LAMBTON KENT DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Thursday
Wallaceburg District Secondary School
19 00 hours
2002 11 21
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
Marion Lennan, Lambton County Developmental Services
Duncan Longwell, Trustee
Bernie Martin, Trustee (Vice-Chair)
Sharon Nickerson, Member "at large" (Chair)
Donna Scherer, Learning Disabilities Association of Chatham-Kent
Wenda Vallee, Autism Society of Ontario
Jane Wright, Community Living Chatham-Kent
REGRETS:
Ted Scott, Member "at large"
Veronica Vaughan, Wallaceburg & Sydenham District Association for
Community
Living
ABSENT:
Julie Wolfe, Learning Disabilities Association of Lambton County
RESOURCE
Warren Kennedy, Superintendent of Education
STAFF:
Chris Gordon and Geri Haskell, Special Education Co-ordinators
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1.0
CALL TO ORDER - 7:05 p.m.
2.0
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF 2002 10 17
Referring to Item 6.0 of the Minutes of 2002 10 17, D. Scherer questioned
whether or not SEAC had formally approved the amendments to Section
2.8 of the Special Education Plan. It was explained that prior to the
presentation, D. Ellacott had reminded SEAC that they had requested
to approve each Section of the Plan as it was reviewed. Since there
were no objections voiced over the additional changes to Section 2.8
it was assumed that SEAC approved of the revisions. W. Kennedy stated
that new information can always be added to reviewed sections in the
future and SEAC will have the opportunity to review and approve the
list of all revisions prior to the next Special Education Plan submission
to the Ministry.
The Minutes of 2002 10 17 were approved as written.
3.0
BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES
3.1
School and Board Guidelines on Reporting
As requested at the previous SEAC meeting, copies
of the Reporting Guidelines for both elementary and secondary schools
were made available to SEAC members. SEAC was asked to review the information
at their leisure and questions could be addressed at the next meeting.
J. Wright pointed out that the John McGregor
Secondary School Council has not received information or been given
the opportunity for input regarding the new Teacher Performance Appraisal
Forms. W. Kennedy announced that the process has been delayed and implementation
will not take place until 2003-2004 for secondary schools.
4.0
PRESENTATIONS
4.1
Crisis Intervention Training Program
Chris Gordon, Special Education Co-ordinator,
and Judy Nannini, Program Leader from Lambton Central Collegiate V.I.
in Petrolia, presented information on the Crisis Prevention Institute
(CPI) Non-Violent Crisis Intervention techniques. Both C. Gordon and
J. Nannini are certified CPI Trainers. Non-violent crisis intervention
is a safe behaviour management system designed to help educators provide
for the best possible care, welfare, safety, and security for all concerned.
C. Gordon reviewed the objectives of the training
and the type of staff that would receive the training. She also stressed
that the interventions are designed to protect the care, welfare, safety
and security of staff and students and the physical aspects are only
used as a last resort when all verbal and parental techniques have been
exhausted.
J. Nannini, with the assistance of C. Gordon,
W. Kennedy and G. Haskell, demonstrated some of the physical non-violent
crisis intervention techniques.
4.2
Early Intervention Pilot
Special Education Co-ordinator, Geri Haskell,
provided SEAC with an update on the Early Intervention Pilot Program
which is co-sponsored by the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario.
The Pilot Program continues at four of our elementary schools, and G.
Haskell was pleased to announce that several of the strategies and screening
tests have been adopted district-wide as a result of their success during
the first year of the Pilot. G. Haskell distributed information on the
screening processes that have been implemented district-wide.
W. Kennedy reminded SEAC that our Director of
Education P. De Sadeleer is a member of the Provincial Steering Committee
for the LDAO Project. Provincial results after the first year of the
Pilot Project have been favourable.
4.3
Learning Disabilities Exceptionality
C. Gordon provided a brief presentation on learning
disabilities. She began with a list of famous persons with learning
disabilities including: Tom Cruise, Sir Winston Churchill, John Lennon,
Walt Disney, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Mozart, and Robin Williams.
Students with learning disabilities have average or above average ability,
but have a significant difference between their potential and actual
performance. Learning Disabilities are problems related to information
processing in any of the following areas:
· auditory processing
· visual processing
· visual-motor processing
· conceptual skills
· organizational skills
· non-verbal disabilities
· Dysgraphia
· Dyslexia
C. Gordon explained each of the above information
processing areas and described intervention teaching techniques for
each.
The current definitions for learning disabilities
are very difficult to interpret and D. Scherer suggested developing
checklists for all stakeholders. J. Adam suggested that new information
be shared with community agencies who may also identify or work with
learning disabled children.
S. Nickerson voiced concern about the attitudes
of some teachers toward students with learning disabilities. Some teachers
just don’t seem to understand the impact of not recognizing learning
disabilities. Some teachers claim that they are not aware that the student
has learning disabilities or even has an IEP. S. Nickerson wanted to
know whose responsibility it is to make sure that teachers are aware
of exceptional pupils in their classrooms. W. Kennedy and G. Haskell
explained that ultimately it is the Principal’s responsibility,
but in most cases it is the Resource Teacher that provides this information
to classroom teachers.
D. Scherer supported S. Nickerson’s concern
and added that additional funding is necessary in order to properly
support LD students.
5.0
2002-2003 SCHOOL ACCOMMODATION
W. Kennedy distributed the first few pages of
the October 2002 Pupil Accommodation Report to the Board from the Director
of Education. W. Kennedy highlighted the contents of the report and
announced that the Board placed the following schools under review for
possible changes in accommodation:
· Bright’s Grove School and Errol
Village School Boundaries
· Secondary School Boundaries between
Tilbury High School and Blenheim District High School
· Chatham Collegiate Institute
B. Martin highlighted some positive aspects of
the report including the fact that the decline in enrolment for 2002-2003
was not as great as projected (actual decline was 472 students and projected
was approximately 700 students).
6.0
SPECIAL EDUCATION PLAN – SECTION 2.9 – INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION
PLANS
Section 2.9 of the Special Education Plan, Individual
Education Plans, was reviewed.
G. Haskell distributed copies of a recent Ministry
of Education Memorandum re: Results of 2002 IEP Review, as well as copies
of our new IEP Template. She mentioned that Ministry staff are visiting
our Board in January, 2003 to conduct an audit on our IEP’s.
G. Haskell outlined proposed revisions to Section
2.9:
· 3rd Page, 2nd Paragraph, change the
first sentence to read “Within 30 school days after placement
of the pupil in the program, …”
· 4th Page, remove “feedback on
audit from Ministry” from the April, 2001 to June, 2001 portion
of the timeline.
· 4th Page, add the following items to
the timeline:
Ø September, 2002 Continue to review and
update IEP based on Ministry feedback from Provincial audit and Ministry
template.
Ø Winter, 2002 Provincial Audit
Ø January to April, 2003 Revision of IEP’s
based on Provincial feedback.
Ø May to June, 2003 Use of revised IEP.
· 4th Page, change the paragraph under
“Board’s Results of Ministry Review for Previous Year”
to read: Feedback from the Ministry has indicated that the Lambton Kent
District School Board is in compliance with the Special Education Plan
Standards for Individual Education Plans.
J. Wright requested that information be added
to the flowchart on the first page to encourage the incorporation of
extra-curricular activities in the IEP. G. Haskell warned against becoming
too specific. D. Scherer agreed, suggesting that if parents want extra-curricular
activities included as part of the IEP it is their responsibility to
bring this information forward during the IEP consultation process.
G. Haskell suggested that a statement concerning
co-curricular activity information, if appropriate, could possibly be
included in the IEP Guide for Parents that is currently being developed.
D. Scherer suggested that information from the
IEP Standards Ministry document should also be included in Section 2.9.
The IEP Standards Document provides more detailed information and guidelines
than Regulation 181.
W. Kennedy and G. Haskell reminded SEAC that
the Ministry stated, in our Special Education Plan Report Card, that
the requirements for this section were met, but since the Ministry is
coming to audit our IEP in January, 2003, suggested that SEAC revisit
this section after the IEP Audit Report was received.
SEAC agreed to reschedule the review of Section
2.9 until after the Ministry IEP Audit is complete.
7.0
SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PROGRAM REVIEW UPDATE
It was reported that the Speech and Language
Program Review Committee was meeting on November 22, 2002.
8.0
CORRESPONDENCE
8.1
Copy of Letter from the Upper Grand District School Board SEAC to the
Minister of Education
SEAC reviewed a copy of a letter sent to the
Minister of Education from the Upper Grand District School Board SEAC
supporting the development of an alternative diploma for Ontario secondary
school students. The Principal of Alexander Mackenzie S.S. is currently
involved provincially concerning an alternative diploma. D. Scherer
has concerns about post-secondary or employment limitations an alterative
diploma may create for students.
J. Wright suggested that SEAC send the same sort
of letter. SEAC agreed.
8.2
Transition Planning: A Resource Guide
Copies of a new Ministry of Education document, “Transition Planning:
A Resource Guide” were distributed to SEAC. The Guide has been
prepared to assist school boards to implement the requirements included
in Regulation 181/98.
S. Nickerson enquired about the status of our
Transition Planning Committee. She was informed that the Committee has
been formed and W. Vallee and C. Gordon are members.
W. Vallee requested information on IPRC’s,
IEP’s, Transition Plans, etc., and how they all tie in together.
8.3
School Bus Schedule Report
A copy of the School Bus Schedule Report, prepared
by Kevin Fitzpatrick, Transportation Officer was distributed. The report
revealed areas where late bus arrival and/or early pick-up remained
necessary, as of November, 2002.
9.0
ASSOCIATION REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESS
J. Wright announced that Community Living Chatham-Kent
are hosting at Christmas Concert on Friday, November 22, at St. Paul’s
Congregational Church in Chatham. Tickets are $5.00 plus a canned food
donation.
J. Adam reported that the presentation, by Dr.
McKinlay, sponsored by St. Clair Child and Youth Services, was very
well attended.
J. Greensmith announced that Pathways Health
Centre recently launched their new website: www.pathwayscentre.org.
W. Vallee announced that the Ministry of Child
and Family Services recently announced they will be spending an additional
$58 million to assist Autistic children and their families. Also, the
Ministry of Education plans to pilot their new Program Standards for
Autism during the 2003-2004 school year.
W. Vallee enquired about community use of the
Snoezelen Room at Tecumseh School. Has a committee been formed yet to
develop the protocol? W. Kennedy responded that the committee will be
traveling to Windsor in the near future to gather information in order
to develop the protocol. W. Vallee also had questions concerning school
owned and operated school busses and Co-op work placement employer background
checks.
N. Hills had heard rumours that Alexander Mackenzie
Secondary School was moving to a year-round schooling model for 2003-2004.
W. Kennedy reported that AMSS is in the process of investigating changing
to a year-round model. They would have to have the support of their
school community and School Council and ultimately the Board before
they switched. N. Hills stated that child care and respite services
for special needs students during frequent breaks would put a strain
on community agencies. W. Kennedy suggested that the Sarnia and District
Association for Community Living voice their concern to the Principal
of AMSS.
D. Longwell reported that he had recently visited
Devine Street School. During his visit it was made clear to him that
the school is in need of additional supports and wondered if SEAC could
be of assistance in helping them obtain any extra resources. W. Kennedy
responded that any additional funding for staff would have to be approved
by the Board.
10.0
QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
A. Kuhn submitted two articles to the Chair from
“Ontario School Advocate”.
11.0
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
J. Greensmith would like to discuss space and
basic equipment needs for community agency staff during school visits
and therapies.
J. Wright requested copies of the current Board
Field Trips and Educational Tours Policy and Regulations.
B. Martin informed SEAC that all Board policies
and regulations will be available through the Board website in the near
future.
J. Wright also requested copies of the Report
to the Board that is prepared after each SEAC meeting. B. Martin explained
that the Board Report from SEAC is only a condensed version of the Minutes
and would be duplicate information.
· Autism/PDD Program Review Recommendations
Progress Report
· Professional Development
· Booklet of Strategies, Accommodations,
and Tips for all Exceptionalities
· Tour of Transportation Services
· Transportation and Board Website Demonstration
· Kurzweil Software Demonstration
· Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA)
· Exceptionality Presentations
· Double Cohort and Possible Effects on
Secondary Special Programs
· Safe Schools Act and Its Effect on Exceptional
Pupils
· 2002-2003 Exceptional Pupil Statistics
· Best Buddies Program
· Impact of Special Education Programming
Changes and School Closures
12.0
NEXT MEETING
Thursday, December 12, 2002
Wallaceburg District Secondary School - Library
7:00 p.m.
S. Nickerson announced that arrangements have
been made for the January, 2003 meeting to be held at the Transportation
Services Department offices in Wallaceburg.
13.0
ADJOURNMENT - 9:30 p.m.
Joan Sparks,
Recording Secretary.
