◊◊Boiler Training August 5

This 8 hour course meets the Minnesota annual training requirements for Boiler Operator. See details here.

◊Virtual Back to School Food Service Training August 12

Amanda Ryan and Karyn Lutz, NW Service Cooperative Dietitians, will be presenting important nutrition information for all school food service personnel.  The meeting will be by Zoom. Click here for registration and more information.

◊Request for Presenter Proposals

NWSC is taking proposals for presenter sessions for our Regional Staff Development Day on January 18, 2021,  If you would like to present, please complete this form by Oct 9, 2020.  

◊◊Free Mini-Courses Available

Our education services department has been hard at work developing new PD courses.  Expand your distance learning prowess with Virtual Field Trips, Take Attendance in Google Meet, and SEL Activities for Any Classroom Location. More courses and information is available.

◊Finance Workshops July 14, 21, 28 & Sept 17

The Northwest Service Cooperative (NWSC) will be sponsoring virtual School Finance Workshops for all new Superintendents, aspiring Superintendents, Principals, Business Managers, Bookkeepers, School Board Members or anyone interested in learning the fundamentals of Minnesota school finance. Click here to register or for more information.

◊◊Minnesota Service Cooperatives Partners with Bloomboard to Offer Micro-Credentialing to Minnesota Districts and Teachers

Micro-credentials will provide Minnesota teachers a competency-based, personalized approach to career advancement, salary increases and improved instruction. More information is available here.

◊Planning for Distance Learning

Our Education team and Northern Sky Center of Excellence have some strategies and resources on our website. Click on this link to access this free material.

◊◊CPC Vendor Response to COVID-19

As schools have closed, CPC Vendors have reached out with free resources, extended promotions, and other related information. This page shows their offerings.  Included are companies such as CDW, Edmentum, Kajeet, Mackin, and many more.

◊◊Important Notice

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, NW Service Coop staff will be working from home and the office will be closed starting March 19 until further notice.  Please contact our staff via email (check our staff directory) and they will get back to you. Be asured that our staff is hard at work at home and is ready to serve you. NWSC event cancelations will be noted on our calendar as we receive them.

◊Learn to Live website

Check out the recorded webinars that are posted under Recorded Webinars on the Learn to Live website. One of these is "When Substance  use becomes a Concern". More information is available on our webpage.

◊Online Classes now available to meet MN Licensure Renewal Requirements

To renew a MN teaching license, the MN licensure board requires training in each of six different areas: 1)Positive Behavior Intervention, 2)Reading Preparation, 3)Mental Illness Awareness, 4)Suicide Prevention Strategies, 5) English Learners Best Practices, and 6) Cultural Competency Training. NWSC Education Services has developed a set of online classes which allows participants to earn a clock hour in each of these categories. Teachers can meet the requirements for renewal at their own time, own place, and own pace.  Click for more information.  NOTE: Anyone whose license expired June 30, 2020, has until Dec 30, 2020 to renew their license.

◊ICS Announces Rebranding

ICS Consulting, Inc. is shortening their company name to ICS and changing their website from www.ics-consult.com to https://www.ics-builds.com/. The company’s previous slogan of “innovate, collaborate, sustain” will be replaced with “Building Strong Connections.” All changes are effective on Monday, December 16^th, 2019. ICS specializes in providing innovative facility solutions to help plan, build, and operate buildings well. Their customized services integrate the planning, funding, construction, and ongoing operations of buildings as they help throughout all phases of building projects.  NWSC members receive a discount on ICS services.

◊NWSC Partners with the OnToCollege (OTC) Program
OTC has partnered with over 420 schools across 25 states to help create more 2- and 4-year college grads with minimal debt.  Partners routinely jump their school-wide ACT scores 1-3 points.  MREA member districts and Northwest Service Cooperative (NWSC) members receive a discount on OTC Test Prep and College Counseling. Click here for more information.