The Oregon-Davis School Board was alerted of the JESSE Cooperative potential disbandment during their meeting Monday night.
Oregon-Davis School Superintendent Bill Bennett advised the board about Plymouth School Corporation withdrawing from the cooperative.
In a previous story, Knox Community School Corporation Superintendent Dr. William Reichhart announced 25 percent of the program was funded by Plymouth and the other eight current schools in the co-op would see a 10 to 11 percent increase if they decided to stay in the JESSE program.
In a previous story, North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin told WKVI News Plymouth School Corporation approved withdrawing themselves from the cooperative.
On Monday, Oregon-Davis School Superintendent Bill Bennett advised the board that none of the eight remaining schools wanted to be the Local Education Agency (LEA). The LEA is responsible for all of the paperwork, human resource, payroll and contracts. Superintendent Bennett went on to say since none of the schools wanted to become the LEA, JESSE will disband.
Superintendent Bennett told the Oregon-Davis School Board all remaining eight schools have agreed to work together in finding a solution that best suits each corporation’s needs. In the meantime, they will continue with the JESSE cooperative through the 2023-2024 school year.
*Upon clarification WKVI has learned the cooperative will dissolve on June 30, 2023. The Board of Directors plan to meet in the next several months to form partnerships that effectively and efficiently serve the special needs students. According to bylaws, without an LEA, there is no cooperative.
