Document text
Medford schools take step toward parting ways with SOESD Tuesday Oct 24, 2017 at 11:51 AM Oct 24, 2017 at 5:46 PM Kaylee Tornay Mail Tribune For the second time in two years, the Medford School Board signaled its intent Monday night to leave the Southern Oregon Education Service District, moving Medford schools one step closer to severing ties with the organization. The board had a deadline of Nov. 1 to take the action, which allows it to explore the possibility of providing services on its own while also continuing negotiations with the SOESD to establish a service plan that better suits the district's needs. "This does not mean that we're withdrawing, but it does mean that we want to continue to have those conversations and let them know that it's something we're thinking about as we continue to evaluate services," board member Michael Campbell said Monday. The board considered withdrawing a year ago. Last year, Medford School District signaled its intent to leave because of dissatisfaction with some of the areas of service provided by the SOESD, particularly its technology, media and school improvement services. The board at the time said those programs were either unnecessary or the district could more efficiently provide them on its own. But both areas of service are not optional under the current agreement, meaning that Medford either has to use all of them or none. Other SOESD services such as special education are available in a menu option. Medford has brought several of those programs in-house while keeping others with SOESD. The board has sought a menu option for other services in addition to special education. Only one school district of the 13 served by SOESD, Grants Pass, which withdrew in 2013, has had this sort of agreement in place. After Medford and Central Point both signaled their intent to withdraw last fall, SOESD decided it would not provide menu options for any more districts. SOESD Superintendent Scott Beveridge has said the SOESD works with districts to create local service plans that provide flexible services but also maintain a structure that benefits all the districts it serves. He said some of the SOESD programs that Medford most utilized would cost the district much more to bring them in-house. Medford Superintendent Brian Shumate said that closing the menu option, in addition to the added financial burden that would have been placed on the district by trying to replace all the services, were the main factors behind the board's eventual decision last March to stay with SOESD for another year. Going forward, the district will try to determine whether it can save enough money by handling all of its own services if SOESD continues to oppose a menu option for certain programs. — Reach reporter Kaylee Tornay at 541-776-4497 or [email protected].