Agenda Item
b. Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) and the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) on behalf of the Georgia Learning Resource System (GLRS) (amount not to exceed $460,000.00)
Summary: Presented by: Ms. Stacy E. Stepney, Chief Academic Officer, Division of Curriculum and Instruction
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve the MOA between the Georgia Department of Education and the DeKalb County School District on behalf of the Georgia Learning Resources System for an amount not to exceed $460,000.00.
Why: Metro East GLRS (MEGLRS) provides direct support to six area school systems: DeKalb, Buford City, Decatur City, Fulton, Gwinnett, and Rockdale Counties. In these systems, Metro East GLRS provides support for parents of students with disabilities, teachers of students with disabilities, as well as students with disabilities. Metro East GLRS also provides in-kind ancillary services for the remainder of the Metro area: Cobb County Schools, Atlanta Public Schools, Clayton County Schools, Marietta City Schools, Douglas County Schools, and Forsyth County Schools. Metro East GLRS works directly with the Directors and Executive Directors of Special Education to design and implement the Statewide Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP), Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS) and Corrective Action Plans (CAP). These services are in the form of planning, professional learning, seminars, coaching, and mentoring. In addition, Metro East GLRS maintains and operates the Materials Production Center (MPC) and Resource Library located in the DeKalb County Administrative and Instructional Complex (AIC).
Details: Under this Agreement, GLRS will provide consistent, regional and state-wide opportunities for professional learning that include “train-the-trainer” sessions to support equitable opportunities in each Region. The GaDOE will inform the scope of work of GLRS based on the priorities for state-wide and region-level needs for professional development. Funding must be used solely for activities and deliverables that directly support the accomplishment of the project purposes, priorities, and expected outcomes during the contractual period.
Metro East GLRS is self-supporting, yet the benefits of proximity for DCSD are numerous. Metro East GLRS maintains, operates, and funds The Materials Production Center (MPC), located within DeKalb County. The MPC houses all equipment and machinery necessary for teachers to prepare instructional materials for the classroom. Metro East GLRS also provides, at cost, any supplies required to produce instructional materials on site. In addition, this places the GLRS Resource Library within the District. This Resource Library contains not only books and materials but adaptive equipment for instructional use by Students with Disabilities (SWD). All material and equipment may be checked out by teachers of the SWD population. Though these facilities are open to all school districts served by the Metro East GLRS, the facility’s proximity to DeKalb County schools is advantageous. During the 2021-2022 school year, ninety-two percent (92%) of the 2,011 patrons visiting the center were DeKalb County teachers, administrators, and parents.
Financial impact: The method of compensation in this MOA will be payments in an amount not to exceed $460,000.00 to be paid to DCSD in accordance with the budget. Payment is rendered upon submission of documented allowable disbursements, plus documentation of completion of specific performance objectives. There is no financial impact to DeKalb County Schools.
Contact: Ms. Stacy E. Stepney, Chief Academic Officer, Division of Curriculum and Instruction, 678.676.0731
Ms. Michele Summerlin, Executive Director, Exceptional Education, Division of Curriculum and Instruction, 678.676.2163
Ms. Terri Jenkins, Director, Metro East GLRS, Division of Curriculum and Instruction, 678.676.2413
Effective: August 9, 2022 - August 8, 2023
Status: Approved by General Counsel.