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In 1971, the state
legislature created BCIU and 28 other intermediate units throughout
Pennsylvania. The purpose of the new agencies was to provide mandated services
to the commonwealth’s 501 school districts. An underlying principle guided
the new organizations- the economy of shared resources: certain
centralized services could serve groups of schools, eliminating wasteful
duplication.
Over the years, intermediate
units have been encouraged to provide services and leadership according to the
needs and expressed wishes of their constituent school districts. Embracing
that role of responsive service and leadership, Berks County Intermediate Unit
(IU #14) has flourished and today operates over 100
individual programs of service. Berks County Intermediate Unit employs more than 1,100 staff members and has operating budgets in excess of $158 million. It is governed by an 18-member board of directors composed of representatives from each of the public school districts of Berks County. BCIU has no administrative or supervisory functions in local school districts but exists to provide services and programs that might not be economical or practical for districts to provide themselves. As the needs and challenges of education change, so will the ways in which the BCIU serves the schools and citizens of Berks County. |
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