302/Maryland Manual
REGIONAL EDUCATION SERVICE
AGENCY OF APPALACHIAN MARY-
LAND (RESA)
Chairperson: Donald Alexander, AUegany Com-
munity College (FY 1978-1979)
Secretary-Treasurer/Executive Director: George E.
Allen, RESA
Board of Directors: William H. Buser, Board of
Education for Garrett County; Nelson P. Guild,
Frostburg State College; W. Ardell Haines,
Allegany Community College; Wayne W. Hill,
Board of Education for Allegany County; R. Lee
Hombake, University of Maryland; Dr. Donald
L. Ruhl, Garrett Community College; Atlee C.
Kepler, Hagerstown Jr. College; Claud E.
Kitchens, Board of Education for Washington
County; Stephen Kocsis, Executive Director of
Tri-County Council for Western Maryland, ex
officio.
Honorary Member: The Honorable J. Millard
Tawes, former Governor of Maryland
13202 6th Avenue
Cresaptown 21502 Telephone: 729-1604
This Agency was created pursuant to Article 77,
paragraph 56A, of the Annotated Code of Mary-
land for the purpose of raising the educational level
of all people in Appalachian Maryland (Allegany,
Garrett, and Washington counties) to better enable
them to develop socially, culturally, and economi-
cally. This consortium of public education
institutions had its beginnings in 1967 with the cre-
ation of a committee to examine the needs of edu-
cation in the three counties and what might be
done to meet these needs on a cooperative basis.
One result was the creation of the Regional Educa-
tion Project Office in 1970 to plan for a regional
education service agency, an organizational con-
cept recommended by the Appalachian Regional
Commission. In 1971 the office was organized as a
service agency under its present name, and in 1973
it became a separate administrative entity of gov-
ernment according to State law.
An advisory council of professionals from edu-
cational institutions, regional organizations, and
State agencies concerned with human develop-
ment meets the fourth Thursday of every month
in joint session with the Board of Directors. This
provides a forum and advisory body for the
Board of Directors who can then take direct and
immediate action.
The Agency is specifically organized and is op-
erated for educational purposes, including but not

limited to the following: To toster cooperation
among all educational institutions and organiza-
tions concerned with the needs of the people in
the region; to establish goals, policies, and
procedures for regional education projects; to
plan, coordinate, and conduct regional education-
al projects; to promote the improvement of edu-
cational, scientific, and literary facilities and
programs at and among participating institutions;
and to organize and support an operational office
to be governed by a Board of Directors responsi-
ble to public authorities.
One of the responsibilities of this Agency is to
recommend to the State those plans, programs,
and activities directed toward education's role in
the development of the region according to the
Appalachian Regional Development Act. These
recommendations are the basis for funding opera-
tional and construction programs for education
by the Appalachian Regional Commission
through the State.
RESA is a voluntary cooperative in that mem-
ber institutions determine the need and extent of
regional programs and services. It is not an inter-
mediate level of authority, and therefore no insti-
tution is required by vote or otherwise to partici-
pate in a particular program or service; however,
member institutions have joined together in sup-
port of the purposes of RESA. Program develop-
ment policies are generally directed toward
projects that serve the needs of two or more
counties, two or more institutions, or that may
serve as a demonstration to others.
The Agency provides a basic staff to assist mem-
ber institutions in identifying needs that might be
met through regional programs or services. Based
on Board policy the staff provides direct support
and leadership for interagency/institutional liaison,
project development and implementation, and
project review and evaluation. In addition to the
basic staff, regional staff from the Maryland Fire
and Rescue Institute (University of Maryland) are
housed in RESA, and on occasion temporary staff
may be added to implement programs.
The operations of the Agency are partially
funded through budget allocations of the signatory
members. Supplemental funding for operations and
programs come from federal and State sources,
which includes the Appalachian Regional Develop-
ment Act.
SOUTHERN REGIONAL EDUCATION
BOARD
Members of the Board From Maryland:
Harry Hughes, Governor