Schools consider collaborative projects

A joint planning session with all three Presque Isle County boards of education was conducted at the Lighthouse Restaurant of Rogers City to determine whether there are areas in which the districts could work together to enhance programs and save money. The workshop, part of a special meeting Monday of the Rogers City Area Schools Board of Education,, was facilitated by former Onaway superintendent Rick Farfsing, who was asked to study the three districts three years ago by the Cheboygan-Otsego-Presque Isle Educational Service District.

?WE AGREED early on that we wanted to do good things for the students and save money, with no consolidation,? Farfsing said during his presentation to board members and administrators from Rogers City, Posen and Onaway. ?Everyone understands the need for the neighborhood school district,? he said.

Farfsing said there would be discussions on the districts possibly collaborating in areas of academics, sports, and administration, but consolidation would not be part of the equation ?No matter what!? Discussions started during good economic times among superintendents, but the districts were hit ?worse and sooner? than they thought as the economy turned bad.

A reduction in state funds, combined with declining enrollment and a change in the state aid formula, have forced districts to tighten their budgets to the point where people are being laid off.

AS PART of the study, administrative staff and support staff department heads in all three districts were interviewed, services from the educational service district reviewed, and existing models studied. The study conclusions determined the need for a general education director who would oversee curriculum, grant opportunities, technology and media programs. In putting together grants, Farfsing said, there is ?power in numbers.?

Onaway superintendent Bob Szymoniak supported the general education director concept for the county. He said it could work, especially with the statewide curriculum mandates. Szymoniak said MEAP scores could be studied, with the director bringing in professional development services so the areas where test scores are low, can be improved.

ANOTHER COLLABORATIVE suggestion is a regionalized business office, where budgets would be formulated and paychecks sent out. Also talked about was combining special education services, transportation, custodial training and high school course work. The study identified the strong areas of each district which, through collaboration, could be shared. Farfsing said Onaway has a building trades program, Spanish 3, German, graphic arts and band. Rogers City has French, upper math and science courses, drama, vocal music and art. Farfsing said Posen has an outstanding metal shop and art/pottery program.

The winners in shared academics would be the students, but there was a concern that teachers could be overwhelmed with more students.

IN THE AREA of transportation, Rogers City has had discussions with the city of Rogers City about the possibility of sharing a garage at the Industrial Park, where buses, as well as city vehicles, would be worked on. Farfsing said the Onaway schools, or possibly the city of Onaway, might be int

erested in utilizing a regional garage.

Farfsing added in the future, there could be cooperative programs in athletics as well as band. He noted Onaway?s numbers are down in wrestling and Posen doesn?t have a wrestling program. With an agreement, students could be offered an opportunity to wrestle who may not have had it before.

FARFSING SAID when he was the superintendent in Onaway, he had to pull the plug on cross country. In a collaborative situation, the program could have continued. Similar curriculum needs for the districts also were identified and included health occupations and business programs.

With more education opportunities, Farfsing said perhaps the ?brain drain? from the area could be stopped. Board members were instructed to take in the information and share the ideas to see if there is cause for any further discussion.

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