Folmer's Legislation Would Highlight Contracts Between Department of Education and State Intermediate Units

Harrisburg – Senator Mike Folmer today announced plans to introduce legislation that would require the Department of Education to submit an annual report to the General Assembly regarding contracts with the state's 29 Intermediate Units (IUs).

Specifically, Folmer's legislation would require a listing of all contracts executed by the Department with each IU, including the total amount, duration, and purpose of each contract; sources and funding amounts to cover the costs of each contract; a listing of all employees, contractors, and agents covered by the contracts, as well as the duties of each, and the remuneration provided by the contracts; the process by which the respective IU was selected; and evaluation criteria for measuring the effectiveness of each contract.

Folmer's legislation comes as a result of his two-year frustration with the Rendell Administration's failure to make information available regarding contractors, special assistants, and/or employees engaged by IUs at the direction or request of the Department of Education. Department officials informed Senator Folmer such information was not available.

Folmer made similar requests to each IU and learned there were at least 36 individuals working at the Department of Education who were contract employees through various IUs.

"I was extremely disappointed in the Department of Education's lack of openness, transparency, and accountability on information regarding state contracts paid with taxpayer dollars," said Folmer. "Even more disheartening was the fact that, as a state senator, I had to file right-to-know requests to obtain information that should be readily available to the public. Education spending encompasses nearly one-third of the state's $28 billion budget and I believe Pennsylvania taxpayers have a right to know who is being hired, how much they are being paid, and what services being provided."

Governor Corbett's Education Transition Team report noted, "It seems as though it is common for employees to go back and forth between PDE and an IU. It is not clear how frequently such moves occur, but our impression is that it is not rare. We were told that certain persons working at PDE have their salaries paid by the IUs. It is not clear exactly what is meant by this, but we've been told that number may be over 200. In any event, the issue of employees going back and forth between PDE and IUs, entities that are often parties to contracts, should be reviewed."

Contact:

Beth A. Williams
717-787-5708