MONTICELLO - Three area school districts are trying to save money by sharing services.
The Monticello school board July 14 approved an agreement with Juda to share Monticello's pupil services director, and with Albany to share that district's school psychologist. Sharing services with the three districts will start this fall.
Monticello Superintendent Karen Ballin said the agreements between the three districts would save the districts money. Monticello could save up to $6,000 if the district shares services with Albany and Juda.
"We'll save money and we'll enhance services," she said.
Sharing services with Monticello and Albany would save the Juda district about $1,000.
"We think it's a good idea to share services," said Gary Scheuerell, Juda's superintendent. "We'd like to look into doing more to save more money, but that's something we'll look at farther down the road."
Albany Superintendent Steve Guenther was not available for comment Tuesday.
Ballin said her district will have the pupil services director for four days a week, and Juda will use the director one day a week.
"We have a full-time director and Juda needs one. It makes sense for us to share the director," she said.
The district also hopes to share school nurse services with Juda, Ballin said. The districts have talked about the possibility of sharing a nurse, but no final decision has been reached.
Monticello currently contracts for nursing services with the Green County Health Department, Ballin said. She said the board approached Juda about sharing the nurse's time. Monticello would hire the nurse and the person would split time between Monticello and Juda. The Juda school board will discuss and possibly take action on the idea of sharing a nurse part time with Monticello when it meets Aug. 11, according to Scheuerell.
The agreement with Albany calls for Monticello and Juda to each have the psychologist one day a week. In the past Monticello hired a psychologist on an hourly basis. The psychologist helps evaluate students for special education programs, Ballin said.
All three districts wanted to find ways it could share services to help save money, she said. They all have similar needs and the three schools have roughly the same number of students enrolled.
"We're trying to dig deep and see how we can collaborate," Ballin said.
Sharing services shouldn't be construed as steps toward consolidation, she said.
The Monticello school board July 14 approved an agreement with Juda to share Monticello's pupil services director, and with Albany to share that district's school psychologist. Sharing services with the three districts will start this fall.
Monticello Superintendent Karen Ballin said the agreements between the three districts would save the districts money. Monticello could save up to $6,000 if the district shares services with Albany and Juda.
"We'll save money and we'll enhance services," she said.
Sharing services with Monticello and Albany would save the Juda district about $1,000.
"We think it's a good idea to share services," said Gary Scheuerell, Juda's superintendent. "We'd like to look into doing more to save more money, but that's something we'll look at farther down the road."
Albany Superintendent Steve Guenther was not available for comment Tuesday.
Ballin said her district will have the pupil services director for four days a week, and Juda will use the director one day a week.
"We have a full-time director and Juda needs one. It makes sense for us to share the director," she said.
The district also hopes to share school nurse services with Juda, Ballin said. The districts have talked about the possibility of sharing a nurse, but no final decision has been reached.
Monticello currently contracts for nursing services with the Green County Health Department, Ballin said. She said the board approached Juda about sharing the nurse's time. Monticello would hire the nurse and the person would split time between Monticello and Juda. The Juda school board will discuss and possibly take action on the idea of sharing a nurse part time with Monticello when it meets Aug. 11, according to Scheuerell.
The agreement with Albany calls for Monticello and Juda to each have the psychologist one day a week. In the past Monticello hired a psychologist on an hourly basis. The psychologist helps evaluate students for special education programs, Ballin said.
All three districts wanted to find ways it could share services to help save money, she said. They all have similar needs and the three schools have roughly the same number of students enrolled.
"We're trying to dig deep and see how we can collaborate," Ballin said.
Sharing services shouldn't be construed as steps toward consolidation, she said.