LAMBTON KENT DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD



SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE



Thursday
Wallaceburg District Secondary School
19 00 hours

2003 02 27
Library
(7:00 p.m.)

 

 

M I N U T E S

 

 

PRESENT:
Rose Gallaway (for Jennifer Adam), St. Clair Child and Youth Services


Jenny Greensmith, Pathways Health Centre for Children


Al Kuhn (for Jane Wright), Community Living Chatham-Kent


Marion Lennan, Lambton County Developmental Services


Duncan Longwell, Trustee


Graham McIntyre, Trustee


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




REGRETS:
Norma Hills, Sarnia & District Association for Community Living


Sharon Nickerson, Member "at large"




ABSENT:
Julie Wolfe, Learning Disabilities Association of Lambton County




RESOURCE
Warren Kennedy, Superintendent of Education

STAFF:
Deb Ellacott and Chris Gordon, Special Education Co-ordinators

 

*********************************************************************************

 

1.0
CALL TO ORDER - 7:07 p.m.

 

 

2.0
ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR

The floor was opened for nominations for Chair. Duncan Longwell was nominated and declared Chair by acclamation.

 

The floor was then opened for nominations for SEAC Vice-Chair. Ted Scott was nominated, but suggested that the election of Vice-Chair be delayed until next meeting so that Sharon Nickerson could be involved in the nomination process. If, after the next meeting, no one else is interested, T. Scott agreed to let his nomination stand for Vice-Chair.

 

 

3.0
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF 2003 01 23

 

The Minutes of 2003 01 23 were approved as written.

 

 

4.0
BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES

 

Referring to the Staff Development Booklet that was distributed at the last meeting, D. Scherer asked if non-Board staff could attend any of the workshops listed. W. Kennedy explained that SEAC members or Association staff were most welcome to attend, space permitting. Contact W. Kennedy, a Special Education Co-ordinator, or Joan Sparks if interested in registering for any workshop.

 

 

5.0
PRESENTATION – AUTISM EXCEPTIONALITY

Linda Boire, Itinerant High Needs Resource Teacher, presented information on the Autism Exceptionality, including: definitions, characteristics, strengths, and effective teaching strategies.

 

L. Boire outlined her duties in her role as the Itinerant High Needs Resource Teachers as well as the duties of the Educational Assistant assigned to the program. Their main goal is to assist the teacher in order to provide an inclusive environment for students.

 

SEAC had the opportunity to ask questions and provide comments.

 

L. Boire concluded that there is always a teaching strategy that will work with every child.

 

 

6.0
UPDATE ON SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT

W. Kennedy provided SEAC with further details related to the recent Ministry of Education funding announcement:

 

· All recommendations for additional special education staff were approved by the Board and all but a few of the additional staff have been hired.

· As a result of an ISA Enrolment Audit recently conducted by the Ministry of Education, the Lambton Kent District School Board will not be receiving the full $2.65 Million in additional funding previously announced by the Ministry.

 

 

7.0
DOUBLE COHORT AND POSSIBLE EFFECTS ON SECONDARY SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS

W. Kennedy explained that it is estimated that 8 to 12 percent of our secondary students will be leaving the system this year due to the elimination of OAC and the resulting double cohort graduation. This will decrease the secondary SEPPA (Special Education Per Pupil Amount) Funding.

 

W. Kennedy stated that the “Rozanski Report” recommended an increase to SEPPA Funding to compensate for the loss of Special Education funding Boards will realize as a result of the double cohort graduation and the elimination of OAC. W. Kennedy is hopeful that this will occur.

 

 

8.0
OCTOBER REPORT SUSPENSION STATISTICS

SEAC reviewed the 2001-2002 October Report Suspension Statistics submitted to the Ministry of Education.

 

W. Kennedy explained that there were two sections of the Board October Report that dealt with the collection of suspension data. The first section (B5) dealt with the suspension of exceptional pupils, and the second section (E2) dealt with the suspension and expulsion of all pupils.

 

W. Kennedy outlined reasons for what appears to be a high incidence of suspension:

· New Safe Schools Act and “zero tolerance” clauses

· Lack of funding to provide behavioural supports

· Demands made by victims (or parents of victims) related to the Safe School Act

 

T. Scott suggested that SEAC continue to monitor suspension statistics and thanked D. Scherer for requesting this information.

 

 

9.0
SPECIAL EDUCATION PLAN – SECTION 2.11 – SPECIAL EDUCATION STAFF

Section 2.11 of the Special Education Plan, Special Education Staff, was reviewed.

 

D. Ellacott outlined suggested revisions, and announced that a DRAFT containing the changes will be brought to the next SEAC meeting for approval.

 

Suggested changes:

· 1st Paragraph, 6th Sentence - Change “educational psychologist” to “psychological associate” and “counsellors” to “psychometrists”.

· 1st Paragraph, 7th Sentence - Change sentence to read: “In addition, the Board employs two speech-language pathologists and contracts the services of a speech-language pathologist as well as communication disorder assistants and speech assistants from an outside provider.”

· Under Section 2.0 - Instruction Personnel - Add a description of the new Itinerant Resource Teacher positions for Behaviour and High Needs.

· Item 3.1 – Change title to “Supervisor of Psychological Services Department”, and update role description.

· Item 3.2 – Change title from “Counsellors” to “Psychometrists”. Change the word “counsellors” to “psychometrists” in the 1st sentence. Remove the last sentence.

· Section 4.0 – Add “Speech Assistants” to end of title. Add information about Speech Assistants to body of paragraph.

· Section 5.0 – Remove E.C.E. Diploma as an accepted qualification and add “(in related field)” after B.A.

· Add a section re: Tutor Escorts.

· Appendix 2.11.1 Charts will be revised to provide the most up-to-date information at the time of Plan submission.

 

 

10.0
SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PROGRAM REVIEW UPDATE

 

D. Ellacott reported that the Speech and Language Program Review is proceeding well. It is estimated that the Committee will meet an additional two times prior to reporting their recommendations to SEAC in April.

 

 

11.0
CORRESPONDENCE

D. Longwell read a letter received from St. Clair Child and Youth Services appointing Rose Gallaway as their alternate SEAC representative for Jennifer Adam.

 

 

12.0
ASSOCIATION REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESS

 

M. Lennan requested information on the new funding allocated for Transportation Services. W. Kennedy provided M. Lennan with a copy of the funding announcement information that was distributed at the previous SEAC meeting which included transportation funding details.

 

D. Longwell circulated a poster announcing details of a presentation by Alvin Law on Tuesday, March 18, 2003, at the Imperial Oil Centre for Performing Arts, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Alvin Law was born without arms, and has overcome his perceived affliction by learning to use his feet in place of hands. His message to others is “there’s no such word as can’t”.

 

T. Scott reported that there will be a performance of “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” at the Imperial Oil Centre for Performing Arts on Friday, February 28 with proceeds to the classroom for medically fragile at Bridgeview School.

 

D. Scherer commented on the “SOAR” Presentation held at Chatham-Kent Secondary School on February 19, 2003.

 

A. Kuhn submitted information from the Ontario Coalition for Inclusive Education. They hope to establish linkages between SEAC representatives from their member associations and other like-minded individuals. They plan on distributing a survey. For further information call (416)531-8553 or e-mail inclusion@sympatico.ca.

 

V. Vaughan was asked by her association President to congratulate the Board for their efforts in the area of inclusion. There is an “inclusion” article in the current issue of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario Magazine written by Denise Emery, Geri Haskell, and Cathy Telfer. D. Emery appears on the cover of the magazine along with a special needs student from Indian Creek Road School.

 

W. Vallee requested an update on the development of the protocol for the use of the Snozelen Room located at Tecumseh School by outside organizations. D. Ellacott reported that the protocol was complete and training should begin prior to the March Break for community groups wishing to use the facility.

 

J. Greensmith reported that Pathways Health Centre for Children are in the preliminary stages of investigating the possibilities of operating a “Snozelen Pool”.

 

 

13.0
QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC - None.

 

 

14.0
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

 

W. Kennedy suggested that SEAC devote the majority of the March meeting to reviewing and providing input to a DRAFT copy of the Special Education Programs and Services Internal Review Report.

 

· Autism/PDD Program Review Recommendations Progress Report

· Professional Development

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

· Board Website Demonstration

· Kurzweil Software Demonstration

· Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA)

· Exceptionality Presentations

· Safe Schools Act and Its Effect on Exceptional Pupils

· Impact of Special Education Programming Changes and School Closures

· Link between IPRC, IEP, and Transition Plans, etc.

 

 

15.0
NEXT MEETING





Thursday, March 27, 2003


Wallaceburg District Secondary School - Library


7:00 p.m.

 

 

16.0
ADJOURNMENT - 9:00 p.m.

 

 

 

 

Joan Sparks,


Recording Secretary.