MISSION: Be the economic engine for the eastern shore of Maryland by graduating students who are college and career ready. Contact: esmec@qacps.org

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 How has ESMEC changed over time? Current Activities 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  Transportation Human Resources  Food Services Fiscal  Facilities

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 Supporting Collaboration: Teacher Recruitment Committees CRAB Educating Decision Makers: Economic Impact Study Newsletters Advocacy 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 Superintendent Turnover Changing Political Atmosphere Changing Demographics Pursued Grants, Corporate Partnerships, and Reduced Services Executive Director and School System Staff Sustain Initiatives Advocacy and Education Education (Beacon Study)

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 AND/OR Common Challenges

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 Recruitment Building Capacity: Teachers/Leaders Joint Purchasing Common Application 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 Questions to Answer: Purpose Membership Obligation of Members Leadership of Collaborative Decision Making Process Opt Out Provision What is the intent? Who can join? What is the commitment? Who provides leadership and process of selection? How will decisions be made? How does a school system exit?

Sustaining and Growing:

Keys to Sustainability: Value Added: Examples: Leadership Support Buy-in from Staff Platform for Sharing Solutions Collegiality Joint Response to Emerging challenges Voice for Rural Schools Monthly Superintendent Meetings Committee Structure Energy Trust/Health Insurance Alliance Common Challenges Teacher Shortage/ Assessment Task Force 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 Build support for public schools Aspiring Leaders: Regional program for aspiring educational leaders 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: esmec@qacps.org Website: www.esmec.org