LAMBTON KENT DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Thursday
Wallaceburg District Secondary School
7:00 p.m.

2001 06 14

Library

 

M I N U T E S

PRESENT:

Norma Hills, Sarnia & District Association for Community Living

 

Duncan Longwell, Trustee (Chair)

 

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

 

Marion Lennan, Lambton County Association for the Mentally Handicapped

ABSENT:

Graham McIntyre, Trustee

RESOURCE

Ruth Mattingley, Superintendent of Education

STAFF:

Deb Ellacott, Mike Gilfoyle, Cathy Koolen and Cathy Telfer, Special Education

Co-ordinators

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1.0

CALL TO ORDER – 19 10 hours.

2.0

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF 2001 05 17

 

The Minutes of 2001 05 17 were approved as written.

3.0

BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES

 

3.1

Update on SEAC Recommendations to the Board

 

 

D. Longwell informed SEAC that the Board referred the recommendations concerning Transportation to the Joint Transportation Committee. D. Longwell has encouraged the Joint Transportation Committee to study the recommendations prior to September, 2001.

4.0

PRESENTATION - SPECIAL EDUCATION BUDGET, 2001-2002

 

Superintendent of Business, Ron Andruchow, presented information on the 2001-2002 School Year Budget. The budget is based on enrolment estimates and may be adjusted after the official enrolment count date of October 31, 2001. The budget regulations, which were received on May 14, 2001, have remained relatively unchanged except for a $100 increase per student. Our enrolment is declining at a rate of approximately 2% each year. A decrease in enrolment amounts to a loss in revenue.

For 2001-2002 it is estimated that the Board will have a decrease of $1.5 million in funding.

The proposed Special Education Budget for 2001-2002 is $18.2 million despite the fact that the Special Education Grants generate $17.9 million (a shortfall of approximately $300,000 which will be taken from other funding envelopes).

The Board will formally approve the budget on June 26, 2001.

J. Wright suggested that SEAC receive additional information on the ISA process and would like SEAC provided with a copy of the ISA Manual once it is available from the Ministry of Education.

5.0

DRAFT IPRC STUDENT GUIDE

 

M. Gilfoyle announced that Wallaceburg District Secondary School teachers Chris Gordon and Judy Nannini have prepared a DRAFT IPRC Student Guide. SEAC was asked to appoint two members to meet in early September with staff to review the DRAFT. The plan is to distribute the DRAFT IPRC Student Guide in time for the September SEAC meeting. N. Hills and S. Nickerson volunteered.

6.0

STEPS TO SUCCESS PROCESS

 

Since J. Adam was not able to attend the meeting, the "Steps to Success" presentation was postponed until September.

7.0

CORRESPONDENCE

 

A registration package for the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Annual Provincial Conference was circulated. The conference will be held in Stratford on November 16 and 17, 2001. It was noted that a team of Lambton Kent District School Board staff (Cathy Telfer, Denise Emery, and Geri Haskell) will be conducting a workshop at the conference. Registration forms are available if any SEAC members are interested in attending.

8.0

SELECTION OF NEXT MEETING FEATURE ASSOCIATION

 

N. Hills volunteered to provide information on the Sarnia and District Association for Community Living at the September SEAC meeting.

9.0

ASSOCIATION REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESS

 

D. Scherer wondered if the recent changes to the wording of Regulation 181 will have an effect on Grade 10's writing the literacy test in the Fall. Regulation 181 has been amended to state that an IEP must be completed within 30 school days of placement through the IPRC process, therefore, it may be possible that a student's IEP, outlining accommodations may not be ready prior to the writing of the test. M. Gilfoyle explained that Secondary Resource Teachers have been instructed to identify those students and to ensure that their IEP's are completed prior to testing.

D. Scherer asked if there were any plans for a remedial program for students who did not pass the Grade 10 Literacy Test this year. M. Gilfoyle stated that, since the test was only a pilot this year and not a requirement for graduation, there were no plans to provide remedial services to the current Grade 10 students, other than Summer School. A Literacy Task Force has been formed and is recommending a variety of supports to assist Grade 10 students for the 2001-2002 school year.

D. Scherer also had questions concerning the EQAO tests and whether or not teachers are marking the tests themselves prior to submission and using the marks as part of the final mark issued to students. W. Kennedy explained that according to the rules, this is allowed at the secondary level, but the tests have to be returned to EQAO so quickly that there is little time for local marking. It is believed that there is no marking taking place locally. D. Scherer pointed out that if the province does not allow the same accommodations for the test as outlined in the student's IEP this could create a problem if the EQAO tests are included as a part of the final mark issued.

D. Scherer requested information on the Learning Opportunities Grant. R. Mattingley stated that the funds provided this year were used to lower the class sizes in the early years and primary grades. Next year the plan is to develop an early years literacy program and she would be pleased to return to SEAC in the future to make a presentation providing more details.

D. Scherer provided copies of the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario - Promoting Early Intervention, Bulletin #2. The Bulletin contains the new definition for Learning Disabilities that is being proposed to the Ministry of Education. The Council of Directors of Education, the Ontario Public Supervisory Officers' Association (OPSOA), and the Minister's Advisory Council on Special Education have endorsed the proposed definition.

V. Vaughan requested information on the DRAFT ISA Profiles. Her association is being encouraged to review the profiles and submit their comments. R. Mattingley informed SEAC that the Ministry of Education has not provided an "official" copy of the DRAFT ISA Profiles to this Board, although she had received an "unofficial" version through OPSOA. Copies of the OPSOA version will be mailed to SEAC members with the understanding that it may not match the Ministry's version.

J. Wright announced that the Chatham and District Association for Community Living did receive a copy of the DRAFT ISA Profiles and has submitted their comments. J. Wright also provided two newspaper articles concerning transportation and special needs students.

N. Hills reported that the Sarnia and District Association for Community Living is busy preparing for their Summer programs.

R. Mattingley, attending her last SEAC meeting as the Superintendent responsible for Special Education, thanked SEAC for their contributions and support. The Program and Special Education Departments will continue to work closely. R. Mattingley encouraged SEAC to continue to work as a team. She also thanked D. Longwell for his support of special education programs and services at the Board level.

D. Longwell commented on the successful amalgamation of SEAC under the leadership of R. Mattingley.

S. Nickerson thanked R. Mattingley for her dedication and commitment and presented her with a small token of appreciation on behalf of SEAC.

10.0

QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC

 

Al Kuhn commented on proposed changes to the Homes for Retarded Persons Act.

Laurette Tsotos asked about the plans for providing assistance to Grade 10 students who failed the Literacy Test this year. W. Kennedy stated that although there is no legislated help available since the test was a pilot, some schools have implemented support programs.

11.0

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

 

Special Program Transportation (September)
2001-2002 Special Education Staffing Figures (September)
Steps to Success (September)
Professional Development
Booklet of Strategies, Accommodations, and Tips for all Exceptionalities
Reading Academy Software Demonstration
ISA Manual

12.0

NEXT MEETING

 

Thursday, September 20, 2001

 

Wallaceburg District Secondary School - Library

 

7:00 p.m.

13.0

ADJOURNMENT - 20 45 hours.

 

Joan Sparks,

 

Recording Secretary.