Last night, the Escanaba Area Public Schools' Board of Education voted to approve sharing business services with Gladstone Area Public Schools. This plan calls for sharing a "Director of Business Services" to oversee both district business offices; adding an accountant for Escanaba, and one for Gladstone, then sharing other business office services. This plan will allow for more cross-training, increased efficiencies, as well as some cost savings. This is the direction that the Michigan Department of Education is urging districts to consider. Both districts believe that it is far better to be proactive now, than to have the State of Michigan impose this upon us later. We will be able to customize the plan so it is a "win-win" for both districts. This opens the door to future possibilities. It is not "business as usual"--rather it is "business ramped up." We will have discussions with Gladstone, as well as other districts in regard to other partnerships as we move into the months and years ahead.