B6.07 - Approve Agreements for Technical Services (ATS) Which Provide Services to Florida Instructional Materials Center for the Visually Impaired (FIMC-VI) (Climate and Culture)

We request approval of ATS #20161-ATS-IV with SyLNX, Inc. and ATS #20162-ATS-IV with Mary Stoltz, Inc. for FIMC-VI. A synopsis of each vendor providing services is outlined in Attachment A.

Since 1972, the Florida Department of Education Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (FLDOE/BEESS) has continued to support FIMC-VI with federal IDEA Part B and IDEA trust appropriations to meet the instructional needs of Florida’s students with visual impairments. As defined by Florida Statute 1003.55, FIMC-VI will produce, procure, distribute, recirculate, and house specialized materials including statewide assessments for students who are blind, visually impaired, and deaf-blind. FIMC-VI provides accessible instructional materials and other supports to approximately 3,000 Florida students with visual impairments in public, private, and homeschool programs.  

In addition to braille and large print books, FIMC-VI also provides:

• The FIMC-VI loan library for disability-specific assistive technology, curricula, assessments, and teaching tools to Florida teachers of the visually impaired, classroom teachers, and families. Assistive technology devices for students who are visually impaired can be extremely expensive. This includes devices such as refreshable braille displays, portable video magnifiers, talking scientific calculators, braille notetakers, cameras, and scanners for converting print to digital text, braille embossers, digital book players, tablets, and laptops. The loan library program allows teachers and families to borrow technology devices from the FIMC-VI loan library to determine if the device is appropriate for the student.  This assists the Florida school districts with purchasing technology the student can use for many years. Additionally, there are times when teachers need specialized assessment materials, teaching tools or curricula in braille or large print for a one-time evaluation or short-term instructional purpose. The loan library program allows the teacher to borrow those materials instead of purchasing them. The materials are then returned to the library for use by another student. 
• Management of the American Printing House (APH) for the Blind Federal Quota Program, which provides funding for each Florida student who is legally blind. The 1879 Federal Act to Promote the Education of the Blind established APH as the sole, national central source to provide adapted educational materials to eligible students. FIMC-VI acts as the Ex Officio Trustee for students in public and private schools. As the Ex Officio Trustee, FIMC-VI is responsible for the annual registration of students as well as overseeing the ordering and distribution of APH instructional kits, aids, tools, software, and electronics that are commercially unavailable.    

Hillsborough County Public Schools has served as FIMC-VI’s headquarters for 48 years. FLDOE has consistently praised our district for the services provided to the state. Having FIMC-VI located in Hillsborough County provides our students immediate access to specialized instructional materials.  

Students who are blind, visually impaired, and/or deaf-blind require accessible instructional materials and assessments for equitable access to learning. Accessible standardized assessments and textbooks in braille and large print are cost, time, and labor intensive to procure, produce, and store.  By using the services of SyLNX, Inc. and Mary Stoltz, Inc., FIMC-VI ensures students with visual impairments have high-quality and accessible instructional materials and statewide assessments in a timely manner.

Since 1972, FIMC-VI has served Florida’s students with visual impairments, their teachers and families.  As a discretionary project of the FLDOE/BEESS, FIMC-VI has met or exceeded all grant deliverables.

FIMC-VI will continue to provide accessible instructional materials in a timely manner to students who are blind, visually impaired, and deaf-blind through the provision of accessible textbooks and materials from the loan library.  FIMC-VI will continue to support the FLDOE by serving as the Ex Officio Trustee for the state and managing the APH Federal Quota account.

* Improve the high school graduation rate

* Improve Student Achievement

* Provide a student-centered learning environment that engages every child

* Engage and communicate with families and stakeholders

That the Board approve the ATS #20161-ATS-IV with SyLNX, Inc., and ATS #20162-ATS-IV with Mary Stoltz, Inc. for FIMC-VI.

Kimberly Workman, General Director, Exceptional Student Education, kimberly.workman@sdhc.k12.fl.us, (813) 273-7025
Tracye H. Brown, Chief of Climate and Culture, tracye.brown@sdhc.k12.fl.us, (813) 272-4879

Funds not to exceed $234,270 will be available in the divisional special revenue/federal programs budget, FIMC-VI.