Board to pursue IEP-focused special-education review with IU; will explore trimesters and possible technology audit

During a sustained discussion later in the meeting, board members narrowed the next step on an educational audit to a focused review of the district’s IEP process and special-education practices. Several directors supported asking the Bucks County Intermediate Unit (IU) to prepare a proposal to scope an IEP audit, while leaving open a future third-party RFP if broader or more specialized expertise is required. Board members cited concerns about administrative burden, cost and the need to define precise audit questions before issuing larger procurements.

Dr. Barnes was asked to return with additional comparative data next month to help identify priority areas. Administrators were asked to draft the IU proposal and investigate the district’s bandwidth for any third-party audit work.

Separately, administrators presented early findings from a trimester exploration: district staff surveyed nine neighboring Bucks County districts (seven use trimesters) and collected ~270 staff responses suggesting support for longer reporting periods that may yield more meaningful family conferences and reduce grading frequency. The committee recommended surveying parents and forming a parent stakeholder group before any structural change; board members also discussed secondary-level scheduling implications if trimesters move beyond elementary grades.

Several board members additionally suggested exploring a targeted technology audit (for after-school programming, robotics and integration across grades) and asked administration to report feasibility, potential scope and cost estimates.