DUNBAR, W.Va. — Being the communications director for three school districts in southern West Virginia, Chris Williams finds himself on the road nearly all day, every day. Williams told MetroNews he’s always busy and that’s how he likes it.
In March, Williams began his position at Mountain State Educational Services Cooperative (MSESC) where he serves Wayne, Lincoln, and Logan County Schools in that role. Williams pushes out content for those counties’ social media pages and is the point of contact during news events across that valley.
Williams’ role is part of the broader MSESC which was formed in 2017 with the goal of providing educational services to its members, non-member school systems and non-profits to leverage resources to meet the needs of school districts and communities in the Mountain State.
Williams told MetroNews a rare position such as his, balancing three county school districts, came at the decision of the counties in an effort to save money.
“One of our biggest things we try to do here at the ESC is saving the taxpayers money. By applying and getting federal grants, state grants, other local grants, and share services,” Williams said.
The members of MSESC include Lincoln, Logan, Mason, Mingo, and Wayne County Schools.
MSESC was formed due to the passage of HB 2711 in 2017, Williams said. Before ESCs were created, West Virginia worked with (Regional Educational Service Agencies) to create different educational regions.
MSESC administers AEPA WV, an educational purchasing cooperative that supports all 55 WV school systems, municipalities, and other 501(c) non-profits in West Virginia.
Williams said MSESC, one of three educational services cooperatives in the state, funds positions in school districts. Job postings in April include elementary and middle school interventionists, program managers, and adult education coordinators.
“They work for the ESC but their position might be in the school. There are positions we fund or may help fund,” Williams said.
Williams said funding for positions is oftentimes given through grants. MSESC is able to develop programs and services to maximize local, state, and federal monies to meet the entity’s needs.
MSESC is currently working on a U.S. DOJ grant to work with schools on the Stop It app, an app that promotes safety in schools. Williams said MSESC is also working on a Learning.com grant to provide teachers with tools to prepare students for a digital world such as coding, keyboarding and digital literacy.
MSESC states that it operates under the oversight of a local-elected Governing Council comprised of five county superintendents and five county board members.