The Silvis Board of Education on Wednesday voted unanimously to approved a request by the Moline-Coal Valley School District to withdraw from the Black Hawk Area Special Education District.

The special education district includes 14 school districts in Rock Island, Henry and Mercer counties that share the cost of providing services to students with emotional, cognitive or physical disabilities. For decades, the Moline School District provided administration for the center; many of its teachers and staff are Moline district employees.

In December, the Moline School Board approved a number of cost-saving measures, including leaving BHASED in the 2014-15 school year. The move is expected to save Moline schools about $1 million, with Moline schools planning to care for its own students.

On Monday, United Township School Board members also approved Moline's withdrawal request in a 4-1 vote, with Sue A. Ickes opposed.Wendy Verschoore abstained, and Donald J. Sproul was not present.

The Silvis School Board on Wednesday also gave unanimous approval to a consolidation study in partnership with the United Township High School District and most of the elementary districts whose students attend UT. The Hampton School District has decided not to participate in the study;UT board members on Monday approved participating in the study.

The study's goal is to research three possible combinations for the districts: a joint elementary district, a combined district including United Township or the various districts remaining independent with shared services.Each participating district will pay about $900 for the study, with another $7,500 paid by the state.

Silvis board members on Wednesday also unanimously approved an amended contract for superintendent Ray Bergles throughthe 2014-15 school year with annual salary increases. Incorrectsalary numbers were in the initial contract. The new contract corrects those, with a salary of $136,442.39 for 2012-13, $143,264.50 for 2013-14 and $150,427.72 for 2014-15.