Cornbelt Educational Cooperative

Organized in 1979 to provide speech, language, and hearing services, the Cornbelt Educational Cooperative has since expanded to offer a variety of regular and Special Education services for children. The Cooperative consists of a group of school districts joined together to form an educational service unit authorized under South Dakota law. Current member districts are: Bridgewater-Emery, Canistota, Ethan, Freeman, Hanson, Marion, McCook Central, Montrose, and Parker.  The Cornbelt Educational Cooperative is governed by a Center Board of Directors with a representative chosen from each of the school boards of the member school districts and an Advisory Board made up of the superintendents of the participating school districts. The center board meets quarterly and the advisory board meets monthly. The Cooperative Director serves as the executive officer of the Cooperative.  Funding comes from three sources: federal, state, and local school districts. Monies from these sources are designated specifically for regular and special education services. The Cooperative acts as the fiscal agent for a number of the federal programs.