US/ND-3: (Fwd) Cooperation among Schools/Libraries

(Fwd) Cooperation among Schools/Libraries

Preuss, Paul (PPREUSS@Herkimer-BOCES.moric.org)
Tue, 10 Sep 1996 08:29:54 +5 EST


After having worked 28 years in two local school districts I am now 
serving at our regional BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational 
Services).  Perhaps in some state our type of organization is known 
as an intermediate unit of some sort.  Our mission is to provide 
services to school districts (many of which are small and rural) 
which they can not provide for themselves.  

Among these services are:   regional computer services
                            distance learning
                            staff development
                            
In New York - a local school district receives state aid for its 
purchase of BOCES services.

    For example:  If a school district purchases $1000 of staff
                  training through BOCES, and its aid ratio is .68
                  it will receive $680 back the following year from
                  the state.
                  
Regardless of New York's state aid formula - it seems to me that 
most, if not all, states have some form of intermediate school 
district which should be utilized for technical support, staff 
training and the other ancillary issues mentioned.  If they do not - 
isn't it time that the consider supporting such cooperation?

Also - one of our significant BOCES services is the "School Library 
System" which in fact is a "library for librarians".  The SLS not 
only electronically connects all of our school libraries but also 
connects our school library system with the public library system.  
No one school district could attempt such a thing but by working 
together in a cooperative (consortium) we can do so and spread out 
the administrative costs among many participating districts.

We already have small models for what we need to do with Internet 
access.  I think it would be wise to learn from them.


Paul Preuss
PPreuss@Herkimer-BOCES.moric.org
Phone: 315 867 2007  FAX: 315 867 2024