Organizational Structure
Organization Background
Since 1974 the Collaborative for Educational Services (formerly the Hampshire Educational Collaborative) has provided access to comprehensive, quality educational programs for our most vulnerable, at-risk children and youth, and trained teachers and administrators to provide programs of excellence. Closely attuned and responsive to the ever-changing educational needs of children, their families, educators, schools, and community, the Collaborative works to address gaps in programs and services with high quality, research-based, and collaborative solutions to ensure that every child has the opportunity to achieve his or her full potential. We believe that the emotional and social development needs of children and youth must be addressed if they are to succeed in school, and consequently, in life.
The Collaborative directs major initiatives in Early Childhood, Special Education, After School Progams, Professional Development, Educator Licensure, Adult Education, and Education of At-Risk Youth.
Governing Structure
The Collaborative for Educational Services is a public, nonprofit educational service agency. In Massachusetts, educational service agencies, called educational collaboratives, are allowed by statute (MGL Ch 40 section 43). Local school committees may join together to form a collaborative to provide programs and services. An educational collaborative is governed by a Board of Governors, with one representative appointed by each member school committee. The Board has three standing committees: the Executive Committee, the Finance Committee and the Program and Services Committee.
In addition to the Board of Governors, the Collaborative for Educational Services has several advisory committees: Superintendents serve on a Steering Committee, one in Franklin County and one in Hampshire County advise the Executive Director and the Board of Governors; Special Education Directors serve on an advisory committee to the Special Education Department; and Curriculum and Technology Directors advise the Director of Professional Development and the Director of Technology on programmatic needs and services. Business Managers also meet on a regular basis with the CFO of the Collaborative.
Membership
Membership in the Collaborative for Educational Services is open to any public school district in the state. Currently, only school districts in Hampshire and Franklin Counties have elected to join the Collaborative. To become a member, a school committee must vote to request membership in the Collaborative. The Board of Governors then must vote to accept the new member district. If the Board votes to accept the member district, the school committees of the current founding members of the Collaborative must vote to accept the new member. The Articles of Agreement that describe the governance structure and mission of the collaborative are then amended to include the new member, and submitted to the Commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for approval. Once the amended Articles are approved, the new member school committee selects a representative to the Board of Governors.
Members pay dues, which enable them to access programs and services at a reduced rate. The cost of membership is determined by the total number of students enrolled in the district in the previous year. Any non-member school district, charter school, private or parochial school may participate in the Collaborative’s programs and services at full cost.
For more information about membership, please contact:
Joan Schuman
Executive Director
413-586-4900 ext. 101
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