SOESC CONNECTION
Southern Ohio Educational Service Center
SOESC Connection Newsletter: Better Communication for a Stronger Community. Welcome to the December installment of the SOESC Connection Newsletter!
Topics we will cover in this installment:
- Adobe PD Interest Form
- Celebrations Abundance
- Live Polls
- News from ODEW
- SOESC Services Catalog Launch
- Student Success Story
- Teaching & Learning Team Members partner with OPEPP
- & MORE
As always, thank you for your dedication and commitment to our shared goals.
SOESC Received the Auditor of State Award for Fiscal Excellence
Southern Ohio Educational Service Center (SOESC) has been awarded the prestigious Auditor of State Award in recognition of its exemplary financial reporting and commitment to fiscal transparency. This distinction, presented by the Auditor of State’s office, is awarded to public entities that achieve a “clean” audit report, showcasing accountability, compliance with financial regulations, and an unwavering commitment to fiscal integrity.
This award reflects the diligent efforts and professional expertise of SOESC’s fiscal team, led by Treasurer Rachel Meyer. With 36 years of service, Meyer’s dedication to financial stewardship has been instrumental in achieving this level of recognition. She is joined in the Fiscal Department by Rhonda Cochran and Amanda Ely, who together have played a vital role in ensuring accurate and transparent financial operations.
This award underscores the commitment of our Fiscal Department to upholding the highest standards in public finance. We are incredibly grateful to Rachel, Rhonda, and Amanda for their outstanding work, which continues to strengthen our reputation and trust within the community.
The Auditor of State Award is given to entities that meet several criteria, including timely submission of financial reports in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), absence of findings for recovery, material citations, deficiencies, or questionable costs, and a lack of other audit issues. SOESC’s achievement demonstrates not only a commitment to excellence in financial management but also its dedication to serving as a responsible steward of public funds.
SOESC Earns High-Performing ESC Designation for the 9th Year!
For the ninth consecutive year, the Southern Ohio Educational Service Center (SOESC) has been awarded the High Performing ESC designation by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and the Ohio Educational Service Center Association. This recognition reflects SOESC’s continued commitment to providing exceptional service and support to member districts across Adams, Clinton, Fayette, and Highland counties.
The “High Performing ESC” designation is awarded based on factors such as cost savings for school districts and the quality of services provided. To achieve the High Performing ESC designation, an ESC must generate total cost savings of at least 5% across five ESC-selected service areas for its client school districts as compared to the district providing the services themselves or from another third-party vendor. The percentage of savings for Ohio’s ESCs far exceeds the 5% benchmark, averaging 39.32% savings in Fiscal Year 2024, based on data provided by the DEW.
🌟 SOESC TLT Members Partner with OPEPP
Our Teaching and Learning Team members, Holly Burgess and Grace Eads, are partnering with the Ohio Partnership for Excellence in Paraprofessional Preparation (OPEPP) to support the Adams County Ohio Valley School District over the next three years!
Together, they’re building a robust support system for paraprofessionals. Recently, ACOV paraprofessionals attended a session on supporting students with challenging behaviors gaining valuable strategies to assist students in meaningful ways.
Beth Justice Receives Prestigious Torch Award
On November 11, 2024, Beth Justice was honored with The Torch Award by the Ohio Educational Service Center Association (OESCA) for her exceptional service and contributions to ESCs across Ohio. Nominated by Southern Ohio ESC, Beth's dedication and leadership have left a lasting impact on education. 🏆
📸 Pictured (left to right):
• Curt Bradshaw, Southern Ohio ESC Superintendent
• Rachel Meyer, Southern Ohio ESC Treasurer
• Beth Justice, Torch Award Honoree
• Marie Ward, OESCA President and Fairfield County ESC Superintendent
Richard Peck was recognized with the 25-Year Board Member Service Award from OSBA
At the 2024 Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) Capital Conference on November 10, 2024, Richard Peck was recognized with the 25-Year Board Member Service Award from OSBA. This award honors his remarkable commitment and dedication as a Governing Board member for the Southern Ohio ESC for the past 25 years.
Richard’s leadership and unwavering support have been instrumental in advancing education across our region. We are incredibly grateful for his service and proud to celebrate this milestone achievement.
Dennis Mount Recognized with OESCA's Special Distinguished Board Service Award
Southern Ohio ESC Governing Board Member Dennis Mount was recently recognized as the only recipient of this year's Ohio Educational Service Center Association's Special Distinguished Board Service award, recognizing his 30 years of school board service to SOESC. Southern Ohio ESC is honored to help celebrate and recognize the commitment and dedication that Mr. Mount brings to our organization. Thank you, Mr. Mount!
📸 Pictured (left to right):
- Rachel Meyer, Southern Ohio ESC Treasurer
- Dennis Mount, Award Honoree
- Curt Bradshaw, Southern Ohio ESC Superintendent
Student Success Story: Celebrating Progress and Perseverance! 🌟
Our amazing Speech-Language Pathologist, Stacia Guthrie, shared an inspiring success story about one of her fourth-grade students! At 3 years old, this student was minimally speaking. Through years of speech therapy, schedules, and visuals, he has made incredible strides. Recently, he proudly wrote his own schedule, sounding out and writing the words independently! This is a testament to hard work, persistence, and the power of personalized support.
💛 Let's all celebrate this student's growth and Stacia's dedication to making a difference!
Licensure Renewal Applications Available
Educators whose licenses expire June 30, 2025, may submit their renewal applications now to avoid longer processing times in the summer.
Assistive Technology
Our Assistive Technology Library offers many tools and resources to support students with disabilities across essential areas like communication, computer access, mobility, vision, and more. According to IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), an assistive technology device is any equipment that can help improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. This includes everything from communication devices and adaptive toys to software and specialized computer access tools—tools that can make a real difference for students and families.
Assistive Technology Services cover many supports to help children succeed, including evaluations, equipment acquisition, and personalized training for families, educators, and professionals working with students. Our lending library allows member districts to borrow equipment for a trial period to determine which devices best meet each student’s unique needs.
To explore the available resources or access our lending library, please get in touch with Megan Thompson at 937-393-1904 x 2126 or via email at mthompson@soesc.org.
Southern Ohio Educational Service Center is dedicated to providing our member districts with the highest quality of services in a collaborative environment that is cost-effective. This service allows many of our employees to work outside of our main offices and directly in one or multiple member school districts.
Our Mission: "Together, we empower excellence by transforming education through dynamic partnerships for our students and community."
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