Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
IU 20 executive director presents $4.6M operating budget and program overview to ESASD board
Summary
Chris Wolfell, executive director of Colonial IU 20, told the board the IU’s general operating budget is $4.6 million (a 5.99% proposed increase) and requested a 3.5% contribution increase from member districts; he also described early-intervention services, a school‑based partial hospitalization program and workforce development partnerships.
Chris Wolfell, executive director of Colonial Intermediate Unit (IU) 20, presented the IU's general operating budget and program highlights to the East Stroudsburg Area School District board at its March 16 meeting.
Wolfell said the IU 20 general operating budget totals about $4.6 million, representing the core operations budget (about 1.6% of IU revenue) and proposed a 5.99% overall increase with a 3.5% contribution increase sought from member districts; he said East Stroudsburg’s share of the increase is about $1,348, bringing its contribution to $39,884. The IU director identified salaries, medical costs and pension/benefit obligations as primary cost drivers and noted the IU prepares many separate budgets and contracts most services through agreements with districts and other partners.
He described programmatic priorities: an early intervention program serving preschool children with developmental needs (3–5 years old) across three counties with more than 2,500 students served; a state‑licensed school‑based partial hospitalization program that provides behavioral health and psychiatric services inside school buildings (IU 20 said it is pursuing hiring a full‑time psychiatrist rather than contracting to increase program sustainability); professional learning offerings serving about 600 students annually; and a local task force coordinating special‑education system challenges with state bureau leadership.
Board members asked where early intervention services are provided; Wolfell said services are delivered through center‑based sites in Bethlehem Area and Pocono Mountain, in some elementary classrooms, daycare visits, and in‑home services. He also congratulated the East Stroudsburg partners for being early recipients of a grant to address special‑education teacher shortages.
Board members recorded no separate vote on IU 20’s budget during this meeting; Wolfell said once districts approve their contributions, IU 20 will finalize its board approval and submit required materials to the Commonwealth.
