‘Lead, serve and support’

WENATCHEE — North Central Educational Service District, or ESD 171, supports school districts in Chelan, Douglas, Grant and Okanogan counties.

“Our mantra as an ESD is that our responsibility is to lead, serve and support (the districts we serve),” said Michelle Price, Superintendent of ESD 171 and a former Moses Lake School District superintendent.

ESD 171’s service area covers 29 school districts, a tribal school, a charter school and some private schools. The district’s website states its coverage area includes 12,600 square miles or approximately 20% of the geographical area of the state.

Price explained that ESDs do not direct school districts how to operate, nor do they enforce compliance with any state or federal regulations, instead they are there to support the district’s needs and provide the information and tools for the districts to operate and be able to comply with those regulations on their own.

“ESDs in the state of Washington are part of the K-12 school system and they are legislatively supporting the responsibilities of the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to deliver regional services,” said Price. “We also provide services that school districts could not otherwise afford to do on their own.”

NCESD is able to support districts in four main areas; technology, administration services, human resources and student safety and well-being.

The North Central ESD provides technology support for teaching and learning in the schools they serve through network and desktop technology support, low-cost software and hardware purchasing, online programs and K-20 Network support (video, data, and Internet). Administrative Support and Services include internal accounting services and training to district staff. Human resource support can include assisting with employee relations, professional development and training.

ESD 171’s support for student safety and well-being focuses on the physical, social and emotional safety of all students by providing behavioral health support, suicide prevention and training, school-based threat assessment, comprehensive school safety planning, emergency management, crisis response and crisis management.

“So our districts, when they need something, they call us and they say ‘this is what we need’ and we’ll try to figure out a way to deliver it,” Price said.

One interesting service NCESD does is science kits. Through an alliance within the districts they serve, they are able to share science materials that are picked up and dropped off by NCESD staff on a quarterly basis. That way schools are able to use the same materials for their classes without having to each purchase their own.

Price said the most important thing they do as an ESD is supporting their districts. One of the ways they are providing support this year is through mentoring and guiding new superintendents. The NCESD has 15 new superintendents this year out of the 27 in their service area.

The history behind Washington ESDs, according to information from NCESD, started in 1854 when the office of the county superintendent was created by statute. Then it wasn’t until 1909 that county boards were created with duties in statute. In 1955 county board memberships changed to elected lay membership. In 1969 the legislature passed the Intermediate School District Act creating 14 school districts. From 1969 to 1977, legislation consolidated the 14 down to the current nine ESDs. 1981 legislation passed to allow ESDs to provide direct student services.

“Our responsibility is, regardless of zip code, a school district has access to things (they need),” said Price.

For more information about the North Central Educational Service District visit www.ncesd.org.