LAMBTON KENT DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD



SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE



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

2003 11 27
Library

 

 

M I N U T E S

 

 

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


Norma Hills, Community Living Sarnia-Lambton


Al Kuhn, Community Living Chatham-Kent


Duncan Longwell, Trustee (Chair)


Laurie Mawlam (for Veronica Vaughan), Community Living Wallaceburg


Graham McIntyre, Trustee


Sharon Nickerson, Member "at large"


Donna Scherer, Learning Disabilities Association of Chatham-Kent


Wenda Vallee, Autism Society of Ontario




REGRETS:
Jenny Greensmith, Pathways Health Centre for Children


Marion Lennan, Lambton County Developmental Services


Ted Scott, Member "at large" (Vice-Chair)







RESOURCE
Warren Kennedy, Superintendent of Education

STAFF:
Deb Ellacott, Denise Emery, Chris Gordon and Geri Haskell, Special Education

Co-ordinators

 

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1.0
CALL TO ORDER - 7:00 p.m.

 

Dr. Vaughan announced her resignation from SEAC and introduced Laurie Mawlam.

 

Dr. Vaughan was thanked for her service.

 

 

2.0
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF 2003 10 23

 

The Minutes of 2003 10 23 were approved as written.

 

 

3.0
BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES

 

SEAC praised the efforts of the staff from Community Living Sarnia-Lambton, including the Job Start Program and the Accessible Employment Resource Centre, who hosted the October meeting of SEAC.

 

 

4.0
PRESENTATIONS






4.1
Websites

 

In the absence of T. Scott, handouts of his presentation were distributed with the intent that he could present his findings at the December meeting of SEAC.

 

 

4.2
Lambton Kent District School Board Website

 

Suzanne Schroeter, Secretary to the Supervisor of Psychological Services and Special Education Co-ordinators, demonstrated features of the Board's website located at www.lkdsb.net. The Special Education section of the website was highlighted.

 

Questions and comments can be forwarded to schroesu@lkdsb.net.

4.3
Strategies and Accommodations for Students with Special Needs

 

W. Kennedy announced that the article written by Denise Emery, Geri Haskell, and Cathy Telfer; entitled "Special Education in the Regular Classroom" and featured in Voice magazine (SEAC received a copy at a past meeting), recently was awarded first prize in the "how to" category by the Canadian Education Press Association.

 

D. Emery presented a number of the strategies classroom teachers and resource teachers use to assist their students including:

· alphabet strips

· wall words

· word cards on a ring

· organization cards

· pre-taping stories

· rehearsing

· tactile letters

· magnetic boards

· raised letter cards

· jelly powder printing

· NCR paper

· in and out boxes

· friendly letters/notes mailbox

· red, yellow, and green folder system

· workload/amount reduction

· educational games

 

D. Emery explained that all of the items she demonstrated were regular staples in schools and classrooms throughout the district in order to provide a multi-level approach to build on the successes and strengths of individual students.

 

 

5.0
CALL FOR SEAC MEMBERSHIP REMINDER

SEAC Members were reminded that letters of application are due by November 28, 2003 for the next three-year term of SEAC. The Board will appoint the new SEAC Members, using pre-established criteria, at the first regular Board meeting in January, which is January 13, 2004. The first official meeting of the new SEAC will be in February, 2004.

 

SEAC applicants must be:

· Eighteen Years of Age or Older

· Canadian Citizens

· Public School Electors

· Not an Employee of the Board.

 

 

6.0
EXCEPTIONAL PUPIL STATISTICS

A chart summarizing the total number of exceptional pupils was reviewed. The chart revealed a total of 3512 exceptional pupils as of October 31, 2003, which is slightly above the provincial average. W. Kennedy stated that more detailed information summarizing the exceptional pupil section of the Ministry of Education “October Report” will be provided to SEAC in January.

 

A copy of the October Report section that summarizes the Number of Exceptional Pupil Suspensions was also distributed.

 

SEAC questioned the suspension figures and voiced concern about the number of exceptional pupils suspended during the 2002-2003 school year. W. Kennedy outlined some reasons for suspensions, programs that are in place to improve behaviour, and plans for future programs and training.

 

 

7.0
2003-2004 PROGRAM REVIEW UPDATE

 

W. Kennedy announced that Special Education Co-ordinator, Deb Ellacott, has recently been appointed Vice-Principal of McNaughton Avenue School in Chatham.

 

G. Haskell stated that the three program reviews scheduled for this year (Physical, Vision, and Hearing) will be organized soon, but have been delayed slightly due to the recent ISA cycle and committees will be struck once the new Co-ordinator is hired. A review of the role of Resource Teachers is also planned this year. SEAC will be asked for representation on all four review committees.

 

 

8.0
TEACHER COMMUNICATION AND PROMOTION OF LEARNING RESPONSE FORMS: PARENT AND STUDENT

 

SEAC reviewed the "Parental Input on Teacher/Parent Communication and Promotion of Learning" and "Grade 11 and 12 Student Input on Teacher Communication and Promotion of Learning" Forms which will be used during the evaluation process for secondary school teachers.

 

Students and parents can request to have their name/signature removed before the information is shared with the teacher.

 

 

9.0
CORRESPONDENCE






9.1
Letters Dated November 3, 2003, from the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board to the Minister of Education

 

SEAC received copies of three letters sent to the Minister of Education from the chair of SEAC of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. The first letter expressed concern with the lack of administrative consultation with SEAC and the public prior to changes affecting special education programs and services, the second letter suggested that the Ministry of Education develop a common IEP form for use throughout the province, and the third letter dealt with IPRC recommendations.

 

W. Kennedy provided some background information but felt there were some good suggestions made in the letters.

 

 

10.0
ASSOCIATION REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESS

A. Kuhn announced that several Chatham-Kent associations have received a collective grant in the amount of $166,000 to support a variety of programs.

 

W. Kennedy informed SEAC that the Ministry of Education ISA Validators will be visiting our Board on December 1 and 2, 2003. It is expected that they will review a total of 121 new ISA applications.

 

D. Longwell announced that the first meeting of the new Board will be held on December 2, 2003. Two trustees will be appointed to SEAC during the "Striking Committee" portion of the evening. D. Longwell also mentioned that all Trustees have been invited to attend a meeting in London on December 3, 2003 with members of the new provincial government.

 

Trustee G. McIntyre thanked SEAC Members for their attendance at meetings and stated that he would be moving on to other Board committees for the next year.

 

 

11.0
QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC - None.

 

 

12.0
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

D. Scherer suggested that SEAC receive an update on the new criteria for identifying students as "Communication (Learning Disability)".

 

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

· Exceptionality Presentations

· Safe Schools Act and Its Effect on Exceptional Pupils

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

 

 

13.0
NEXT MEETING





Thursday, December 11, 2003


Wallaceburg District Secondary School - Library


7:00 p.m.

 

 

14.0
ADJOURNMENT - 8:35 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joan Sparks,


Recording Secretary.