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Allegan County Administrator, Rob Sarro, and Allegan Area Educational Service Center (AAESA) Superintendent, Ron Fuller, are “facing off” to support the 2007 Allegan County United Way Campaign.

“We are challenging each other and the organizations we represent to increase their pledges and pledge amounts to the 2007 United Way Campaign”,  explains Sarro. We both also really agree that it is important to have some fun doing it,” explains Sarro. 

The winner will be the administrator with the organization that has the highest average pledge amount based on the number of staff pledges. The looser will have to wear the winner’s college colors for one work day. Both organization are also having challenges between departments, with the people who pledged in the winning department having a chance to win $100.00 of free gas. The free gas gift is from an anonymous donor to both organizations.

The Allegan Area Education Service Agency (AAESA)  Board of Education accepted the resignation of Wally Gunderson, Assistant Superintendent of Instructional & Educational Services and long-time Special Education Director, at their monthly meeting on September 20, 2007.

Gunderson arrived at the AAESA , then called the ACISD,  in 1994 to become the Director of Special Education Programs. In 2000, he was promoted to his current position of Assistant Superintendent of Instructional & Educational Services.  His responsibilities included the development and maintaining of all general education and special education programs and services for all eight local districts and charter schools in Allegan County.

“I have enjoyed my experience here in Allegan County”, stated Gunderson. He will continue as a consultant for a period of time to support the new Director of Special Education, Dr. Alice Woodrow.

At the September 20, 2007 Allegan County Area Educational Service Agency (AAESA) Board Meeting, the board approved the promotion of Dr. Alice Woodrow, Ed.D, currently the Supervisor of Planning and Monitoring,  to become the new Director of Special Education at the AAESA in January, 2008. Dr. Woodrow will be replacing the retiring Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, Wally Gunderson, who also directed all of the AAESA Special Education Services.

In 2006-07, 541 Allegan County families and 733 preschool children receive 3303 Parent Educator  home visits, and they attended 182 playgroups and 96 Parent University Classes. Further, 152 Allegan County 4 year old children attended the AAESA Michigan School Readiness Program.

Allegan County Early Childhood Even Start program strives to break the cycle of poverty by providing educational opportunities for families.  Family literacy is the educational format for the Even Start program.  Family literacy includes the integration of early childhood education, adult literacy, parent/child interactive literacy, and parenting education.  Even Start served 64 Allegan County parents, representing across the county 66 children, with  3,136 hours adult education  and 3,299 hours of early childhood education.