MISSION: BE THE ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR THE EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND BY GRADUATING STUDENTS WHO ARE COLLEGE AND CAREER READY. Contact: [email protected] Building and Launching a Rural Collaborative Finding Partners; Identifying Common Needs; Creating Governance Structure; & Sustaining and Growing INTRODUCTION Who you are? Who am I? By the end of this session, what do you want to know and understand?
Framework for Presentation: Brief Overview of Maryland Public Education in Maryland Brief Overview of ESMEC Why was ESMEC created? What is the source of funding? Who does ESMEC serve? Evolution of Initiatives
Current Activities How has ESMEC changed over time? What types of services are currently provided by ESMEC? Successes What have been the major areas of success? Framework for the Presentation:
Challenges What challenges has ESMEC faced? How has ESMEC addressed the challenges? What potential future challenges will ESMEC need to address? Creating a Collaborative: Process in Action How do we get started? How do we identify common needs?
How do we create a decision making process? How do we sustain the collaborative? Public Education in Maryland: Very Brief Overview of Structure GOVERNANCE STATE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION Appointed by Governor (5 year term)
Adopt Education Policy and Regulations Appoint State Superintendent of Schools Public Education in Maryland: Very Brief Overview of Structure GOVERNANCE STATE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS Appointed by State Board of Education (4 year term)
Provide Leadership to Public Education, Libraries, and State Corrections Education and Training Public Education in Maryland: Very Brief Overview of Structure GOVERNANCE STATE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS Total of 24 School Systems that follow geographic borders of Counties and Baltimore City Range in Size from 2,500 students to 160,000 students
Local Boards of Education (Elected or Appointed or Combination Elected and Appointed) Fiscally dependent (funding sources state formula and local government) Appoint local Superintendent of Schools (4 year term) Brief Overview: Why was ESMEC created?
Who does ESMEC serve? What is the governing structure of ESMEC? How is ESMEC funded? (Budget) Why was ESMEC created? Formed 1986 Joint purchasing
Influence over state education policy Common needs and challenges of rural school systems Who does ESMEC serve? Eastern Shore of Maryland PA; Delaware; Virginia; Chesapeake Bay Agriculture (Chickens)
Nine rural public school systems 65,000 students FARMS 52% Diversity 36% minority Single Parent or Grandparent 50%
130 Schools Smallest 11 Students Largest 1,250 Students What is the governing structure of ESMEC? Bylaws Nine Superintendents of Schools Serve as the Governing Board
President of ESMEC rotates Monthly meetings Executive Director Part-Time - Contractual Appointed by the ESMEC Governing Board Provide Leadership to ESMEC Six Committees
Instruction Human Resources Fiscal Transportation Facilities Food Services How is ESMEC Funded?
Member school system pay dues ($11,000 per school system = $99,000 total) Administrative Services for State Superintendents Association and Energy Trust Corporate Support Grants Current Budget = $128,333 Evolution of Initiatives:
How has the services provided by ESMEC changed over time? How has the services provided by the ESMEC changed over time? From Joint Purchasing, to: Incubator for Shared Ideas Superintendents Forum
CRAB Committees Facilitator for Building Capacity in Leadership Board of Education and Superintendent Conference Leadership Conference Advocator for Public Schools Economic Impact Study Legislative Initiatives
Reducer of Costs Energy Trust Health Insurance Special Education Current Services: What types of services are currently provided by ESMEC? What Types of Services are Provided by ESMEC? Building Capacity:
Board Member Superintendents Aspiring Leaders Teachers Educating Decision Makers: Economic Impact Study Newsletters Advocacy Supporting Collaboration: Teacher Recruitment Committees CRAB Enabling Cost Savings:
Energy Trust Health Insurance Special Education Purchasing Successes: What have been the major areas of success for ESMEC? What have been the major areas of success for ESMEC? Provides a Process and Platform for Collaboration
Provides a Voice for Rural School Systems in an Urban - Suburban State Provides Services to Save Funds and/or Reduce Cost Increases Provides a Means to Share Opportunities, Challenges, and Solutions Challenges: What challenges has ESMEC faced?
How has ESMEC addressed the challenges? What potential future challenges will ESMEC need to address? What challenges has ESMEC faced? Loss of State Funding Turnover of Superintendents Changing Political
Atmosphere Changing Demographics How has ESMEC addressed the challenges? Loss of State Funding Pursued Grants, Corporate Partnerships, and Reduced Services Superintendent Turnover
Executive Director and School System Staff Sustain Initiatives Advocacy and Education Education (Beacon Study) Changing Political Atmosphere
Changing Demographics What potential future challenges will ESMEC need to address? Anticipating Needs and Providing Supports Advocating for Rural Education Evolving as an Organization ESMEC Summary Formed in 1986
Bottom-Up Initiative (NOT Top-Down) Governance Superintendents Meet Monthly Evolved Over Time Mutual Benefits Forum for Collaboration Platform for Advocacy
Building a Collaborative: Finding Partners: Existing Relationships Common Challenges AND/OR Two Pathways: Existing Relationships: Common Challenges: Identifying Common Needs Selecting One or Two to Build Cooperation: Creating a Collaborative:
Identify Common Needs Identify a Common Need or Challenge: Potential Collaborative Response: Expenditures/Savings Joint Purchasing Recruitment Common Application
Building Capacity: Teachers/Leaders Regional Professional Development Governance Structure: Memorandum of Understanding OR Bylaws Memorandum of Understanding: Letter of commitment signed by all Superintendents representing school systems in the collaborative.
Possible model of MOU is an interscholastic association agreement. Governance Structure: Bylaws Bylaws: Questions to Answer: Purpose What is the intent?
Membership Who can join? Obligation of Members What is the commitment? Who provides leadership and process of selection?
How will decisions be made? How does a school system exit? Leadership of Collaborative Decision Making Process Opt Out Provision Sustaining and Growing:
Keys to Sustainability: Value Added: Leadership Support Buy-in from Staff Platform for Sharing Solutions Examples: Monthly Superintendent Meetings
Committee Structure Energy Trust/Health Insurance Alliance Collegiality Common Challenges Joint Response to Emerging challenges
Teacher Shortage/ Assessment Task Force Voice for Rural Schools Lobby Decision Makers Final Thoughts: Find leaders who want to work together with geographic similarities Identify one or two common challenges Mutual solution
Create a letter of understanding (MOU) Bring the right people together to address challenges Develop a plan Implement the plan Celebrate!
Next challenge? Examples: Challenge: Solution: Enhance the pool of educational leaders to address Principal shortage Aspiring Leaders: Regional program for aspiring educational leaders
Build support for public schools Economic Impact Study Questions? Contact Information: Dr. JON M. ANDES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND EDUCATIONAL CONSORTIUM 202 CHESTERFIELD AVENUE CENTREVILLE, MD 21617 Phone: 410-758-4885 or 410-758-2403 x 132 Fax: 410-758-0046 Email: [email protected] Website: www.esmec.org
