MASA in the news

On February 16, a Detroit News editorial called for the elimination of ISDs as a cost-saving measure, characterizing them as the “flabby middle” layer of education bureaucracy.

MASA submitted the following rebuttal, published in an edited version in the February 18 edition of the Detroit News:

Intermediate school districts save money

While it's all too true that Americans suffer from an epidemic of "flabby middles," I couldn't disagree more with The News' assessment that the way to a healthy education budget is by eliminating the services provided by Michigan's intermediate school districts (ISDs) and regional service agencies (RESAs) ("Save education dollars by cutting the flabby middle," Feb. 16).

The truth is, Michigan's ISDs/RESAs were created in 1962 to provide efficiency and cooperation in providing programs to the students in local classrooms. Taxpayers have saved literally millions of dollars since then in special education (SE) and career and technical education (CTE) programs that would otherwise have to be replicated by every single district. The editorial also ignores the fact that today's ISDs go far beyond their original services in SE and CTE. They are now the primary providers of support to local districts in the implementation of the new Michigan Merit Curriculum (MMC), new teacher induction, staff professional development, school improvement process development and other classroom directed, student achievement focused work. Moreover, ISD/RESAs have led the development of regional technology to support classroom teaching and data management.

Far from being flabby and resistant to cost-saving reforms, ISD/RESAs have provided leadership in their regions for the consolidation of services as outlined in their report to the legislature. All this efficiency was accomplished without any legal authority to require participation. And this trend continues, as economic realities and market forces drive districts to voluntarily seek new and creative ways to trim costs.

In short, ISDs/RESAs do not operate parallel to local districts. They support, not replicate, critical services to students and taxpayers. But why take my word for it? Consider this: No law obligates any K-12 district to participate in the programs and services offered by an ISD/RESA. If these are duplicated, unwanted programs and services, how can you explain that 100 percent of local districts take advantage of regional efficiencies and continue to ask for more?

William H. Mayes
Executive Director
Michigan Association of School Administrators and Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators

Lansing