TUESDAY
MAY 20, 2008
Programs & Services
BOARD DIGEST
BUCKS COUTY INTERMEDIATE UNIT
There are serious social problems that affect schools across the country; Bucks County is certainly not immune
“Prevention Programs” to them. These issues include abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (ATOD) as well as school safety. The
Bucks County Intermediate Unit Prevention Programs staff strives to directly respond to these issues as well as
to support school districts in their efforts to provide students with healthy, safe environments and the skills that
they need to make positive choices.
Funding for our prevention programs is provided through the federal Safe and Drug Free Schools and
Communities Act (SDFS), the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission and The Health Promotion Council
of Southeastern Pennsylvania. We focus on evidence-based ATOD curricula and violence prevention/bullying
initiatives, while providing a variety of services to increase awareness and early identification of at-risk students.
We survey schools each year in order to assess their needs for prevention programs. In response to requests that
were received in 2007-2008, the following opportunities were provided for Bucks County schools: Reducing
Bullying Prevention with Restorative Practices (note that bullying prevention continues to be our primary
request), Conflict Resolution and De-escalation skills, Eating Disorders and Teen Depression and Suicide.
A great portion of our work this year has focused on suicide prevention. The prevention specialist has provided
training to the staff at Neshaminy, Centennial, Council Rock and Bensalem school districts. Due to the
concerns, our office will be emphasizing suicide prevention in the Student Assistance curriculum in 2008-09. A
key part of our work is the identification of social issues facing our students. Bucks County Safe and Drug Free
Schools Advisory Council, the Bucks County Health and Physical Education Advisory Council, the Bucks
County Intermediate Unit Programs and Services Advisory Council and Bucks County Superintendent’s
Diversity Taskforce are just some of the internal groups. External/community-based groups include the Bucks
County Schools Crisis Response Committee, Bucks County Youth Suicide Prevention Taskforce (BCYSPT),
Bucks County Drug & Alcohol Commission Prevention Service Providers meeting, Bucks County Partnership
for Healthy Youth Taskforce and the community coalition Bucks Promise for Youth & Communities.
Special Education
“Better Hearing and
Speech Month”
May is Better Hearing and Speech Month throughout the nation! This annual event raises awareness about
communication disorders and the professionals who can help. Currently, BCIU employs 80 Speech/Language
Pathologists (SLP) in the School-Age program, 12 SLPs in the Non-Public program, and 32 SLPs in Early
Intervention. There are 27 Hearing Support professionals, and 2.4 Audiologists. Supervisors who are speech and
hearing professionals as well as Special Education Supervisors provide their supervision.
National initiatives for Communication Disorder professionals are often the result of current research and
advocacy of several organizations. The American Speech/Language Hearing Association and the American
Academy of Audiology are two of the leading organizations providing direction in both clinical and schoolbased settings.
During the 2007-08 school year, the Speech and Hearing Programs were involved in developing and training
many new employees. This included induction and mentoring, as well as the ASHA Clinical Fellowship Year
program for SLPs. A Clinical Fellowship Year requires a 36-week intensive relationship between a Clinical
Fellow (a masters level SLP) and the CFY supervisor (SLP with their CCC). In addition to regular observations
and meetings with their CFY supervisor, the Clinical Fellows met as a cohort four evenings this year, under the
guidance of Jill Seidman, CCC-SLP, our Speech Clinical Coordinator. Case studies, therapeutic interventions,
Dangerous Decibels (a hearing conservation effort through our audiology program), ethics, and evidence-based
practices have been discussed. The CFY’s participated in the Council Rock and Pennsbury Career Fairs. By
June 2008, will add 12 new ASHA professionals who will hold their national Certificate of Clinical Competence
in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) & join the ranks of the most highly qualified in the field.
We were fortunate to obtain Joseph Donaher from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, a nationally recognized
specialist in Fluency Disorders. He spoke to an audience of 120+ about evidence-based treatments for persons
who stutter. The Feeding and Swallowing Team expanded their knowledge base through collaboration and joint
trainings, including BCIU Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists and SLPs. They conducted more than
25 evaluations and consultations for children with various disabilities throughout the county.
The Assistive Technology and Augmentative Communication Team is a joint effort among the hearing, vision,
speech and IDEA training staff. Together they support the augmentative communication needs of students 3-21
in all 13 districts. The BCIU Speech and Hearing Staff and Supervisors strive to remain grounded in current best
practices and recruit highly trained professionals. The collaborative efforts and shared research among
Speech/Language, Hearing, OT, PT, Psychologists and Behavior Analysts make these exciting and expanding
programs to better serve our all our students.
“If my possessions were taken from me with one exception, I would choose to keep the power of communication,
for by it I would soon regain all the rest” Daniel Webster BCIU Speech/Language Program Motto
BOARD ACTION ITEMS:
Approved the minutes of the Intermediate Unit Board meeting held on April 15, 2008.
Approved the Treasurer’s Report, for the period of July 1, 2007 to April 30, 2008.
Approved the bills for payment for April 2008.
Approved the General Fund Transfers for the period of March 2008 in the amount of $16,623.00.
Approved the revision to the Family Friends grant Budget for the period of July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008 in the amount of $92,831.
Approved the revision of Federal Special Education Budget – IDEA Section 611 (Part B) for the period of July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008 in
the amount of $17,561,612.00.
Approved the Alternative Education Grant – Bucks County Alternative School budget for the period of July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008 in the
amount of $45,517.00.
Approved the Alternative Education Grant – Bucks County Correctional Facility budget for the period of July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008 in the
amount of $13,601.00.
Approved the Alternative Education Grant – Penn Foundation budget for the period of July 1, 07 to June 30, 08 in the amount of $9,075.
Approved the Alternative Education Grant –Upper Bucks budget for the period of July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008 in the amount of $17,038.00.
Approved the Alternative Education Grant – Bucks County Youth Detention Center budget for the period of July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008 in
the amount of $57,269.00.
Approved the Distinguished Educators budget for the period of September 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008 in the amount of $10,511.00.
Approved the 2007-2008 Private Provider Contracts and Additional Services for the period of April 1, 2008 through June 30, 2008 in the
amount of $63,400.
Approved the Special Education Service Contact with Neshaminy School District for the period of July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 in the
amount of $7,130,833.00.
Approved the Special Education Service Contracts with Out-Of-County School District for the period of July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008
in the amount of $221,201.00.
Approved the Special Education Service Contact with Somerville Borough, NJ School District for the period of July 1, 07 through June 30,
08 in the amount of $29,520.00.
Approved the contracts and purchases for the period of May 2008 in the amount of $93,289.63.
Approved RHR and Burns Mechanical for the Preventative Maintenance Agreement on HVAC equipment located at the Bucks County
Alternative School, Archbishop Wood, and Catapult Learning Center for a one-year contract beginning July 1, 2008 and ending June 30,
2009 with a yearly option yearly through June 30, 2011.
Approved the amendment to Centennial School District’s 2007-2008 Title I Non-Public Contract for the period of July 1, 2007 through June
30, 2008 in the amount of $41,435.01.
Approved the lease replacement van from Fred Beans Leasing, Inc., for the period of September 1, 2008 through June 30, 2011 in the
amount of $471.11 per month.
Awarded the Bucks County Schools Cooperative Purchasing Group’s Bid #08-803 for Audio-Visual and IMS Supplies to the recommended
vendors for the period of June 1, 2008 through January 31, 2009 in the amount of $163,709.20.
Awarded the Bucks County Schools Cooperative Purchasing Group’s Bid #08-809 Groceries to the recommended vendors for the period of
July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 in the amount of $2,145,703.18.
Awarded the Bucks County Schools Cooperative Purchasing Group’s Bid #08-811 Mulch, Chip & Soil to the recommended vendors for the
period of July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 in the amount of $162,385.00.
Awarded the Bucks County Schools Cooperative Purchasing Group’s Bid #08-814 Sound Field Systems to the recommended vendors for the
period of July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 in the amount of $215,531.30 .
Approved Central Bucks School District for four (4) Modular Classrooms located at the Warwick Elementary School for the period of July 1,
2008 to June 30, 2009 and year-to-year thereafter unless terminated by either party in the amount of $48,000.00 payable in two installments.
Approved the continuation to rent classroom space in room 216 at Dublin TEC Center for the period of July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008 and
month-to-month thereafter unless terminated by either party in the amount of $698.00 per month.
Approved the Permissive Use Agreement with Morrisville School District for the period of September 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008 in the
amount of $40.00 per day, per trailer.
Approved the letter of agreement with Bressler Consulting LLC for the period of January 08 thru December 10 in the amount of $30,000.00.
Approved the Life Skills Activity Accounts for the period of January 1, 2008 through March 31, 2008 in the amount of $8,833.62.
Approved service agreement with PENN Behavioral Health Corporate Services to provide Employee Assistance and Management Assistance
Programs for a period of July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 of $12.60 per emp. per year.
Approved various personnel items (a through e).
Approved and indemnified the Executive Director to serve on the mention Boards of Directors on an on-going basis.
Approved Act 93 Agreement
Approved Health Benefit Proposal
NEXT MEETING:
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Bucks County Intermediate Unit Board of Directors is: Tuesday, June 17, 2008, at 7:00 p.m.