for more than 25 years. Street says special education has changed quite a bit during that time.
“The special education cooperative has really grown over the years from four employees to over 35 employees, because the co-op encompasses several school districts from Benton County and White and Newton, Jasper, as well as West Central here in Pulaski County. The need for services has really grown.”
West Central will remain a Cooperative School Services member but will no longer handle the financial transactions. Street says the resolution to withdraw as the LEA will be presented to the Cooperative School Services board this week so they can begin the process of finding another corporation to take over those duties. Street adds West Central will aid in the transition.
