The Minnesota River Valley Education District

HISTORY 

The beginning of the MRVED is found in 1970 with the Niswi-Nayawshing Vocational Center.  Three districts were members; Benson, Maynard and Montevideo.  Five additional districts later joined the cooperative (Appleton, Clarkfield, Dawson-Boyd, Milan and Ortonville).  In the 1984, an ITV Cooperative was formed called the Minnesota Valley Tele-Network.  The MN Valley Tele-Network was one of the first to develop ITV in the state of Minnesota.  Nine districts (Appleton, Benson, Dawson-Boyd, Granite Falls, Madison, Maynard, Milan, Montevideo, and Ortonville) made up the ITV Cooperative.  

The Minnesota River Valley Education District was created during the fall of the 1988-89 school year.  Following a planning year, the MRVED became operational on July 1, 1989. The membership consisted of:  Benson, Clarkfield, Dawson-Boyd, Granite Falls, Maynard, Montevideo and Ortonville.  On July 1, 1990, the following districts became members: Appleton, Madison, Marietta-Nassau, Milan and the Lac qui Parle Valley High School.  At this time, Maynard left the MRVED to join the Central Lakes Education District.  Both the Niswi-Nayawshing Vocational Center and the MN Valley Tele-Network were rolled into the Minnesota River Valley Education District.  Echo, Cottonwood, and Wood Lake school districts joined the MRVED in 1991.  Many of the districts have combined, however the membership remains virtually identical to what it was in 1991.

The MRVED was formed when legislation was written to allow cooperative entities to levy funds for multi-purpose cooperatives to offer direct services to local districts.  Mandated programs included special education, gifted and talented programs, secondary vocational education, community education, ECFE, career education, library services, health services, counseling services, low incidence academics, improved learning and research, planning and development.  Optional services included professional development, summer programming, technology, parent involvement, and shared administrative and management services.

What does MRVED do?

• Leads the Curriculum Review and Development process.
• Provides and assists with planning Staff Development opportunities.
• Assists districts with E-Rates.
• Writes & manages consortium grants. (Averages about $350,000 per year)
• Facilitates Advisory Committees.  (Teachers, Principals, & Superintendents)
• Oversees Carl Perkins funding.
• Negotiates technology fiber lease.
• Coordinates ITV - interactive television courses and maintains system.
• Manages the Minnesota Valley Area Learning Center including Targeted Services and summer school, serving over 500 students each year.
• Provides special education director services in partnership with the Minnesota Valley Cooperative Center.
• Researches and promotes school improvement efforts.
• Facilitates Title III consortium.
• Developed teacher mentor handbook and training opportunities.
• Coordinates cross-district Community Education efforts.

Curriculum Review & Development

The Curriculum Review and Development process began in 2000 with a Best Practices grant.  It is a six year cycle where in the first year teachers review & develop curriculum maps and research best practices related to their discipline.  The second year involves selecting appropriate materials and staff development.  During year three, the teachers implement the curriculum.  Years four and five, teachers monitor and adjust.  Evaluation and Assessment are the primary objectives of year six.

Common In-Service

Over 525 teachers take part in the annual MRVED Common In-service.  Teachers share successful lesson plans, examine professional research, and discuss topics relevant to their grade or content area. 

Lesson Study

Lesson study is a professional development process that Japanese teachers engage in to systematically examine their practice.  The goal of lesson study is to improve the effectiveness of the experiences that the teachers provide to their students.  Hundreds of MRVED educators have received training on the Lesson Study model of staff development.  

For those who like numbers

• Over the past five years, MRVED has successfully managed 35 grants amounting to $3.25 million.
• Each year, E-rate and Telecom Aid bring in another $370,000+ for our member schools.
• During the school year, over 50 meetings are held at the MRVED training center.
• Over 175 teachers participate in curriculum development and review meetings each year.