About ARIN Intermediate Unit 28

Leaders and Partners in Education

ARIN IU28 provides educational support to learners of all ages in Armstrong (AR) and Indiana (IN) Counties

Location and Address

ARIN Intermediate Unit 28
2895 W Pike
Indiana, PA  15701-9769

Communication

Phone:  724-463-5300
FAX:  724-463-5315
Website:  iu28.org
Email:  info@iu28.org

Population Served

11 school districts and two vocational-technical schools

• Armstrong County: Apollo-Ridge, Armstrong, Freeport Area, Leechburg Area, Lenape AVTS
• Indiana County: Blairsville-Saltsburg, Homer-Center, Indiana Area, Marion Center Area, Penns Manor Area, Purchase Line, United, Indiana County AVTS

Nine nonpublic schools

• 25, 857 Students
• 1,867 teachers
• 30 elementary schools
• 22 middle/secondary schools
• 2 vocational-technical schools
• 99 school board directors
• community agencies
• higher education institutions

ARIN Employees

Over 200 people are employed by ARIN and all are involved in the provision and delivery of services to students and educators.

Governanace

A Board of Directors, composed of one school board member from each public school district in Armstrong and Indiana Counties, serves as a governing body for ARIN.  It meets on the third Tuesday of each month (excluding July). 

The administrative staff of the IU is assisted in its decisions by a Superintendents' Advisory Council (SAC) made up of superintendents from each of the 11 school districts.  SA meets on the second Friday of each month (excluding July).

Programs and Services

ARIN IU28 offers approximately 55 programs and services to students, parents, teachers, school administrators, school directors, and others in the two-county region.  Educational technology, professional/staff development, curriculum services, school-age programs, preschool education, adult education, cooperative projects, and statewide initiatives are categories of services provided to:

• Students: direct classroom instruction, itinerant services, ARIN-operated classroom/services, and enrichment programs.
• Teachers: vast array of staff development opportunities, classroom resources, and professional and technological support.
• Administrators/Directors: cooperative projects to save money, to eliminate duplication of support services, and to provide efficiency of operations.
• Community: outreach services to adult learners, partnerships, and local management with businesses and higher education institutions and agencies.

Budget

ARIN operates on a $21 million budget.   Funding is from various local, state and federal sources.  In most cases, the budgets are built on allocations or competitive grants received from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and elsewhere.  ARIN's cooperative-based programs and consortia give districts and communities access to quality alternatives that might otherwise be too costly for a single district.

Goals

• We will provide develop an aggressive internal and external marketing program.
• We will aggressively pursue funding from private and public sources.
• We will develop a decision-making model that will be used to drive all programmatic, personnel and budgeting decisions.
• We will provide technology services which support teachers.
• We will provide a comprehensive, external evaluation of our programs and services.

Beliefs

• Effective organizations establish high expectations.
• Effective communication builds trust and teamwork.
• Excellence in an organization in enhanced when there is respect for and standing of the individual.
• ARIN must provide high quality, cost effective services.
• ARIN must be accountable and responsive to the diverse needs of its constituents.
• Personal and professional growth is a lifelong process.
• Advances in technology will change fundamentally the way students are educated in the 21st century.
• The needs of all learners can be met.
• The student's home environment and other support systems must be strengthened and preserved.
• Partnerships enhance educational opportunities for students, parents, and communities.

Mission of ARIN IU28

We will provide innovative educational programs, training and support services through partnerships and visionary leadership in Armstrong and Indiana Counties.

Nondiscrimination Policy

ARIN Intermediate Unit 28 is an equal opportunity educational institution and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, gender, or disability in its activities, programs, or employment practices, in accordance with federal and state statutes and regulations. Irene M. Mergen, D.Ed., ARIN Director of Special Education, has been designated to coordinate compliance with nondiscrimination requirements for ARIN. For questions and information regarding activities and facilities that are accessible and usable by persons with disabilities, and information regarding civil rights and grievance procedures, contact Dr. Mergen at 724-463-5300.

Right-To-Know

ARIN IU28 complies with the requirements of Act 3 of 2008, Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know (Open Records) Law. Click here to access the full text of ARIN’s Right-to-Know policy, administrative guidelines, and contact information.