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Ensuring Learning for Everyone
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At the core of every Greenbush Program is the unyielding belief that every student, regardless of geographic location, deserves equal educational opportunities. The main Greenbush campus is the site for unique learning facilities such as the Wm. L. Abernathy Science Center and rain forest, Mission Space Station, PSU/Greenbush Astrophysical Observatory, and Greenbush Archeological Dig. New to the Greenbush Campus will be biotechnology labs and a MediaGlobe Digital Planetarium especially designed to increase student achievement in math and science. Learning opportunities for students are by no means limited to the Greenbush Campus. The Greenbush Interactive Distance Learning Network, Virtual Prescriptive Learning, Migrant Education, and Virtual Greenbush provide students across the state with curriculum and learning experiences ranging from algebra and history to career/technical education and foreign language instruction.
In collaboration with school districts and state agencies, Greenbush operates Community Learning Centers and alternative education programs giving students who have previously dropped out-of-school a second chance to receive a high school diploma. Other contracts with the Social Rehabilitation Services, Department of Corrections, Juvenile Justice Authority, and local school districts insure that all students receive an educational experience leading to a positive and productive lifestyle.
Each child is unique. An individual. With individual
needs. The same goes for each agency Greenbush
serves, from the very small to the very large. That’s
why Greenbush offers agencies the chance to choose
services and programs that best meet those individual
needs. It’s been that way since the Education Service
Center (ESC) began in 1976, and was nicknamed
Greenbush after the tiny, unincorporated town in which
it is located.
The main building of the Greenbush campus
originally was known as Greenbush Elementary School, and was part of USD 248 Girard.
When it closed in December 1975, the district offered the building to the ESC, which had
been housed in a mobile home on the parking lot of Erie High School. At the time, there
were three ESC employees: Dave DeMoss, Janet Perron, and Peggy Shepard.
Now, with more than 600 employees, Greenbush offers programs that are otherwise
unavailable, unaffordable, or just more effective and effi cient through a cooperative effort.
By forming consortiums, Greenbush allows districts to pool resources to stretch funding
even further. Whether the need is for offi ce supplies, professional training, technical
support, a consortium means increased purchasing power and more bang for the buck.
Greenbush forms partnerships with agencies, businesses, and universities to further
resources and personnel.
Greenbush is classifi ed as Interlocal No. 609. It has all the rights and privileges of a
school district, except the power to levy taxes. So earning competitive grants, private
charitable donations, and providing services to member agencies is important to the
mission. In other words, Greenbush is only as good as the last program delivered. The
need for accountability means those served are assured of consistent quality, effi ciency,
and value.
Greenbush is governed by a board consisting of one representative from each of the
fi ve original, or “charter” districts: Erie, Girard, Yates Center, Riverton, and Fort Scott
Community College. The board serves as at-large representatives for those served. If two
or more districts request a service, a Greenbush department will create a program and
exceed expectations.
Many programs have been the subject of broadcast news segments, specials such as
McNeil-Leher News Hour, Sunfl ower Journeys, and hundreds of printed news pieces. The
campus has expanded to include more than 500 acres of land, divided in use between
campus and facilities, natural areas for study by students, teachers, and scientists,
agricultural test plots, camping and recreation areas, and tenant-leased land.
What remains unchanged is the quality of service, the attention to customer needs, and
the attitude with which programs are delivered. Greenbush is well known for “fi nding a way
to say yes”, and it shows!
Read the history of Greenbush 
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