Allentown, PA (October 11, 2018) – The Allentown School District and Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21 announced plans for an expanded partnership in support of the District’s fiscal management function. ASD finances, an area identified as critical needs areas within the District’s Strategic Framework Fall 2017. Within these critical areas, the Allentown School Board of Directors made a commitment to support all stakeholders through efficient processes, data systems and tools that are driven by results. To that end, the District commissioned an external audit (findings available here) from the Pennsylvania Financial Management (PFM) during Spring, 2018. The findings from the audit, shared publicly on March 23, 2018, indicated a need to allocate external resources and supports to the District’s finance department.
“Our community and students deserve excellence in all areas of the Allentown School District, including our business office,” states school board president Charlie Thiel. “CLIU will ensure the necessary alignment of resources and people through the creation of organizational systems and structures required to responsibly manage over $310 million dollars of taxpayer money that must be used with proper fiscal responsibility and oversight,” Thiel continued.
The agreement between ASD and CLIU will also support the District with its Human Resource function. This additional support will include staff to fill critical vacancies, and also promote intentional alignment between both the finance and human resources departments.
“This collaborative relationship will support the growth and success of the Allentown School District by providing key support systems specifically within our business office and human resources departments,” said Thomas Parker, Superintendent of the Allentown School District. “To provide high-quality education in classrooms and ensure students have the opportunity to truly flourish, the administrative side of any district must run effectively and be held accountable.”
The CLIU is a committed partner with the District, the CLIU has both a vested interest and desire to provide leadership and management to build, execute and help to sustain business and human resources systems for the District’s future success.
“The CLIU is honored to partner with the Allentown School District to support its operational goals which will greatly serve the District as a whole.” Dr. Elaine Eib, Executive Director of the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit.
Upon approval from the Allentown School District Board of Directors, this agreement would go into effect at the end of the calendar year.
About Allentown Area School District
The Allentown School District serves nearly 17,000 students in a network of 25 early childhood, elementary, middle and high schools throughout the city of Allentown, PA. The Allentown School District is the third largest urban school district out of 500 districts in the Commonwealth. The District’s Mission states that each and every student will graduate college and career ready by having their individual needs met through active engagement in a rigorous, safe and nurturing learning environment. Our core values reflect a commitment to excellence, partnership, and equity. The Allentown School District employs approximately 2,400 teachers, staff and administrators. Founded in 1866, ASD serves students from 51 countries speaking 26 languages with nearly 90 percent household qualifying as low income. www.allentownsd.org.
About the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21
The Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit (CLIU) was established in 1971 by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to operate as regional educational service agency to provide cost-effective, management-efficient programs to school districts located in Carbon and Lehigh Counties. The CLIU works steadfast in helping children learn, we know that we must approach our work by designing systems and frameworks that embrace innovation and creativity. The CLIU serves 14 school districts and other Local Educational Agencies.
Information provided to TVL by:
Office of Communications
Allentown School District
www.allentownsd.org/
