Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg. (Credit: MediaNewsGroup)
Last session, the legislation, introduced as H.B. 1526, passed the House and was sent to the Senate for consideration. However, the Senate did not act on it.
Bipartisan legislation (H.B. 201) introduced by state Reps. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, and Kristin Marcell, R-Bucks, which would allow intermediate units to own facilities for instructional space was reported out of the House Education Committee and is now headed to the full House for a vote.
Last session, the legislation, introduced as H.B. 1526, passed the House and was sent to the Senate for consideration. However, the Senate did not act on it.
IUs are regional educational service agencies that were created by the legislature in 1970. They provide special education, professional development and technical assistance services to public school districts and non-public/private schools. They also serve as liaisons between school districts and the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Every year, more than 175,000 students and 50,000 educators receive services and training from IUs.
Currently, IUs are only permitted to own office space and warehouse facilities, not facilities used for instructional space. This limitation does not apply to school districts, area career and technical schools, or charter schools, even though many IUs operate classrooms and other instructional spaces. As a result, all of their instructional facilities must be leased, burdening IUs with rental costs that sometimes greatly exceed what it would cost the IU to purchase and own the facility themselves.
“As a former school board member, I know that leasing office and warehouse space both inflates costs for IUs and creates inadequate learning conditions by preventing IUs from providing facilities that are tailored for the needs of the students they serve,” Ciresi said. “By allowing IUs to own instructional space and use facilities they already have for instructional purposes, this cost-saving legislation would ensure that these critical funds are spent providing our children with a top-notch education.”
“Intermediate units - ultimately taxpayers - currently incur unnecessary higher costs for the education of students with disabilities and children enrolled in pre-school programs,” Marcell said. “Allowing Intermediate units, to avoid unnecessary higher costs due to current limitations on owning instructional facilities will ensure they can be more fiscally responsible and provide Pennsylvania's students with the appropriate spaces needed for their educational programs.”
Both Ciresi and Marcell served on school boards prior to serving in the House. Ciresi was a member of the Spring-Ford Area School Board for 12 years, which included three years as president and three years as vice president. Marcell was a member of the Council Rock School Board from 2018-23, which included one year as vice president.
