CESA 5, located in
South Central Wisconsin, encompasses major portions of Adams, Columbia, Juneau,
Marquette, Portage, Sauk, Waushara and Wood Counties, as well as portions of
Waupaca, Green Lake, Dane and Dodge. It serves thirty-five school districts
representing approximately 50,000 students. The largest city within CESA 5 is
Stevens Point, site of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. There are also
two vocational and adult education campuses within CESA 5. The agency office is
located at Portage, approximately 30 miles north of Madison. All financial
support comes from local school districts, federal and state project grants, or
state categorical aids.
It has been over forty years since the creation of Cooperative Educational
Service Agencies (CESA) in the State of Wisconsin. In those years changes have
occurred. New programs have been introduced, many have changed in focus and
perspective to meet the changing conditions of education and some have been
eliminated. Change and evolution are essential to meeting society's needs in the
education of our youth. CESA 5's goal is to maintain vibrant and responsive
educational opportunities for students, teachers, and administrators as we move
forward into the next quarter century.