LAMBTON KENT DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Thursday
Tecumseh School
19 00 hours
2001 12 13
Library
(7:00 p.m.)
M I N U T E S
PRESENT:
Duncan Longwell, Trustee (Chair)
Bernie Martin, Trustee
Sharon Nickerson, Member "at large" (Vice-Chair)
Donna Scherer, Learning Disabilities Association of Chatham-Kent
Ted Scott, Member "at large"
Wenda Vallee, Autism Society of Ontario
Veronica Vaughan, Wallaceburg & Sydenham District Association for
Community
Living
Jane Wright, Chatham & District Association for Community Living
REGRETS:
Jennifer Adam, St. Clair Child and Youth Services
Sandra Blondin, Our Children's Voice
Norma Hills, Sarnia & District Association for Community Living
Marion Lennan, Lambton County Association for the Mentally Handicapped
RESOURCE
Warren Kennedy, Superintendent of Education
STAFF:
Deb Ellacott and Cathy Telfer, Special Education Co-ordinators
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1.0
CALL TO ORDER AND TOUR OF SNOEZELEN ROOM - 19 10 hours.
D. Longwell introduced Trustee Bernie Martin.
B. Martin and D. Longwell have been appointed to SEAC by the Board for
2002.
W. Kennedy introduced Tecumseh School staff in
attendance: Wayne O’Sullivan, Principal, and Ruth Anne Labadie,
Special Needs Classroom Teacher. SEAC then toured the new Snoezelen
Room at Tecumseh School. The Snoezelen equipment was purchased with
donated funds derived through fundraising efforts co-ordinated by R.
Labadie and D. Ellacott. R. Labadie and W. O’Sullivan demonstrated
each piece of the multi-sensory equipment. SEAC members were given the
opportunity to ask questions.
2.0
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF 2001 11 22
The Minutes of 2001 11 22 were approved as written.
3.0
BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES
3.1
IPRC Student Guide Update
M. Gilfoyle will provide an update in January.
3.2
SEAC Brochures Update
T. Scott distributed draft copies of the formatted
version of the “Your Exceptional Child, School, and Special Education”
brochure. T. Scott continues to work on developing the “SEAC”
specific brochure.
Suggested revisions to the “Your Exceptional
Child…” brochure included:
· add Board phone numbers and website
address,
· list additional community agencies as
mentioned in the Special Education Plan,
· move the Board’s Mission Statement
to the front page and add title,
· when referring to the Education Act
add “and regulations”.
A revised draft with the above changes will be
brought to the January meeting for SEAC review.
4.0
PRESENTATION – SAFE SCHOOLS ACT
Postponed until January.
5.0
SPECIAL EDUCATION PLAN
Section 2.3 of the Special Education Plan: Early
Identification Procedures and Intervention Strategies, was reviewed.
D. Ellacott explained that SEAC received a presentation
on the Board’s Early Identification and Intervention Procedures
a few months ago. The information contained in the Special Education
Plan are the portions of these procedures specifically requested by
the Ministry of Education.
D. Longwell reviewed each page and SEAC members
were provided the opportunity to ask questions.
6.0
AUTISM/PDD PROGRAM REVIEW UPDATE
D. Ellacott announced that the Autism/PDD Program
Review Committee continues to meet. They are currently reviewing the
results of their parent and school surveys and continue to discuss positive
methods of program delivery for Autistic children. It appears that they
have had a survey response rate of 75 to 80 per cent.
7.0
CORRESPONDENCE
7.1
Copies of Letters sent from SEAC to Greater Essex County District School
Board and York Catholic District School Board
As a result of correspondence received at the
November SEAC meeting, SEAC was provided with copies of response letters
sent to the Greater Essex County District School Board and the York
Catholic District School Board. The Minister of Education also received
copies.
8.0
FEATURE ASSOCIATION
8.1
Next Meeting Feature Association
M. Lennon volunteered the Lambton County Association
for the Mentally Handicapped to be the feature association for the January
SEAC meeting.
9.0
ASSOCIATION REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESS
V. Vaughan continues to have “Travel Club”
tickets available for purchase.
W. Vallee mentioned that the local chapter of
the Autism Society of Ontario may be in contact with the Special Education
Department concerning the Board’s membership with the Geneva Centre
in order to investigate the possibility of providing joint in-service
sessions.
B. Martin provided a brief background on the
various committees he has served on since he became a Trustee.
W. Kennedy explained to SEAC that the funding
cutbacks are really starting to hurt special education programs and
services. Everything that we try to fix or do better is complicated
due to the lack of available funding.
S. Nickerson introduced Julie Wolfe. Julie is
a member of the Learning Disabilities Association of Sarnia-Lambton
and hopes to be appointed to SEAC in the near future.
10.0
QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
A. Kuhn stated that the questions contained in
the recent education questionnaire distributed to homes by the Ontario
government are slanted and will result in an inaccurate picture of the
current needs of students. Referring to a letter to the Editor that
appeared recently in Chatham This Week concerning dirty conditions in
schools, A. Kuhn asked if this was the case throughout the District.
W. Kennedy stated that this was an isolated incident and the situation
was under investigation.
11.0
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
D. Scherer distributed a list of statistics she
would like to receive summarizing information submitted by schools on
their October Reports to the Ministry of Education.
· Professional Development
· Booklet of Strategies, Accommodations,
and Tips for all Exceptionalities
· Reading Academy Software Demonstration
· SEAC Brochure
· IPRC Student Guide Insert
· Safe Schools Act
12.0
NEXT MEETING
Thursday, January 17, 2002 (note change of date)
Wallaceburg District Secondary School - Library
7:00 p.m.
13.0
ADJOURNMENT - 21 20 hours.
Joan Sparks,
Recording Secretary.
