From The Express ...

WILLIAMSPORT — Intermediate Units in Pennsylvania were actually created in 1970, but didn’t begin functioning until the 1971-1972 school year, so the current school year is their 50th anniversary of service.

“I think it’s one of the best systems created in education,” Dr. John George, executive director of the state Intermediate Units, told IU 17 board members at their annual meeting recently.

There are 29 intermediate units across the state. The local is Intermediate Unit 17 which represents 19 school districts in Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan and Tioga counties. It covers 4,000 square miles and employs approximately 323 people. It serves approximately 1,667 school age and 920 early intervention students. The total annual budget for the current school year for IU 17 is $37.1 million.

Prior to the creation of the intermediate units, schools in the state were organized by a county system, presided over by a county superintendent.

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