TUESDAY
MARCH 16, 2010
BOARD DIGEST
BUCKS COUTY INTERMEDIATE UNIT
Special Education
“Itinerant Education
Services”
Within special education there has been an intensified interest in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) for
students over the broad continuum of disabilities. The concept of LRE is translated into the assumption of the
provision of resources and services within the regular or general education environment. Added to this emphasis
is the evolution of Response to Instruction and Intervention (RtII) which provides for a structure within the
school environment that includes a general system of academic instruction and positive behavioral programming
that evidences proficiency in at least 80% of the student body. Completing the tiered structure are flexible
dynamic groupings for additional specific instruction, as well as individualized intensive direct instruction, all
within the realm of the regular education classroom.
The increasingly strained economics of education have added to the encouragement and exploration of alternate
service delivery models that support students without removing them from neighborhood schools and creating a
needlessly protective environment that inhibits their ability to function within a typical classroom group. To
address both of these needs, several years ago the Special Education Division initiated an itinerant level of
service delivery. Initially designed to support students with higher functioning levels of autism, the model was
expanded this school year to provide services to students with emotional support needs.
While the referral process is similar to that of requesting placement in an IU classroom, the students involved do
not appear on an IU class listing. Rather, the itinerant teacher works with the regular education teacher and/or
the district special education teacher to assess the issues confronting the student within the environment of a
specific classroom. The service is carried out through a coaching relationship between the itinerant teacher,
district staff, the student and the parent to manipulate the environment and to develop strategies to promote
success for the target student as well as others in the classroom. Through this service delivery model the IU
effects one of the basic tenets of our services, to build local capacity within our constituent districts.
The service model began with a half-time teacher serving students with autism in the Council Rock School
District. Presently, the IU has five itinerant teachers providing such services to students with autism in six
districts at elementary through high school levels. This is the first year that we have added itinerant staff serving
students with emotional support needs at the elementary through high school level at the request of one of our
districts.
Itinerant educational services in the form of coaching, have assisted student success and performance, positively
effected LRE data reporting, assisted in building local capacity for districts and realized hundreds of thousands
of dollars in tuition savings for specialized placements for school districts.
Programs & Services
“Art Collection
The 60th Anniversary
Celebration”
This year the Art on the Move Program highlights a 60-year history of bringing the rich arts heritage of Bucks
County to its children and schools. The original works of art used in the program are part of a 60 year-old
collection originally known as the “Bucks County Traveling Art Gallery.” This collection was a project
spearheaded in the 1940’s by former Bucks County Schools Superintendent, Charles H. Boehm and other local
educators and artists. One Sellersville artist, Walter Emerson Baum, donated over a dozen paintings and assisted
Dr. Boehm in collecting local artwork for the Traveling Art Gallery. The purpose of creating a “Traveling Art
Gallery” for schools was to expose children to the New Hope School of Art, which was a part of the
Pennsylvania Impressionist period and was recognized by artists worldwide.
Arts Education Trust Board - Since 1949, the paintings visited all 13 districts in Bucks County; however, over
the years storage, security, tracking, installation, and transportation became an issue. In the early 1980’s,
numerous paintings were displayed throughout county schools; however, a well-designed monitoring system
was not in place. Simultaneously, many original pieces of art were increasing in value, necessitating increased
oversight. In 1989, the BCIU founded the Arts Education Trust Board to oversee the art collection. In 1996, an
agreement was made with the James A. Michener Art Museum to house the artwork. With conservation a grave
concern, the BCIU staff began to gather artworks from the schools and store them at the Museum. Eventually,
the collection was appraised and condition reports were completed.
The Student Art Gallery - As part of our Art on the Move program, a Student Art Gallery was initiated
during the 2003-2004 school year. Each district and several non-public schools are invited to select one piece
of student artwork to include in the gallery for the year. On March 16, 2010 the student artists will be honored
at a reception to celebrate their talents. The artwork will then be returned to the district with a nameplate
indicating that the piece was on display at the BCIU. Below you will find a list of our student artists for 20092010.
BOARD ACTION ITEMS:

Approved the minutes of the Intermediate Unit Board meeting held on February 16, 2010.

Approved the Treasurer’s Report, for the period of July 1, 2009 to February 28, 2010 subject to audit.

Approved the bills for payment for February 2010, subject to audit.

Approved General Fund and Capital Projects Fund Transfers for the period of February 2010 in the amount of
$1,663.00.

Approved the revision of the Title I, Improving Basic Programs – Service to Neglected Institutions budget for the
amount of $10,000.00 for the period of July 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010.

Approved the revision of the Title I Service to Delinquent Institutions budget for the amount of $358,818.00 for the
period of July 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010.

Approved the 2009-2010 Title I Delinquent ARRA Grant for the amount of $256,960.00 for the period of May 18,
2009 to September 30, 2010.

Approved the Title II, Part A, Improving Teacher Quality – Nonpublic Schools for the amount of $20,160.00 for the
period of July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010.

Approved the 2009-2010 Act 183 e-Fund Grant Award for the amount of $173,369.00 for the period of July 1, 2009
to December 31, 2010.

Approved the March 2010 Contracts and Purchases in the amount of $19,890.00.

Approved the Special Education Service Contract with Ewing Township, New Jersey School District in the amount
of$34,907.00 for the period of July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010.

Approved the Software License Agreement with Lancaster Lebanon IU #13 for itinerant time-tracking in the amount
of $68,820.00 for the period of June 30, 2010 through June 30, 2011 and year-to-year thereafter unless terminated by
either party.

Awarded of the Bucks County Schools Cooperative Purchasing Group’s Bid #10-111 for New Tires and Recapping in
the approximate amount of $296,351.00 for the period of May 1, 2010 through April 20, 2011.

Awarded of the Bucks County Schools Cooperative Purchasing Group’s Bid #10-113 for Reprographic Paper in the
approximate amount of $865,964.32 for the period of July 1, 2010 through June 20, 2011.

Approved the lease purchase of ten (10), nine (9) passenger vans from Interstate Fleets, Inc. for the period of August
1, 2010 through July 31, 2013 in the amount of $446,400.00.

Approved the lease of twenty-four (24), seven (7) passenger vans from Fred Beans Leasing for the period of August
1, 2010 through July 31, 2013 in the amount of $465,566.40.

Approved the extension of the lease on three (3), nine (9) passenger vans from Interstate Fleets, Inc. for the period of
August 1, 2010 through July 31, 2013 in the amount of $65,808.00.

Approved the Agreements signed with Hess Corporation through Provident Energy Consulting, LLC for natural gas
per Board motion dated February 16, 2010.

Approved various human resource items (a through d).

Approved the Special Education Early Intervention Services Contract with the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit
#23 for the period of July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010 in the amount of $130.01 per hour.
NEXT MEETING:
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Bucks County Intermediate Unit Board of Directors is:
Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.