LAMBTON KENT DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD



SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE



Thursday
Wallaceburg District Secondary School
19 00 hours

2003 09 25
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


Norma Hills, Sarnia & District Association for Community Living


Al Kuhn, Community Living Chatham-Kent


Marion Lennan, Lambton County Developmental Services


Duncan Longwell, Trustee (Chair)


Graham McIntyre, Trustee


Donna Scherer, Learning Disabilities Association of Chatham-Kent


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


Wenda Vallee, Autism Society of Ontario




REGRETS:
Sharon Nickerson, Member "at large"


Veronica Vaughan, Wallaceburg & Sydenham District Association for Community

Living




RESOURCE
Warren Kennedy, Superintendent of Education

STAFF:
Chris Gordon and Geri Haskell, Special Education Co-ordinators

 

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

 

1.0
CALL TO ORDER - 7:03 p.m.

 

 

2.0
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF 2003 06 12

 

The Minutes of 2003 06 12 were approved as written.

 

 

3.0
BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES

It was suggested that the December SEAC meeting be changed from December 18 to December 11, 2003. SEAC agreed.

 

 

4.0
PRESENTATIONS





4.1
Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA)

 

G. Haskell introduced Wilma Sonneveld-Wright, Early Years/Primary Consultant, who provided an informative presentation on the Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA). DRA is a diagnostic reading assessment tool currently used in Grades 1 to 3. The assessment is conducted at least twice per school year. The DRA provides a consistent tool used throughout the Board which allows teachers to document student growth, and group students with similar reading abilities. Individual Student DRA documentation moves from grade to grade with the student, providing classroom teachers with immediate information on student progress. DRA data is also used to develop District "targets" and priorities.

 

W. Sonneveld-Wright circulated samples of the DRA readers, teacher scripts, and documentation folders, and answered questions from SEAC.

 

G. Haskell thanked W. Sonneveld-Wright and explained that the Special Education Department staff would continue to work closely with Program Department staff in order to develop early intervention strategies and programs.






4.2
Kurzweil Software Demonstration

C. Gordon demonstrated the Kurzweil 3000 adaptive technology software. Kurzweil reads and highlights scanned or electronic text aloud using human sounding synthetic speech, which increases the accuracy, speed and comprehension for struggling readers. Students in the Transition Learning Disabilities classrooms located at Alexander Mackenzie S.S., John McGregor S.S., and Wallaceburg District S.S. have access to Kurzweil 3000 and many students who have ISA 1 funded computers are using Kurzweil 3000. Some students qualify to use this adaptive technology during the Grade 10 Literacy Test.

 

 

5.0
REPORT ON THE ONTARIO CONFERENCE ON TEACHING STUDENTS WITH AUTISM

W. Kennedy provided details on the Ontario Conference on Teaching Students with Autism which was held in Toronto on September 10-12, 2003. Ten delegates from the Lambton Kent District School Board attended, including SEAC Members J. Greensmith, D. Longwell, and W. Vallee.

 

A synopsis of the workshops was distributed. Detailed workshop information can be provided upon request.

 

 

6.0
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: ANNUAL REPORT TO THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION FROM THE MINISTER'S ADVISORY COUNCIL ON SPECIAL EDUCATION

 

W. Kennedy highlighted the contents of the Executive Summary he prepared. Priorities of the Minister's Advisory Council on Special Education for the 2003-2004 school year include:

· Special Education Funding

· Accountability

· Program Standards

· Applied Research

· Service Co-ordination

· Professional Development

· Training in the Use of Adaptive Technology

 

 

7.0
CORRESPONDENCE






7.1
Ministry of Education Memorandum Re: Results of 2003 IEP Review

 

G. Haskell provided background information and reviewed the results of the recent Individual Education Plan (IEP) Review conducted by the Ministry of Education.

 

Following the release of the IEP Standards in September, 2000 the Ministry has been conducting a series of IEP Reviews. In January, 2003 this Board submitted 60 IEP’s to the Ministry for inspection. This September, 2003, a new IEP template was launched which has addressed many of the Ministry's concerns. Teacher in-servicing for the new IEP has occurred. A copy of the new IEP template was distributed.

 

In order to comply with the Standards, further development of the IEP continues and SEAC will be kept informed of progress.

 

W. Vallee felt that many parents are not receiving IEP's or being consulted three times per school year. There seems to be no accountability at the school level and students are losing out.






7.2
Letter from Community Living Chatham-Kent

 

D. Longwell announced that, according to correspondence received, Al Kuhn will replace Jane Wright as the representative from Community Living Chatham-Kent on SEAC, effective immediately. Jane Wright will act as an alternate representative.

 

 

8.0
ASSOCIATION REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESS

 

A. Kuhn questioned the hours of operation for the new "Options Program" at St. Clair College. W. Kennedy reported that classes begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m. allowing for a 5.5 hour day, which is comparable to any secondary school or college student schedule.

 

A. Kuhn distributed copies of a new pamphlet outlining the programs and services provided by Community Living Chatham-Kent.

 

W. Vallee inquired about the school year calendar that will be followed by the "Options Program". Since the Options Program Teacher is a Board employee, students would be tied to the Secondary School Year Calendar. Details will be communicated to parents via a newsletter.

 

W. Vallee submitted details on a SEAC Training Workshop on November 1, 2003, in Toronto. She also displayed the new "Special Needs Resource Portfolio" which has been developed by the Family Support and Resource Network of Chatham-Kent. The Portfolio provides vital information related to various disorders as well as local and provincial resources.

 

D. Scherer distributed information on an information session "Learning Disabilities and Acupuncture", Monday, September 29, 2003, Chatham-Kent Secondary School, 7:00 p.m. Information on a "ADHD Strategies and Training Day" on October 26, 2003 was submitted.

 

J. Greensmith announced that Pathways Health Centre for Children has entered into an agreement with the Board to provide Augmentative Communication Services. This collaborative effort will service children with speech and language difficulties throughout the district.

 

R. Gallaway mentioned that St. Clair Child and Youth Services are hosting a conference on October 18, 2003. They have also offered to conduct a "street proofing" program to students in our special needs classrooms.

 

W. Kennedy informed SEAC that 40 staff members will be attending the "Coaching to Inclusion" Conference, in London, on October 9, 2003.

 

Revised copies of the Special Education Plan were distributed to SEAC Members for insertion in their Special Education Plan binders.

 

Copies of the Fall, 2003, Workshops Catalogue, " Staff Development for all Employees" were distributed for SEAC information.

 

 

9.0
QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC - None.

 

 

10.0
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

 

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

· Board Website Demonstration

· Exceptionality Presentations

· Safe Schools Act and Its Effect on Exceptional Pupils

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

 

N. Hills announced that a representative from the Sarnia and District Association for Community Living, Bob Vansickle, would like to showcase their new "Job Start" program along with the Accessible Employment Resource Centre (AERC), located in the Community Care Access Cnetre Building on Pontiac Drive in Sarnia. SEAC agreed to hold their October meeting at the Accessible Employment Resource Centre in Sarnia.

 

 

11.0
NEXT MEETING





Thursday, October 23, 2003


1150 Pontiac Drive, Sarnia (Carruther's Clinic/Community Care Access Centre Building)


7:00 p.m.

 

 

12.0
ADJOURNMENT - 9:15 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joan Sparks,


Recording Secretary.