LAMBTON KENT DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD



SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE



Thursday
Wallaceburg District Secondary School
19 00 hours

2002 05 16
Library
(7:00 p.m.)

M I N U T E S

PRESENT:
Jennifer Adam, St. Clair Child and Youth Services


Jenny Greensmith, Pathways Health Centre for Children


Norma Hills, Sarnia & District Association for Community Living


Bernie Martin, Trustee (Vice-Chair)


Sharon Nickerson, Member "at large" (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


Julie Wolfe, Learning Disabilities Association of Lambton County


Jane Wright, Chatham & District Association for Community Living




REGRETS:
Marion Lennan, Lambton County Developmental Services


Duncan Longwell, Trustee




RESOURCE
Warren Kennedy, Superintendent of Education

STAFF:
Deb Ellacott and Cathy Koolen, Special Education Co-ordinators

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1.0
CALL TO ORDER - 7:00 p.m.
Julie Wolfe was introduced as the new member representing the Learning Disabilities Association of Lambton County

2.0
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF 2002 04 25


The Minutes of 2002 04 25 were approved as written.

3.0
BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES

 

3.1
Special Education Plan Amendments


B. Martin explained that as SEAC reviews each individual section of the Special Education Plan a running list of suggested changes is being maintained. According to Regulation 306, each school board is required, every two years, to prepare and approve a report on its special education programs and services and submit it to the Ministry of Education. Any formal amendments to the current Plan must be forwarded by SEAC to the Board for approval prior to submission to the Ministry of Education.

D. Scherer wondered if SEAC could summit amendments to the Ministry of Education during the “off year”. B. Martin explained that if there were major changes to the Plan then SEAC should report amendments during the off year. Normally the Ministry sends out instructions, via a Memorandum, on how to submit amendments. Nothing has been received from the Ministry to date concerning reporting amendments for 2001-2002, in fact, no feedback has been received from the Ministry from our original Special Education Plan submission made one year ago.

W. Vallee would like to see amendments go forward this school year.

J. Wright suggested that SEAC go ahead and report the amendments to the Ministry of Education. She explained that SEAC could simply submit the list of approved changes to the Ministry. There would be no need to actually print new binders at this point. Lists of the approved changes could be distributed to schools for insertion in to their Special Education Plan.

SEAC agreed to review a list of the proposed changes to the Special Education Plan at their next meeting and possibly make a recommendation to the Board to forward a list of the amendments to the Ministry of Education by July 15, 2002.

 

 

4.0
PRESENTATION – TRANSPORTATION UPDATE


Transportation Officer, Kevin Fitzpatrick, provided SEAC with a progress report from the Transportation Department:

· Transportation Services has developed a website which contains a wealth of information: www.schoolbusinfo.com. Parents can look up individual bus route schedules. During the first week of June bus routes for September should be available to schools to download and then send out to their parents. Bussing information will be sent to parents from the school level.

· It appears that the recent Ministry of Education announcement will reduce funding in the area of transportation to that of two years ago.

· Transportation Services recently received some extra funding and was able to solve several problems some of which affected special needs children.

· There are currently five students directly affected by missing a portion of their school day due to late bus arrival and/or early bus departure.

· Improvements have been made to the communication process.

· One of the problems they have is determining the exact specialized transportation needs of individual special needs students. A plan has been developed for the special education co-ordinators to provide the transportation department with the necessary details so that they can make the proper transportation arrangements well in advance.

B. Martin would like SEAC to receive a demonstration of the Transportation website at a future meeting.

S. Nickerson and W. Vallee stated they were not aware of the new website and wished SEAC had been informed earlier of the website.

J. Wright questioned the statement that only five students were affected by late bus arrival and early bus departure. K. Fitzpatrick explained that the other students have their programs modified at the school level to accommodate for time missed due to their bussing arrangements. Some of the students have a shortened day because of school or parental requests.

T. Scott would appreciate receiving an information report in the Fall indicating the number of students affected by late bus arrival and early bus departure (the same as received last September).

J. Wright inquired about the possibility of Transportation Services providing a letter to parents of those students affected by late bus arrival and early bus departure. K. Fitzpatrick felt that with limited resources this would not be possible. B. Martin felt that parents could easily obtain this information by communicating with their child’s school. J. Wright suggested that individual schools could prepare and distribute the letter to parents. There was no clear direction from SEAC.

Kevin’s e-mail address is: kevin.fitzpatrick@schoolbusinfo.com.

5.0
SPECIAL EDUCATION STAFFING INITIATIVES 2002-2003

W. Kennedy announced that he has volunteered to be a member of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) organizing committee to discuss provincial special education issues. He attended a meeting in Toronto a week ago. It is apparent that ISA funding will not become “live” until September, 2003. The recent ISA validation process should add 1.0 to 1.5 million dollars in ISA funding for special needs students when and if “live” funding occurs. The Ministry recently announced that the current funding model will be reviewed and many delegations, including OPSOA and OPSBA, are preparing to address the funding model review committee.

The Provincial government recently announced some changes to education funding, but it is predicted that our board will continue to have a funding shortfall for 2002-2003. Senior Administration have recognized that special education has been cut to the bare minimum and, to date, has left the special education staffing complement virtually unchanged, although some shifting of resources will occur for 2002-2003, including:

· The addition of a program for students with severe learning disabilities at three secondary schools (Alexander Mackenzie Secondary School, John McGregor Secondary School, and Wallaceburg District Secondary School). The classroom at McNaughton Avenue School will be discontinued.

· The elimination of the GOAL Program for behaviour students at the secondary level.

· The addition of three new elementary classes for students with developmental disabilities.

· Two elementary .5 Itinerant Behaviour Teachers will be increased to full-time.

· A reduction of 3.2 elementary Resource Teachers due to declining enrolment.

· The Communication classroom at Gregory Drive School will be eliminated and replaced with an Itinerant team program to service students with high needs, Autism, communication disorders, and developmental disabilities.

C. Koolen and D. Ellacott outlined the rationale for some of the staffing changes. C. Koolen distributed an information pamphlet on the new secondary school program for students with severe learning disabilities.

6.0
SPECIAL EDUCATION PLAN – SECTION 2.6 – SPECIALIZED HEALTH SUPPORT SERVICES IN SCHOOL SETTINGS


Section 2.6 of the Special Education Plan, Specialized Health Support Services in School Settings, was reviewed. D. Ellacott explained that Ministry of Education Policy and Program Memorandum (PPM) #81 dictates who provides various medical services in the school setting.

Suggested changes:

· Update the names of the various community agencies throughout the section (e.g., Prism, Pathways, etc.).

· Chart on 2nd Page--Add a descriptor that indicates services provided by CTC would be for students under the age of 6.

7.0
PROGRAM REVIEW UPDATES

 

7.1
Autism/PDD


Recommendations from the Autism/PDD Program Review Committee will be presented to SEAC in June.

7.2
Speech and Language


C. Koolen reported that the Speech and Language Review has not yet begun.

8.0
CORRESPONDENCE


None.

9.0
FEATURE ASSOCIATION






9.1
Pathways Health Centre for Children



J. Greensmith presented an informative display on the programs and services provided by the Pathways Health Centre for Children (formerly the Sarnia and District Children’s Treatment Centre or Rotary Children’s Place), including:

· Early Childhood Education and Support Services

· Clinical Services (Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology)

· Consultative Services

· Therapeutic Recreation and Volunteer Services

· Medical Clinics

· Assistive Devices Program

Brochures outlining specific programs and services were distributed.






9.2
Next Meeting Feature Association



W. Vallee volunteered to provide information on the Autism Society of Ontario at the June SEAC meeting.

10.0
ASSOCIATION REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESS


N. Hills reported that the Sarnia and District Association for Community Living recently raised $9,500 in pledges during Sharkey’s Challenge. The Ministry of Community and Social Services has announced that they will not provide any funding for special Summer programs and the money raised through Sharkey’s Challenge will be put towards Summer programming for developmentally delayed students.

W. Vallee stated that the Region One Special Olympics will be held at the University of Windsor on May 23 and 24, 2002. She also announced that funding has been secured by her association to provide an eight-week transition program for recent school graduates.

J. Wright announced that the Chatham and District Association for Community Living will hold its Annual General Meeting on June 13. She also reported that she recently attended a conference and received a supply of pertinent information. She provided a copy of an “Inclusive School Communities” pamphlet.

V. Vaughan informed SEAC that the Wallaceburg & Sydenham District Association for Community Living will hold its Annual General Meeting on June 15.

D. Scherer distributed copies of the Learning Disabilities Association of Chatham-Kent Summer, 2002, Tutoring and Social Skills Programs brochure. She also provided information on a panel discussion session, to be held on May 28, 2002, at 7:00 p.m., at Chatham Kent Secondary School: “LD and/or ADHD Struggles and Success--a panel of people with LD and or ADHD sharing their personal stories.

J. Greensmith provided details on “Princess Sarah and the Magic Mirror” to be held May 24 and 25, at the Imperial Oil Centre for the Performing Arts.

J. Adam announced that Dr. B. Duncan McKinlay will provide a one-day seminar entitled “Life’s a Twitch: Understanding Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders”, on September 27, 2002.

11.0
QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC


A. Kuhn questioned a statement made earlier in the meeting concerning some groups who may be trying to eliminate the ISA funding process. He also asked about the possibility of the addition of another Member “at large” to SEAC

12.0
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS


S. Nickerson requested that SEAC members gather briefly prior to their meeting in June to discuss some ongoing concerns. It was agreed that members would gather informally at 6:00 p.m., on June 20, 2002, in the Library at Wallaceburg District Secondary School. A light lunch will be provided.

J. Wright would like SEAC to receive information on restraint policies at a future meeting.

· Budget Presentation – Superintendent of Business

· Professional Development

· Booklet of Strategies, Accommodations, and Tips for all Exceptionalities

· Transportation Update (Fall, 2002)

· Transportation and Board Website Demonstration

· Kurzweil Software Demonstration

· Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA)

13.0
NEXT MEETING





Thursday, June 20, 2002


Wallaceburg District Secondary School - Library


7:00 p.m.

14.0
ADJOURNMENT - 9:20 p.m.

Joan Sparks,


Recording Secretary.