Facing Galesburg’s withdrawal from the Knox-Warren Special Education Co-Op the remaining six school districts are left figuring out the details of forming their co-op.
The districts of ROWVA, Williamsfield, Abindgon-Avon, Knoxville, United and Monmouth-Roseville were turned down in their bid to join the West Central Co-op.
Williamsfield Superintendent Tim Farquer tells WGIL the West Central consolidation is off the table–for now.
“I think both sides are interested in exploring it down the road if it makes sense for all of the school’s and all of the kids involved,”Farquer says.
Knoxville Superintendent Steve Wilder says the biggest challenge now will be in changing the remaining co-op’s governance structure away from Galesburg being the administrative agent.
“I think that there will be some advantages to that,” Wilder says. “At the same time we expect some bumps in the road.”
These changes for KWSED will include finding a new director, as Dawn Michaud, after four years in the position announced her resignation this week, saying that it was in part because of Galesburg’s petition to withdrawal and the other co-op schools going in another direction.
“I just felt like it was my time to take a look at going and doing something differently that utilizes my skills and expertise,”Michaud says.
The KWSED co-op will remain as is for next school year with changes going into effect the year after.
