2016 RIU6 Annual Report

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2016 Annual Report

WHAT IS AN INTERMEDIATE UNIT?

Pennsylvania’s 29 Intermediate Unit Regions Created in 1971 by the Pennsylvania General Assembly, IUs
were designed to serve as a liaison between local school
districts and the state Department of Education.

IUs offer Pennsylvania school systems a high quality, cost-
effective means to address functions that can be costly but
are required for the successful operation of a school system.
This cooperative approach results in economic savings for
districts as costs are shared among the districts.

Examples of services provided to districts include:
• Professional Development
• Curriculum and instructional services
• Data processing
• Testing and assessment
• Technology
• Emotional, Life Skills and Multidisabled Support
• Autism Support
• Occupational and Physical Therapy
• Speech, Hearing and Vision Support
• Non-public school services
• Brain STEPS and Traumatic Brain Injury resources
• Instructional and Assistive Technology
• Early Intervention
• Community and Vocational Based Instruction

Each intermediate unit is different based on the needs of the
local schools it serves.

©Riverview Intermediate Unit 6 2016

RIU6 LEADERSHIP

RIU6 ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM RIU6 Service Territory
Jeff Brown - Executive Director
Steve Chizewick - Director of Special Education
Mary Anne Jordan - Assistant Director of Special Education
Kevin Watkins - Director of Technology, Act 89 and Facilities
Cliff Geary - Financial Director
Leigh Kerle - Assistant Financial Director
Karen Henrichs - Education Programs Supervisor
Chris Merryman - Human Resources and Personnel Manager
Tina Gibbs - Communications and Operations Manager

Teresa Baker - Secretary to the Executive Director

SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT RIU6 BOARD MEMBER CAREER AND TECHNICAL CENTERS DIRECTORS
Allegheny-Clarion Valley Craig Ashbaugh Clarion County Career Center Aaron Kline
Brockway Area David McDeavitt Jacqueline Manno Barry Fillman
Brookville Area Dan Hawkins Kerith Strano Taylor Jefferson County-DuBois Area Vocational-
Clarion Area Robin Fillman Julie Hartley, President Technical School Mario Fontanazza
Clarion-Limestone Area Mike Stahlman Mike Meals
Cranberry Area Mike Stimac Ken Brannon Venango Technology Center
DuBois Area Bill Vonada Bob Wachob
Forest Area Wendy Benton (acting) Chris Pederson
Franklin Area Amanda Hetrick John Phillips II, Treasurer
Keystone Pam Dye Greg Barrett, Vice-President
North Clarion County Shawn Algoe Winfield Lutz
Oil City Area Steve Young Angella Scalise
Punxsutawney Area Pat Gavin Penny Pifer
Redbank Valley Dr. Thomas Lesniewski Ann Kopnitsky
Titusville Area Mike Drzewiecki Dwight Proper
Union Karen Jez Jeff Kriebel
Valley Grove Jean McCleary Cindy Swendsen
Jeff Clark

RIU6 BOARD OF EDUCATION
FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT

Looking Forward to a Great Year, Greater Programs, and the Best Kids!

The beginning of another academic year always excites me. Especially when I think of the
growth and changes to come in our most valuable asset, the children who are engaged with the
programs and people of the Riverview Intermediate Unit 6. They come in, fresh from summer
and ready for a new adventure. The smell of a new classroom, ready for learners to enter and
fill waiting desks is motivating. That very first day of school, lives begin to change; miracles will
happen; children will learn and gain skills they did not have before. These are exciting times in
education, and those of us privileged enough to participate in the hopes and dreams of children
believe we are some of the luckiest people on the planet!

Not that it is always easy. RIU6 has the best of the best in our employees! It is their creativity,
belief and persistence in working with students that makes the difference. This year, new
classes will open and new programs will begin with the sole purpose in engaging children to
make learning connections daily. These opportunities don’t just happen, it takes real people who
believe there is always another way, perhaps a better way to capture the attention of a child.
RIU6 has those people. They are the teachers, therapists, paraprofessionals, nurses, aides, all
of those who are interactive with our students, as well as those behind the scenes. Our people
spend every day being the people our students need.

This year, the Board of Directors will begin a new effort of our own to support the hard work of
our staff. We will be going into the classroom to see what’s happening there. Hearing the stories
and statistics just isn’t enough. For us to direct the RIU6 toward the future we want to have
firsthand knowledge of the people and places that are making things happen. It is time to slow
down and take time to watch and learn for ourselves. The energy and enthusiasm of the Board to
get into the classroom is real, and I can’t wait to see how much they learn, after they have spent
quality time in an RIU6 Classroom!

Julie A. Hartley
Riverview Intermediate Unit 6

Board President

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Summer is quickly coming to an end and the 2016-2017 school year is about to begin. I hope you have all had
a restful summer with your family and friends. Last year the budget impasse was one for the history books.
It was stressful for everyone. Thanks to our schools for continuing to support us and to all of you for your
willingness to conserve our financial resources. As a result we were able to weather the storm and made it
through. As we talked at the fall in-service about the possibility of having to take a loan to help us through
that never happened. Our schools continued to support the IU and our programs and as a result the loan was
never needed. Even with the financial burden on your mind you all did an outstanding job of providing ser-
vices and supports to our schools. As I visited classrooms and observed IU trainings the only thing I could see
was excellent programs being carried out and how well you all work with students and district staff. One of
the most common comments I get from schools is how well you all work in their buildings and how you fit in
as one of theirs.

The road ahead will continue to be challenging. We do have a state education budget which is a great relief.
In terms of funding theIU will receive better funding for the upcoming year. The Special Education funding is better this coming year to
support students with special needs and of significant note is that Early Intervention will receive increased funding. The PAIU Executive
Directors have been lobbying legislators for the past year and due to their efforts and others the legislators supported a significant in-
crease in EI funding. This is good news for the EI program however the ACCESS program which helped support Early Intervention will still
remain well below revenue levels we have received in the past. With this in mind you should know that your EI administrators are doing
a lot of work to continue to make the program successful and support our EI staff.

As we look forward to 2016-17 we will continue to partner with our districts and help them face the challenges they have in meeting
the educational demands placed on them. As an Educational Service Agency we will continue to provide leadership in education and find
ways to help districts meet the many economic challenges we all are facing. One way that we have been doing this is with our shared
services with IUs 28 and 4. IU 6 and IU 28 were the first IUs in the western part of the state to use the concept of shared services. IUs 6
and 28 joined in this effort and together we set a trend that is now being copied more and more. Other IUs and schools are now looking
at this model to help them improve supports and services while maintaining financial stability. To support the concept of shared services
one of the proposals from the state during budget talks was to provide grants to schools and IUs to support the development of shared
services. We are already looking at what this may look like and as more details become available we will be looking at ways to take
advantage of this. We are also looking at the addition of new services that school districts have asked us to consider. As these become
closer to reality we will be talking about them with you.

I also want to take a moment to encourage you to thank your legislators for getting the state budget completed and how important their
support is for the students we serve. They have been very willing to listen to us and have responded.

I am looking forward to visiting all of you again this year. I look forward to seeing your excellent skills being provided to the many stu-
dents and districts we serve. As always my door is always open to any one of you who would like to come in and talk. Your ideas and
opinions matter and I would love to hear them. Have a safe and successful 2016-2017 school year.

Jeff Brown
Riverview Intermediate Unit 6

Executive Director

ABOUT RIU6

About RIU6

Riverview Intermediate Unit #6 (RIU6) is a regional educational agency
providing services in partnership with local school districts, nonpublic
schools, agencies and communities. Our Intermediate Unit is one of 29
across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that offers programs and
services to students, teachers, paraprofessionals and administrators.

Employees

RIU6 employs approximately 200 people including administrators,
teachers, paraprofessionals, nurses, technicians, psychologists,
occupational and physical therapists, clerical support, and
maintenance staff.

Budget

RIU6’s budget runs on a school year budget. The 2015-16 annual budget
was approved at $23,286,081. RIU6 operates on funds received from
the local school districts, grants, subsidies and through state and
federal funding. Intermediate Units, unlike school districts, do not
have the ability to tax to support programs and services. In total, RIU6
oversees more than 50 individual program budgets.

Facilities

RIU6 services are provided in a variety of locations throughout our
service territory. Classes are provided in school districts, nonpublic
schools, off-site locations, as well as in the home.
The RIU6 Headquarter building houses primarily support staff and
administration as well as providing a location for workshops and
trainings. The building, which is able to be rented by outside groups
and agencies, includes both large and small group meeting spaces as
well as a computer lab. Fingerprinting services are provided at the
location in the lobby.

SERVICES FOR OUR SCHOOLS

Special Education Program Education Programs

We offer our regional school systems high quality, cost-effective solutions Riverview Intermediate Unit 6 provides professional development and
to address functions that can be costly, but are required, for students with curriculum support services dedicated to enabling school districts to maintain
disabilities. Working in partnership results in economic savings for districts high standards in their delivery of a Free and Appropriate Public Education.
and the ability to provide services that would otherwise be cost prohibitive.
Training activities, workshops and resources are tailored to Pennsylvania
Some of the solutions include: educators and administrators with a focus on state standards and mandates.
• Multi-district Special Education Classrooms RIU6 provides innovative on-site, online, and blended solutions to meet the
When a school district doesn’t have enough students to support a needs and goals of regional educators.
full classroom, students are combined into multi-district classrooms
within their geographical area based on their needs and disabilities. In partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), RIU6
Classrooms include: Life Skills Support, Emotional Support, also provides information and training specific to PDE initiatives, resources,
Multidisabled Support, Autism Support and a Partial Program. and tools.

• Special Education Supervision Services The Training and Consultation Team (TaC) provides professional development
and support to educators and administrators in the areas of assistive
This includes assistance with Special Education Plans, Individualized technology, behavior, transition, least restrictive environment and Response
Education Plan meetings, special education classroom oversight and to Instruction and Intervention.
other supervisory services as needed.

• Customized Professional Development Opportunities The Technology Integrators group brings together technology coordinators,
media specialists, technology directors, etc. for networking and professional
RIU6 provides professional development and support to educators development. This personal learning network offers technology trainings,
and administrators on a very broad spectrum of topics from brain workshops and integration of new learning technologies.
injury prevention to special education compliance. Services are
customized to each audience and based on effective practice. Other topics and professional development opportunities include:
• Curriculum development and
• Additional Support Services implementation
(Itinerant Services) • STEAM/STEM
Itinerant services provide • State and Federal Educational
consultation to teachers and Initiatives
coordination of information • Assessment
between the student, • Educational Technology
the parents and school Resources
personnel.The primary goal • Standards-aligned Systems
of the itinerant program is • Student Learning Objectives
to establish an intervention • BrainSTEPS
system that offers the students • Mandated Reporter
an opportunity to remain • Literacy and Math
in their regular education
program while receiving
special education support.

SERVICES FOR OUR SCHOOLS

Technology Programs Non-public School Services

We provide a broad array of services to the service territory RIU6 provides Math, Reading, Speech/Language and special needs consultant
including technology-based professional development, distance services as well as the following additional services:
learning opportunities, and guidance regarding emerging educational
technologies. • Guidance
• Counseling and testing services
The RIU6 Technology Consortium is comprised of members from the • Psychological services
seventeen regional school districts and three career and technical • Remedial services
centers. This consortium provides a platform for school technology • Speech and hearing services
staff to share and discuss networking, filtering, legislative
regulations and share best practices. These state-funded services are provided directly by RIU6 to students
enrolled in a nonprofit private school within the intermediate unit service
eRate and strategic planning consultation services are available territory.
to schools to assure schools are maximizing reimbursement
opportunities and meeting state/federal mandates. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that
Pennsylvania Intermediate Units make provisions for children with
At the request of local school districts RIU6 has added a Driver disabilities enrolled by their parents in private schools. Certain services are
Education Training Program which consists of an online theory course available to teachers who have students identified as eligible for special
and behind the wheel training. Courses are designed to provide education through a federal requirement called Equitable Participation.
participants with the fundamentals to become a safe and responsible RIU6 is required to consult with representatives of private schools to
driver. determine which children will receive services, what services will be
provided, how and where the services will be provided, and how the
Within the past year, RIU6 became an
education dealer for Sentry PODS. services will be evaluated.
Sentry PODS are rapidly deployable,
portable surveillance units that are RIU6 teachers provide enrichment and/or
able to be installed and provide video remedial services to school age children
surveillance virtually anywhere. They in K-12 Reading and K-8 Math. Instruction
can provide remote video surveillance is aligned to the classroom curriculum
- with cellular and WIFI technology to maximize the student strengths and
- remote location monitoring, assist those with learning challenges.
event security, construction site Consultative services are provided to
surveillance, and offer additional non-public school teachers to assist in
security to schools and businesses. educating students with special needs.

RIU6 also provides speech services
including: screenings, evaluations, various
forms of therapy, and consultation.

SERVICES FOR OUR STUDENTS

Spotlight on the RIU6 Early Intervention Preschool Program

The Early Intervention Preschool Program serves children ages three to five years old
who have developmental delays or disabilities. The program and related services are
provided to the child at no cost to their families.

High quality Early Intervention services can change a child’s developmental trajectory
and improve outcomes for children, their families, and communities. The overarching
goal of the program is to reduce the likelihood that children will need special
education services and/or to reduce the level of supports needed when they become
of school-age.

Riverview Intermediate Unit’s Early Intervention staff serves fifteen classroom
locations in Clarion, Jefferson, Forest and Venango Counties. Our highly trained staff
provide students with many services including:

• Assistive technology
• Audiology and hearing
• Speech and language
• Nutrition
• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Psychological

Services, resources, and training may also be provided for a family to address
the needs and priorities of the child. These services are provided to help family
members understand the special needs of their child and how to enhance his or her
development.

Families are provided assistance in finding community-based resources, services and
supports; they also build relationships with service agencies and develop trust with the
education and service providers.

SERVICES FOR OUR STUDENTS
Spotlight on Special Education Program

Riverview Intermediate Unit 6 provides a wide variety of Special Education programs
and services designed for those students who are mentally, physically, socially and/or
emotionally delayed.

Specialized multi-district classroom settings include:

• Life Skills Support is designed for students whose intellectual ability
falls below average and requires a functional curriculum. Functional
academics, daily living skills, prevocational/vocational skills, social
skills, and recreation/leisure activities are presented within a classroom
atmosphere.

• Emotional Support is for students who are in need of services to address
emotional needs which interfere with the instructional process. Eligibility
may be characterized by aggressive, self-abusive, and withdrawal
behaviors. The goal of these programs is to provide access to quality
education with first emphasis on behavior management.

• Multidisabled Support is designed for students whose intellectual ability
falls significantly below average and/or have multiple impairments. These
conditions adversely affect educational, social, and physical performance
which results in the need for extraordinary support and service delivery.

• Autism Support is designed for students with a severe neurological disorder
characterized by qualitative distortions in the development of cognitive,
language, social or motor skills.

• Partial Program is designed to provide intense therapeutic support
during the educational day along with a setting to continue the student’s
educational program. Students are assessed for admission to the program
with referrals from parents, schools, physicians and other facilities.

Within the classrooms, eligible students may also receive additional support services
such as Speech, Hearing, Vision, Occupational and Physical Therapy, Social Work and
Psychological. Students enrolled in the itinerant service program are seen in one-
to-one or small group sessions on a regularly scheduled basis. The primary goal of
the itinerant program is to establish an intervention system that offers the students
an opportunity to remain totally in their regular education program while receiving
special education support.

RIU6 HIGHLIGHTS

RIU6 coordinated a variety of student competitions including:

• The annual regional Governor's PA STEM Competition which provides local school districts with
a unique opportunity to explore careers utilizing Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).
This year’s competition, "Improving Pennsylvania through STEM”, featured teams of students from
DuBois, Franklin, Redbank Valley and Titusville School Districts. Teams were challenged to research,
present and design a device or project that is capable of making the quality of life better for citizens of
Pennsylvania.

• The STEM Design Challenge featured seventy-six students competing in teams from Allegheny-
Clarion Valley, Brookville, Clarion, Clarion-Limestone, Cranberry, Franklin, Keystone, North Clarion,
Punxsutawney, Redbank Valley, Saint Patrick, and Union. This year's challenge involved teams of up to
four students using K'NEX pieces (interlocking plastic rods and connectors) to design an environmentally
friendly building at least 1 meter tall and demonstrate that it could hold weight. The challenge included
developing
a blueprint,
using K’nex
pieces to
build the
device
developed
on the
blueprint,
and
presenting
to a panel of
judges.

• The 24 Challenge Math Tournament for students in
grades 4-8 is a tournament-style competition organized
around the 24 Game. Over a period of months
preceding the event, teachers use the 24 Game in their
classrooms to help students hone their mathematics
skills. Participating districts included: Redbank Valley,
Cranberry, Oil City, Titusville, Clarion-Limestone,
Allegheny-Clarion Valley, Keystone, and Brookville.

RIU6 HIGHLIGHTS

Math Science Partnership Grant
RIU6 - in partnership with universities, colleges, IUs and school districts from western
Pennsylvania - has been awarded a $1.1 million Pennsylvania Department of Education Math
and Science Partnership Title II B grant to strengthen mathematics learning in the region.
The Allegheny Intermediate Unit Math and Science Collaborative took the lead and partnered
with Carlow University, Clarion University, Saint Vincent College, Robert Morris University,
Riverview and Westmoreland Intermediate Units, and 34 schools. Participants will be engaging
in professional learning, on their own time, for 14 days of K-5 mathematics professional
development which will focus on enhancing the teachers’ knowledge of the PA Core standards
and innovative instructional practices to support student learning in the areas of numbers and
operations, geometry and measurement, and fractions.

Education Leadership Conference
The 2nd Annual Education Leadership Conference: STEAM brought together more than
100 college and graduate students, K-12 teachers, administrators, technology staff, higher
education staff and vendors. It included a keynote address from Mark Dohn, 27 breakout
sessions and a vendor area for participants to explore STEAM based and educational technology
products and services.

This 1-day conference included a message from Mark Dohn who talked about what 21st Century
classrooms and learning look like during his keynote address. Following the keynote address,

participants chose from 27 breakout sessions and visited
various vendor tables to explore STEAM based and educational
technology products and services. Vendors included SMART
Solutions Technologies, NPAECT, Clarion University, Friends of
Drake Well, Allegheny Educational Systems, integraONE, HiTech,
Inc., Digital Dream Labs, Fuel Education, Arts Anywhere, and
Usborne Books and More.

RIU6 HIGHLIGHTS

The Counsel of Hearing Impaired Parents and Students (CHIPS) Program
RIU6 hosted a Student Self –Advocacy and Transition event for students with hearing
loss and their parents/guardians. The Counsel of Hearing Impaired Parents and
Students (CHIPS) Program, brought together students from ages three to seventeen
with varying degrees of hearing loss and communication modes.

Participants learned about hearing loss; gained valuable strategies and information on
how to be a better self-advocate or how to advocate for your child(ren) with hearing
loss; and networked with other participants that have a hearing loss in the family.
They also learned about assistive listening technologies, explored career options and
initiated the beginning stages of planning for after high school.

Northwest Pennsylvania Superintendents’ Summit
Superintendents from fifteen counties in northwest Pennsylvania came together at the
Northwest Pennsylvania Superintendents' Summit to share education concerns and
propose solutions to some of their most pressing issues. The Summit brought together
school district administrators and legislative leaders to discuss how state and federal
decision making regarding the state education budget, programs, testing requirements

and mandates affect local school districts and the education of their students.

It included 81 superintendents and IU administrators from the service regions
of Midwestern Intermediate Unit #4, Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit
#5, Riverview Intermediate Unit #6, Seneca Highlands Intermediate Unit
#9, and Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit #27. The goal of the conference is
to gather questions, comments and solutions that can then be shared with
legislators and the PA Department of Education. Small group break-out
sessions were facilitated by the Pennsylvania Deputy Secretary of Education,
David Volkman; Congressman Glenn Thompson; and members of the Summit
planning committee.

Highlights of the day included a keynote address and informal question and
answer session from the Pennsylvania Secretary of Education, Pedro Rivera.
The Summit, coordinated by Superintendents and staff from IUs 4, 5, 6, 9 and
27, was well received by attendees and is part of ongoing regional efforts to
join the voices of small and rural school districts.