STERLING – Sterling Public Schools could withdraw from the Bi-County Special Education Cooperative after having been a member for more than 40 years.

At a special meeting Thursday, the school board will consider a resolution to pull out of the 11-district cooperative effective with the 2014-15 school year.

The district is required, by school code and by its agreement with the cooperative, to give 18 months’ notice of its intent to withdraw from the group. The school board must approve a resolution by Jan. 1 for the withdrawal to take effect at the end of the fiscal year that ends June 30, 2014.