Published: June 25, 2008 09:04 am         

GCIC schools change special needs services

What later would be known as Garfield County Interlocal Cooperative (GCIC) began in the late-1970s at Covington-Douglas Public Schools.

“It started so the smaller schools in the area would have a place to send students with special needs, rather than each district going it alone,” said Gerald Hoeltzel, who served as the head of GCIC.

Until this year, GCIC was comprised of Ringwood, Cim-arron, Drummond, Waukomis, Pioneer-Pleasant Vale, Garber, Kremlin-Hillsdale, Covington-Douglas, Pond Creek-Hunter and Deer Creek-Lamont public schools.

Hoeltzel said the schools agreed to reform GCIC this year. Each school district has a representative on the board.

“It’s been a great thing,” Darren Sharp, Covington-Douglas superintendent, said. “It’s just changing.”

For the 2008-09 school year, the former GCIC will have roots in counties previously served but under different names.

Some districts, like Covington-Douglas, will provide special education at their own sites.

Others, including PPV, Kremlin-Hillsdale, Ringwood, Drummond, Pond Creek-Hunter and Deer Creek-Lamont, will utilize special education services at Kremlin-Hillsdale, according to Joel Quinn, Pond Creek-Hunter superintendent and new GCIC executive director.

Enid Public Schools will provide physical therapy and consultation for the Kremlin-Hillsdale site, according to a contract approved during Enid Public Schools Board of Education meeting June 16.

Alternative education will be provided at three locations. Some districts will remain with Garfield County Alternative Academy, housed in Enid. Grant County Alternative Academy serves Wakita, Medford, DCLA. Pond Creek-Hunter and Kremlin-Hillsdale. Other districts will be housed at Timberlake Public Schools in Helena, Quinn said.

In years past, GCIC has been at Autry Technology Center, Chisholm Public Schools, Northern Oklahoma College and, currently, a building leased on South Cleveland, Hoeltzel said.

“The GCIC provides for special needs and high needs students who need more care and supervision,” Quinn said. “When schools get together to provide those services, it’s more cost-effective.”

More decisions concerning GCIC will be discussed during meetings throughout the summer, Quinn said.