Accountability Report

July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009

Focus Areas for 2008-09:

Moving forward on agency imperatives


In 2008, MESD conducted a series of meetings among superintendents and administrators of component districts. Their input, coupled with surveys and evaluations from advisory committees, helped MESD establish a framework to guide critical decisions about programs, facilities and budgets. Using this feedback, MESD launched three imperatives which guided work in 2008-09:

  • Continue to align MESD's focus with that of partners
  • Recommit to the agency's mission of putting students and families at the center of our decision making
  • Ensure that every program and service addresses the needs of districts and other partners

The imperatives help guide MESD to address five primary focus areas:

Focus Area #1: Strengthen and expand our role as a regional service provider
 
  • Immunization Program was named a  "Delegate Agency," enabling storage and distribution of vaccines
  • Expanded Child Health Insurance Access Program to enroll more than 1,000 new students
  • Expanded school improvement and assessment capacity
  • Implemented student transportation partnership with Oregon Department of Human Services

Focus Area #2: Continue our role as a convener and collaborator; locate and leverage resources, develop regional capacity and provide technical support
 
  • Convened "Reconnecting Youth" initiative
  • Membership on the Legislative School Nursing Task Force
  • Expanded Superintendent Council to include community college presidents.
  • Finalized Outdoor School partnership with Metro for curriculum and funding
  • Provided national distribution of SAMHSA Interpreter Policy
  • Implemented technology partnership among MESD, Portland Public Schools and Clackamas ESD.

Focus Area #3: Review and adapt our resolution services, revenue distribution, costing and pricing model, and local service plan to provide increased capacity to component districts

 
  • Completed planning and implementation of revised resolution service model for 2009-10 school year.
  • Development of master contract agreement with MESD and districts.

Focus Area #4: Provide a continuum of special and alternative education services, offering flexibility to component districts among different levels of service and cost
 
  • Opened Pathways Community School for students with multiple disabilities
  • Expanded services to students with social and emotional disabilities
  • Expanded environmental education options
  • Increased Early Childhood Special Education partnerships, visibility and Child Find

Focus Area #5: Expedite the IFAS (Integrated Financial Accounting System) implementation process to provide appropriate training and support

 
  • Completed IFAS implementation in all component districts