SMETHPORT — The directors of Seneca Highlands Intermediate Unit 9 Educational Services approved requests Monday from the Bradford, Galeton and Smethport school districts to receive services through the IU9 Virtual Academy for 2018-19.
The costs for each district will depend on the level of participation.
The academy provides virtual learning opportunities for the school districts in McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter counties — IU9’s service area. By partnering with Allegheny Intermediate Unit 3s Waterfront Learning program, IU9 schools can offer online courses in which students can participate on a full-time or part-time basis.
Interstate Tax Service Bureau has provided the IU9 administration a report of the IU’s unemployment compensation experience. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, according to Geoffrey Moomaw, the IU’s cost was $75,000 less as a “reimbursement of costs” employer than it would have been under the state’s unemployment compensation tax plan. The Interstate Tax Service Bureau estimates that the IU has saved $1.77 million since January 1, 1978.
The IU9 directors also OKd an agreement with the Smethport Area School District, through which the agency will provide psychological services to the district Oct. 1-June 2019 at a cost of $5,500 per day.
Also gaining the nod was a memorandum of understanding between the Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center and the Ridgway Area school District through which the agency will provide Cooperative Education supervision to the district for this school year at a cost of $2,000.
The Employment Assistance Program was renewed. The purpose of this program, which is administered by Employee Services Inc. of Wellsville, N.Y., is to provide appropriate help and support to employees who are experiencing personal difficulties that affect their job performance. The services are confidential and employees request them as needed.
This cost of $6,487.80 represents an annual increase of $235.92.
Through an approved agreement with Discovery Education Inc., all of the IU9’s 14 school districts and some non-public schools will be licensed to receive high-quality video content streaming and resources to improve instruction at a cost of $1.35 per student from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019. The total cost will be $16,822.35.
IU9 Director of Special Education Services Shelly Carson reported on two programs used in the special education classes. The Lexia Reading Program focuses on developing oral language, reading, spelling and writing, is student-driven and uses personalized instruction. It tracks student progress and provides detailed reports for the parents and schools. “This is a well-researched program,” she told the directors.
The cost for one school district was originally set at $80 per group, but by combining the districts of Austin, Otto-Eldred and Johnsonburg and the IU9, this expense has been reduced to $29 per group.
