Special Services
Cooperative (CoOp) is dedicated to the idea that the privilege
of an appropriate education is the inherent right of all
children. The CoOp was conceived in 1975 and began operation in
the 1976-77 School Year. DeSoto #73 School District served as
the administrative district for the first three years of the
Cooperative’s existence. Later, Windsor C-1 (1979-83), DeSoto
#73 (1983-86), Northwest R-I (1986-89), Festus R-VI (1989-92),
Dunklin R-V (1992-95), Hillsboro R-3 (1995-99), DeSoto #73
(1999-2002), and Windsor C-1 (2002 to 2005), assumed
responsibilities as the administrative district. Currently
Northwest R-1 is serving as the fiscal agent until 2008.
During the first
year, Special Services Cooperative sponsored three classes and
employed a Speech and Language Specialist and a School
Psychologist. An expansion of classes and related services was
experienced through the 1982-83 School Year. At present, the
CoOp offers an impressive number of special education classes
and related therapeutic-type direct services to children. It
also has one of the best diagnostic teams existing in any
program of similar size in Missouri or surrounding states.
The CoOp is
governed by a board comprised of the ten superintendents of the
participating member districts. This Governing Board
establishes all policies and procedures relating to the
operation of the CoOp.
Initially, all
11 school districts in Jefferson County belonged to the CoOp,
which was established to provide special education services to
low-incidence disabled students. These services include
diagnosis, consultation, segregated classrooms through modified
regular education, and related services, (e.g., OT, PT, Speech,
Audiology, and Augmentative Communication).
In the 1989-90 School Year, the
largest member district, Fox C-6, determined it could provide
for its low-incidence disabled population independently and
withdrew from the Co-Op. This left the Co-Op with ten member
districts containing a total student population of about
20,000. Presently, the Co-Op operates …. self-contained special
education programs (including a Day Treatment Program K-12, and
an Early Childhood Special Education Program for children ages
3-5) and the modified regular services for physically and health
impaired, speech/language, autistic, hearing impaired,
developmentally delayed, emotionally disturbed, and visually
impaired students. In addition, the Co-Op provides a full range
of diagnostic services for both low and high incidence
disabilities as well as related services in Speech Therapy,
Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Audiology, Vision,
Sign-Language Interpreting, Applied Behavior Analysis, and
Augmentative Communication. Since the Co-Op operates under
volunteer membership of member districts, it must rely upon a
member district to be established as its legal entity. As such,
one of the 10 members districts must act as the Legal Education
Agent (LEA).
Currently,
Northwest R-I is the LEA for legal and fiscal matters. In its
structure, the Co-Op is very similar to an intermediate school
district such as Special School District of St. Louis County
except that Special School District is a legal entity and can
levy taxes.
Financially, the
Co-Op receives monies through various sources, which are
funneled through the LEA. These monies include state and
federal revenues which are based on 1) child count, 2)
entitlement grants, and 3) Exceptional Pupil Aid given for each
approved program. At this time, districts do not provide any
local funds for operation of CoOp programs.
In addition to Co-Op
classes, each member district provides its own special education
services. In general, these classes are for higher incidence
disabled students. There are over 150 such classes and programs
throughout the 10 districts. Co-Op programs and services
operate for the benefit of students with low-incidence disabling
conditions for whom local districts find independent sponsorship
financially unfeasible. The Co-Op and districts cooperatively
work together to provide a full range of special education
services for meeting each child’s educational needs.
The Special Services Cooperative is a developing, vital
organization with positive, substantial impact on the education
of exceptional children. We are proud of our talented and
impressive staff and know that you will find it challenging,
stimulating, and rewarding to be part of the Co-Op.
