LAMBTON KENT DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Thursday
Wallaceburg District Secondary School
19 00 hours

2001 03 29

Library

(7:00 p.m.)

M I N U T E S

(Special Meeting)

PRESENT:

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

Duncan Longwell, Trustee (Chair)

Sharon Nickerson, Member "at large" (Vice-Chair)

Donna Scherer, Learning Disabilities Association of Chatham-Kent

Wenda Vallee, Autism Society of Ontario

Veronica Vaughan, Wallaceburg & Sydenham District Association for Community

Living

Jane Wright, Chatham & District Association for Community Living

REGRETS:

Ted Scott, Member "at large"

ABSENT:

Graham McIntyre, Trustee

Diane Turk, Member "at large"

RESOURCE

Ruth Mattingley, Superintendent of Education

STAFF:

Mike Gilfoyle, Special Education Co-ordinator

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1.0
CALL TO ORDER – 19 10 hours.

Motion:

Moved by S. Nickerson, seconded by D. Longwell, to revise the agenda in order to receive the Overview of Presentation to School Council Chairs (Item 3.0) prior to the Approval of Special Education Plan (Item 2.0). CARRIED.

2.0
OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATION TO SCHOOL COUNCIL CHAIRS

R. Mattingley provided an outline of her SEAC information presentation she will make at the meeting of School Council Chairs on April 19. Items to be included are:

SEAC Membership
Role of SEAC
Meeting Dates and Location
Accessing Agenda and Minutes
Special Education Plan
Upcoming Meetings
Board's Web Site

R. Mattingley asked SEAC if there were any other items they would like provided to the School Council Chairs.

J. Wright suggested that School Council Chairs be encouraged to review SEAC Minutes placed on the Board's web site and to report SEAC information at their individual School Council meetings. She also suggested that the School Council Chairs be provided with the list of the locations of our Special Programs, and to request feedback on individual school building accessibility issues.

S. Nickerson suggested that R. Mattingley take a copy of the Special Education Plan along to show as a sample.

3.0
APPROVAL OF SPECIAL EDUCATION PLAN

D. Longwell announced that Warren Kennedy has been appointed to the position of Superintendent of Education responsible for Special Education, as of September 1, 2001.

D. Longwell explained that the Special Education Plan Sub-committee met on Tuesday, March 27, 2001, and thoroughly reviewed the feedback received from SEAC members and Associations. Copies of the written feedback submissions received were distributed along with Summary Notes which listed each item of concern and the Sub-committee's response to each. The written submissions and Summary Notes will be added as appendices to the Consultation Process section of Special Education Plan.

D. Longwell lead SEAC through the Summary Notes, allowing discussion of each item. The following Recommendations for Future Discussion and formal Motions to amend the Plan resulted.

Recommendations for Future Discussion:

Create a plain language "student" version of the IPRC Parent Guide and encourage staff to meet with parents/students to ensure they understand the contents of the IPRC Parent Guide.
Include Professional Development as a future SEAC Agenda item.
Include Booklet of Strategies, Accommodations, and Tips for all Exceptionalities as a future SEAC Agenda item.

Motions:

Moved by W. Vallee, seconded by V. Vaughan that a Program Review for Speech and Language Services be initiated in the 2001-2002 school year. CARRIED.

Moved by J. Wright, seconded by S. Nickerson, that the statement "Upon receipt of the Ministry of Education Guidelines, a timeline and action plan will be developed. The plan will identify strategies to ensure collaborative efforts with community agencies whereby transition planning for leaving secondary school commences at age 14. Strategies will also be developed in order to involve families. The Board plan will reflect the Ministry of Education Transition Plan Resource Guide and the document, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Community and Social Services, Proposal for the Development of Joint Guidelines for Transition Planning for Students with Developmental Disabilities.", be added to Section 4 (Page 79) of the DRAFT Special Education Plan under the title Transition of Students out of School to Community Agencies. CARRIED.

Moved by J. Wright, seconded by V. Vaughan, to amend the Glossary Section of the DRAFT Special Education Plan under the title of ABLE or Academic Based on Life Experiences (3rd bullet), to read: "Students may be integrated into other courses offered within the school to meet the social, personal, and academic needs of the student.". CARRIED.

Moved by S. Nickerson, seconded by W. Vallee, to amend the Glossary Section of the DRAFT Special Education Plan, by adding a definition for Inclusion/Integration: "Most identified students will attend regular peer appropriate classes in their neighbourhood school with an IEP, accommodated or modified program and supports needed for success. Some identified students will be bussed and grouped into special classes of students of various ages with opportunities for integration in the appropriate age and grade levels, with inclusion in regular school activities.". CARRIED.

Moved by J. Wright, seconded by W. Vallee, that staff training with the new IEP will reinforce the importance of inclusion/integration. CARRIED.

Moved by S. Blondin, seconded by W. Vallee, that the statement "Schools will provide parents with information about the range of academic and extra-curricular opportunities available within the school in order to recognize the student's strengths and to meet their needs.", be added in Section 2.4 (Page 25) under the title of Initiating an IPRC of the DRAFT Special Education Plan and on Page 2 of the Parent Guide. CARRIED.

Moved by S. Nickerson, seconded by W. Vallee that the statement "Integration for social acceptance, social modeling and social development is always a program consideration.", be added to Section 2.8, item 3.3 (Page 53) of the DRAFT Special Education Plan. CARRIED.

Moved by W. Vallee, seconded by J. Adam that the topic of "Special Education Plan" become a regular SEAC Agenda item. CARRIED.

Moved by J. Wright, seconded by W. Vallee, that the statement "Parents are contacted when active therapy begins and are encouraged to contact the Speech Pathologist through the school if they have any questions.", be added to Section 2.8, item 2.3.1 (Page 50) of the DRAFT Special Education Plan. CARRIED.

M. Gilfoyle also suggested some revisions to the Plan and distributed an outline.

Motion:

Moved by S. Nickerson, seconded by N. Hills, that the Autism Review School Questionnaire be added to Appendix 2.8.2 of the DRAFT Special Education Plan, and that in Section 2.8 (Page 45) of the DRAFT Special Education Plan be amended to "(Modified program with locally developed [essential] courses)" under the descriptor for Modified Program with Integration where Appropriate, and that Section 2.8, item 2.4.2 (Page 51) of the DRAFT Special Education Plan be amended to read "Each secondary school offering academic, applied and open courses is staffed with a Resource Teacher who provides support programming for identified learning disabled students. Program decisions are made by the School Team and may include collaboration to discuss strategies and accommodations, consultation for in-class individual program modifications, or direct instruction by the Resource Teacher. Students with learning disabilities may also be placed into the "Modified Program" offered at Alexander Mackenzie Secondary School, John McGregor Secondary School, and Wallaceburg District Secondary School. The modified program offers essential and modified courses for students who possess 'an ability to profit educationally within a regular class with the aid of curriculum modification and supportive services'. Students receive academic credit for completion of courses offered in the modified program and work toward a Secondary School Graduation Diploma.", and that Section 2.8, item 3.1.2 (Page 52) of the DRAFT Special Education Plan be amended to read "Enrichment opportunities are provided in a variety of ways in the secondary school setting. Each secondary school has a designated staff member with an interest and/or training in the needs of gifted learners. Identified students can participate in classroom enrichment opportunities, extending activities and independent studies. As well, students are able to participate in a number of out of school community-based opportunities such as university-sponsored mini-courses and the SHAD Valley Summer Program. The programs and services provided for gifted secondary school learners have been reviewed this year.", and that Section 2.8, item 3.2.2 (Page 52) of the DRAFT Special Education Plan be amended to read "Pupils with a mild intellectual disability may be placed by an IPRC into a Regular Class with Resource Support placement in each secondary school in the District. Pupils may also be placed into the Modified or ABLE Programs offered at Alexander Mackenzie Secondary School, John McGregor Secondary School, and Wallaceburg District Secondary School. The Academics Based on Life Experiences (ABLE) Program is available for students who require opportunities to access alternative curriculum expectations designed to enhance existing academic, communication and personal life management.". CARRIED.

After all submissions were reviewed and revisions to the Plan discussed and voted on, SEAC was asked to make a recommendation that the Board approve the Plan.

Motion:

Moved by V. Vaughan, seconded by N. Hills, that the Special Education Advisory Committee recommend that the Lambton Kent District School Board approve the Plan for the Provision of Special Education Programs and Services, April, 2001, as amended. CARRIED.

4.0
NEXT MEETING


Thursday, April 26, 2001

Wallaceburg District Secondary School - Library

7:00 p.m.

5.0
ADJOURNMENT – 22 00 hours.

Joan Sparks,

Recording Secretary.