By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
More than 20 years have passed since USD 428 was a member of Hutchinson-based Educational Services and Staff Development Association of Central Kansas (ESSDACK). Monday night, the board of education voted to renew that membership for $18,545. Superintendent Khris Thexton said membership has a wealth of benefits for the Great Bend district.
"This is one of those that when you have a number of schools come together with these groups," he told the board, "they can offer these services for you where you don't necessarily have to have that staffing yourself."
ESSDACK serves more than 50 districts and non-profits with the goal of providing services that many districts cannot provide on their own. Dr. Chad Higgins, a former teacher and coach of the Lady Panther basketball team, was recently named executive director at ESSDACK.
"When Dr. Higgins took over, the short year he's been in there has really beefed up what they're able to offer," Thexton said. "I really like what direction they're going, and I'd like to have access to them as well. It's just one more layer to help our staff, especially bringing in staff that doesn't have a lot of experience, to have access to more training and more opportunities."
ESSDACK provides everything from training opportunities and print solutions, and also runs seven learning centers, including the Barton County Academy.