"Productive . . . positive" were among words used to describe talks last week between Leland Public School officials and representatives from the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District (ISD).

“It’s the most positive step we’ve made in a long time,” Leland Superintendent Mike Hartigan said of the Dec. 12 meeting which involved Leland and ISD board members.

Representing Leland at the 90-minute session were Hartigan; Andy McFarlane, president of the Leland Board of Education; trustee Maynard (Rink) Wheeler; and Leland business manager Sandra Potts. Representing the ISD were Superintendent Mike Hill of Maple City; ISD board president Joe Fisher; and Jim Scherrer, former member of the Northport Board of Education and county representative on the ISD board.

“We have a greater understanding of the needs of Leland Public School and others of similar size,” Hill said.

The meeting was the first in which representatives of the ISD board sat down to discuss their relationship, which has become tenuous as the local school district faces tough financial times. Leland has not endorsed the ISD’s general education budget.

TBA officials noted at the meeting that Leland’s fund equity, which is at 9 percent, is running dangerously close to the 8 percent minimum suggested by auditors. The ISD’s general fund balance is 43 percent.

TBA provides special education, and career and technical education services to students in 16 school districts in the 5-county region. It also provides support to teachers through professional learning workshops, consultation and MEAP data analysis and data management.

Because of the size and scope of its programing, the regional organization’s practice is to maintain a sizable fund balance to cover unknown factors, such as the number of students needing special education services.

“They are serving the needs of kids we never see,” McFarlane said. “If the time comes when we would have to take over, we couldn’t do it.”

A report of services provided to Leland by TBA included statistics from the 2006-07 school year. The report outlined that 58 students from Leland received special education services. Of those, 41 received special education from Leland special ed teachers. In addition, 13 received speech and language services, six were provided occupational therapy help, and one received physical therapy.

Three students from Leland who are “health impaired” of “cognitively impaired” received center-based instruction in Traverse City in 2006-07.

“The cost of providing these are just too large for local districts,” said Hill.

Other efforts, such as providing transportation for special education students in Benzie Central district, has saved the local district more than $100,000.

However, Leland’s representatives are seeking more for districts of their size.

“There’s an expectation that we’ll be back by March to discuss what more we can provide,” said Hill, who called the sit-down “productive.”

It has been a year since he took over as superintendent of the ISD, replacing another administrator with local ties — former Leland Superintendent Mike Kenney.

“It’s been challenging … but in a good way,” Hill said. “We know there are tough issues being faced by schools … We want to do what we can to impact all kids.”