CSDGKC Mission

The mission of the Cooperating School Districts of Greater Kansas City, the unifying agent in our commitment to all students, is to strengthen our educational community through collaborative partnerships, innovative learning opportunities, collective advocacy, and high quality resources necessary for students to thrive.

Partners and their educational communities will:

  • Create a culture of innovation to address traditional and emerging challenges and opportunities.
  • Embrace collaboration and serve as unifying agents.
  • Exercise collective advocacy in support of promoting a positive public education narrative.
  • Engage in ongoing professional learning opportunities.

History

The Cooperating School Districts of Greater Kansas City (CSDGKC Inc.) was first established in 1976 as a loosely organized group of area school districts with a common interest to track legislation that affected children and schools and to provide legislative liaison services to the Missouri Legislature.

For many years area superintendents talked about the possibility of expanding the organization’s mission and vision. Superintendents wanted the power of cooperation and economies of scale to improve student learning and the buying power of member schools. As a result, CSDGKC Inc. was officially created July 1, 2007, and now operates as a Missouri Educational Service Agency (ESA) governed by its by-laws and guided by a strategic plan approved by the membership. A CSDGKC sister organization, the CSDGKC Foundation, has received 501(c)(3) status and exists as a separate organization with its own board of directors.

CSDGKC Inc. has now evolved into a diverse, accomplished educational cooperative association. CSDGKC represents 34 school districts and provides cutting-edge, state-of-the-art collaborative professional development services.  CSDGKC serves rural, suburban, and urban communities from 13 Missouri counties in an area stretching from St. Joseph in the north to Adrian in the south.  Our districts represent over 184,000 children and 30,000 employees. CSDGKC Inc. is governed by public school districts in Bates, Buchanan, Caldwell, Cass, Clay, Clinton, Henry, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Pettis, Platte, and Ray Counties.

In 2007, CSDGKC Inc. employed its first employees, and in September 2008, Dr. Gayden Carruth was employed as its first full-time executive director. After Dr. Carruth’s retirement on August 31, 2019, CSDGKC made a transition from one outstanding public education leader to another.  In September 2019, Dr. Kenny Southwick was named as the new executive director.  Southwick is a familiar face on the Kansas City education scene. Southwick worked as a teacher, counselor, coach and district administrator within the Maryville, Excelsior Springs and Belton school districts, finishing his career in Missouri public education as Belton’s superintendent.  Dr. Southwick then moved to the Shawnee Mission school district and retired as deputy superintendent in July 2019.

Today, CSDGKC Inc. is recognized throughout the education profession as the primary provider of professional development services, legislative liaison services, cooperative purchasing, and research and communication services.  CSDGKC Inc. acts as a forum to exchange ideas, share problems, and serve as spokesperson for the education community when needed.