Approve Agreement for Technical Services with S. Jeanette Kirby for Braille Training Services for Visually Impaired Grant - $24,650.40 (Curriculum and Instruction Division)

The Florida Instructional Materials Center for the Visually Impaired (FIMC-VI) is funded by the Florida Department of Education, and the School District of Hillsborough County services as the fiscal agent. The FIMC-VI Center is responsible for providing services to Florida school districts statewide.

The consultant will provide on-site instruction to Center staff in the transcription of braille and will oversee the preparation and submission of the 35-page manuscript required by the Library of Congress to gain national certification in Literary Braille. The consultant will also assist with applicable database management, the production of graphics, and the review of incoming braille masters.

The consultant has successfully performed these braille training services for the past five years. The consultant has the necessary knowledge, experience, and certification with the Literary Braille code, Braille Formats: Principles of Print to Braille Transcription (Textbook Code), Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics and Science Notation, and the Computer Braille Code.

Goal 1 – The percentage of students scoring at Level 3 or higher on FCAT reading will increase a minimum of 5 percentage points.

Funds of $24,650.40 are included in the divisional special revenue/federal programs budget (Project 1217) for the Florida Instructional Materials Center for the Visually Impaired. There is no additional cost to the District.