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KINGSTON &mdash; In a hybrid meeting with a quorum of members present at its Kingston headquarters but several participating online, the Luzerne Intermediate Unit Board of Directors passed the 2020-21 special education budget balances at $14 million. While the LIU primarily provides special education services to area schools, that budget it only part of the overall spending plan.
				Unlike school districts which pass a single, all encompassing budget, the LIU passes separate budgets covering various operations. With no taxing authority and a legal ban owning school space &mdash; setting up many services in room provided by participating schools &mdash; the annual budgets rely heavily on fee for service payments from schools, and grant money.
				Other annual budgets include transportation and general operations, but the special education budget is typically the largest piece of the pie. The board also approved a transportation budget totaling $5.15 million.
				The board, which consists of representatives from the 13 member school boards, also approved:
				&#8226; An agreement with B3Consulting for school improvement and data analysis services at $45 per hour, not to exceed 80 hours a month.
				&#8226; An agreement with Bayada Home Health Care, Inc., for speech and occupational therapy services for the summer &ldquo;Extended School Year&rdquo; program running June 22 through Aug. 13 this year.
				&#8226; An agreement with Soliant Health to provide Board Certified Behavior Analyst services at $40 per hour not to exceed 15 hours per week.
				And the board honored nine retirees: Rita Skechus, Debra Zielinski, Joan Pascolini, Ellen Cope, Janice Oriel, Kimberly Geisinger, John Bubblo, Diane Randazzo and Jeanne Barilla.

LIU passes special education budget, honors retirees