Sunday, February 13, 2000
Director grew school co-op
Thomson will retire
BY ANDREA TORTORA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS — The director of Northern Kentucky's educational services cooperative has 17 bosses, a budget of $5.2 million and more than 50,000 constituents.
The cooperative is in charge of grants and personnel for at least 25 programs and projects for the region's 16 school districts.
Now, after 14 years of expansion since it began with one grant for special education services, the cooperative needs a new director.
Laura Thomson, the group's CEO, will retire at the end of June.
“I hoped it would expand this much,” Mrs. Thomson said. “That's the thing about retiring. There's so much we haven't done yet.”
Mrs. Thomson, 59, said she wanted to leave her job while she feels good about the work.
She said she wants more time with her 10 grandchildren and days when she does not have to work. She still plans to be involved in education, whether through volunteering part-time work.
The superintendents she works with say Mrs. Thomson is irreplaceable. Bernard Sandfoss, Southgate School superintendent, said Mrs. Thomson has an “amazing ability to keep the group organized, focused and on track.”
“Laura over the years has helped the superintendents become involved in other functions to provide services of all kinds that many districts otherwise could not do,” Mr. Sandfoss said.
The cooperative is advertising for a new director. There is talk of even more expansion.
Yet the co-op's board is seeking applications at a time when all of the state's education cooperatives are under extra scrutiny.
Former state Education Department finance chief Randy Kimbrough was indicted on 19 counts of embezzlement and money laundering for taking more than $500,000 from the Kentucky Educational Development Cooperative in Ashland.
The nine cooperatives and the Kentucky Education Department now face extensive audits.
That doesn't worry Mrs. Thomson. She said she is disappointed that someone else's actions could give cooperatives a negative image.
“Accountability doesn't bother me,” Mrs. Thomson said. “I'm here to be held accountable for what we do. Credibility is a big issue. I feel like we are all partners in this and I want people to know what I do.”
Northern Kentucky's cooperative has built-in oversight. The entire board approves expenditures.
In many cases, the co-op acts as the billing agent and employer for several school districts.
A school psychologist, for example, might work for the co-op full-time by spending time in various schools each week. The same is true for occupational therapists and social workers.
The co-op allows schools to save money while getting additional services, said Robert Storer, Walton-Verona Schools superintendent.
“We can deliver the services better because we are pooling resources,” Mr. Storer said. “It's a matter of getting a better deal for our buck.”
It wasn't always that way.
Before the cooperative formed in 1981, districts provided services such as special education on their own.
The co-op, incorporated in 1986, started with 2.5 employees and one grant of $149,000.
Now there are 50 employ ees, 14 grants and several other programs and state contracts.
When Mrs. Thomson took the job, she had spent 15 years as a special education teacher for Covington Schools and had run a diagnostic class for Campbell County Schools.
Her specialty, superintendents said, helped them better serve students with special needs.
Under the cooperative's direction, schools created an al ternative school, a program for emotionally disturbed students, a deaf education class, collective bidding and professional development opportunities for staff, and grant writing expertise.
Mrs. Thomson still finds the time to teach others. Each year, she mentors two or three interns through the Kentucky Teacher Intern Program.
“I'm really proud of the co-op,” Mrs. Thomson said.
Failure of tank leads to national search
Tough, powerful prosecutor is unyielding under fire
Prosecutor's son gets biggest raise
Holcomb in his own words
Others on Holcomb
Freedom Center evolving
Judge Bettman dead at 82
Tips to Hillary on how to win by failing
How to beat the system
Gas prices hit schools hard
Mason loves winning girls team
Pair rescued from truck roof in river
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
Two escape explosion and fire in house
Lucas lauded by Republican pundits
Little wins keep lottery play going
Jefferson-Hemings is a love story
Thomas Jefferson's family tree
Pill's promise, naturally, a come-on to men
Book aids adjustment to life with disability
CCM does impressive Kurt Weill double bill
CCM opera professor departing
Choreographer illustrates modern dance in 'Beholder'
Classical hall picks 10 for 2000
Conductor orchestrates some timely fun
Fine Arts Fund grants vital to small groups
GET TO IT
Schulz drew on compassion in letter to boy
Chamber goes to bat in high court race
Country reigns at Red Barn
Director grew school co-op
Ky. funds might invest in ventures
Lakota agency getting a home
Machine aids UC designers
Program brings Net to Appalachia
TRISTATE DIGEST
