LAMBTON KENT DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Thursday
Wallaceburg District Secondary School
19 00 hours
2004 03 25
Library
(7:00 p.m.)
M I N U T E S
PRESENT:
Bonnie Burdett (for Jenny Greensmith), Pathways Health Centre for Children
Norma Hills, Community Living Sarnia-Lambton
Al Kuhn, Community Living Chatham-Kent
Marion Lennan, Lambton County Developmental Services
Duncan Longwell, Trustee (Chair)
Laurie Mawlam, Community Living Wallaceburg
Sharon Nickerson, Member "at large"
Donna Scherer, Learning Disabilities Association of Chatham-Kent
Charlene Taylor, Member "at large"
Wenda Vallee, Autism Society of Ontario
REGRETS:
Rose Gallaway, St. Clair Child and Youth Services
Susie Jones, Trustee
Jonathan Quaglia, Member "at large"
RESOURCE
Warren Kennedy, Superintendent of Education
STAFF:
Denise Emery and Geri Haskell, Special Education Co-ordinators
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1.0
CALL TO ORDER - 7:00 p.m.
2.0
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF 2004 02 26
D. Scherer requested clarification regarding the secondary exceptional
pupil statistics provided with the Minutes and the number of exceptional
pupils reported in a fully self-contained classroom with Learning Disabilities.
W. Kennedy explained that as a result of information conveyed at the
previous SEAC meeting changes have been made so that exceptional secondary
school students enrolled in the Transition Learning Disabilities classrooms
will now be reported under the “partially integrated” column
on the Ministry October Reports.
The Minutes of 2004 02 26 were approved as written.
3.0
BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES - None.
4.0
PRESENTATIONS
4.1
Individual Education Plans (IEP)
G. Haskell distributed copies of:
§ a blank current Lambton Kent District
School Board IEP
§ a completed exemplar copy of a current
Lambton Kent District School Board IEP
§ a blank copy of a sample IEP template
provided by the Ministry of Education
§ results of the 2003 IEP Review conducted
by the Ministry of Education
G. Haskell provided background information on
the development of the IEP currently being used explaining that following
the release of the IEP Standards in September, 2000 the Ministry conducted
a series of IEP Reviews. In January, 2003 this Board submitted 60 IEP’s
to the Ministry for inspection. In September, 2003, a new IEP template
was launched which has addressed many of the Ministry's concerns.
G. Haskell compared our current IEP against the
Ministry Standards/2003 IEP Review Results and reported on revisions
that were made in order to comply with the Standard.
Stating that the IEP was a working document and
realizing there continues to be improvements required, G. Haskell invited
comments and suggestions from SEAC members. Suggestions included:
§ provide more detail
§ include measurable expectations
§ include present levels or baselines of
performance
§ gather information annually from the parents
and students by creating a questionnaire (e.g., Parent Profile/Student
Profile)
§ add a check box on the Consultation Form
to indicate if the questionnaire was returned
§ use positively-worded goals and expectations
§ develop a method of ensuring that the
IEP is implemented in the classroom
D. Emery and W. Kennedy reported on current and
upcoming activities that are planned that will assist in making all
parties aware of the importance of the IEP, including:
§ current ongoing Role of the Resource Teacher
Review
§ future professional development opportunity
for administrators that will focus on Special Education-related paperwork
§ October 22, 2004 Professional Development
Day will focus entirely on Special Education issues, including keynote
speakers Dr. Al Condeluci and Leslie Andrews, along with 25 to 30 workshops
for all elementary and secondary teachers.
SEAC members were thanked for their input and
encouraged to contact G. Haskell with any further comments or suggestions.
4.2
Update from the Autism Transition Committee
D. Emery reported that the Autism Transition
Committee has met once per month over the past year. The pre-school
in-take protocol that was put in place has been reviewed and revised
with very positive feedback from agencies and school staff.
The committee is currently developing guidelines
for transitioning students from class to class, teacher to teacher,
school to school, or Grade 8 to 9.
5.0
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PLAN, 2004
W. Kennedy explained that Regulation 306 of the
Education Act requires that all school boards establish and maintain
a Special Education Plan. The Board must maintain the Plan and ensure
that it is amended from time to time to meet the current needs of the
exceptional pupils of the Board according to the following schedule:
- every two years, prepare and approve a report
on the special education programs and services it provides (complete
report submitted in June, 2003)
- review the plan once a year and send any amendments
of the Plan to the Ministry of Education.
- reports or amendments must be submitted by
July 31 of every year.
Since a complete review took place last year
with an entire revised copy of the Plan submitted to the Ministry of
Education in June, 2003, G. Haskell outlined possible amendments to
the Special Education Plan for 2004 to be submitted to the Ministry:
SECTION 2.4 - IDENTIFICATION, PLACEMENT, AND
REVIEW COMMITTEE PROCESS
Appendix 2.4.3 - Understanding the IPRC Process:
A Parent Guide
· Revise SEAC Insert in Parent Guide to
reflect current SEAC membership.
SECTION 2.8 - SPECIAL EDUCATION PLACEMENTS PROVIDED
BY THE BOARD
Chart: Continuum of Placement Options - Elementary
(Page 43)
· Change “Essential Skills Program”
to E-ABLE Program.
Chart: Continuum of Placement Options - Secondary
(Page 44)
· Move “Transition Learning Disabilities”
to appear under the “Special Program with Integration where Appropriate”
section.
1.4 - Section 19 - Care and Treatment Facilities
(Page 46)
· Remove any reference to Section 19.
2.3 - Language Impairment/Speech Impairment (Page
48)
· Change “(Reviewed – 1999)”
to (Reviewed – 2003).
SECTION 2.11 - SPECIAL EDUCATION STAFF
2.7 - Itinerant Resource Teacher for Technology
(Page 63)
· Add a descriptor for the Itinerant Resource
Teacher for Technology (new position).
SECTION 3 - THE BOARD’S SPECIAL EDUCATION
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Membership
· Change Membership for the “2001-04” term to 2004-07
(Page 74).
Appendix 3.1.1 - SEAC Member List
· Revise Appendix 3.1.1 to reflect current SEAC membership.
Appendix 3.1.2 - SEAC Meeting Flyer
· Revise Appendix 3.1.2 to reflect current SEAC membership.
Appendix 3.1.3 - SEAC Information Brochure
· Revise Appendix 3.1.3 to reflect recent Association name changes.
Appendix 3.1.4 - Your Exceptional Child, School,
and Special Education Brochure
· Revise Appendix 3.1.4 to reflect recent Association names.
Motion: Moved by N. Hills, seconded by A. Kuhn,
that the Special Education Advisory Committee recommend that the Lambton
Kent District School Board approve the 2004 Amendments to the Special
Education Plan.
G. Haskell announced that in preparation for
the complete submission of the Plan in July of 2005, SEAC will begin
a section-by-section review of the Plan next month.
The Motion CARRIED.
6.0
2003-2004 PROGRAM REVIEWS UPDATE
D. Emery reported on the progress of the three
special education program reviews currently underway:
§ Vision and Hearing Program Review Committees,
D. Emery Chair, will meet for the third time this week. They have distributed
surveys, have viewed equipment, and have consulted with staff from the
Provincial Schools.
§ The Physical Review Committee, D. Seager
Chair, will meet for the first time this week.
W. Kennedy updated SEAC on the progress of the
“Role of the Resource Teacher” Review. As part of the review
process there will be a third meeting of all Resource Teachers on Thursday,
April 15, 2004, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Oaks Inn, Wallaceburg
(note change of location). SEAC members are invited to attend. Please
let W. Kennedy know if you plan to attend.
7.0
CORRESPONDENCE - None.
8.0
ASSOCIATION REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESS
D. Scherer reported that the Learning Disabilities
Association of Ontario will host a conference on June 3 and 4, 2004,
in Toronto, featuring Dr. Robert Brooks and Dr. Sam Goldstein.
N. Hills reminded SEAC of the Shannon Volleyball
Tournament, a fundraiser for Community Living Sarnia-Lambton, to be
held on the weekend. Also, Community Living Ontario will hold their
annual conference in Barrie next week.
W. Vallee provided details of a workshop to be
held on Saturday, May 1, 2004, at St. Agnes Parish Hall in Chatham:
Understanding Behaviour in Autism.
M. Lennan announced that Lambton County Developmental
Services recently received some capital funding and are planning to
open a home for four adult clients in the Corunna area.
L. Mawlam encouraged registration for the one-day
workshop, on April 22, 2004, hosted by the Family Support Resource Network
and Community Living Wallaceburg, “Voice of Friendship: Cultivating
Inclusive Communities.
A. Kuhn suggested that the local news media be
encouraged to promote the special programs of the Board. W. Kennedy
mentioned that a local newspaper was contacted recently and provided
with details of the new Options Program.
B. Burdett stated that the recent Open House
at the Pathways Health Centre for Children was a great success. She
also provided information handouts on the following activities:
§ Petrolia Blacktop Baseball Registration
§ S.M.A.A. Challenger Baseball Registration
§ “We Can All Play” Adapted
Recreation and Leisure Community Event, April 7, 2004
§ Community Recreation and Leisure Resources
§ “Give the Kids a Lift”, April
17, 2004
9.0
QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC - None.
10.0
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
W. Kennedy suggested the following future agenda
items:
§ Budget Presentation (April or May)
§ Section-by-Section Special Education Plan
Review
§ e-Learning SEAC Information Website (April
or May)
C. Taylor suggested that the Itinerant Resource
Technology Teacher or staff from the Pathways Health Centre for Children
be invited to a future meeting to provide a presentation on adaptive
technology for students.
· Exceptionality Presentations
· Safe Schools Act and Its Effect on Exceptional
Pupils
· Link between IPRC, IEP, and Transition
Plans, etc.
· New Criteria for Identifying Students
as "Communication (Learning Disability)"
11.0
NEXT MEETING
Thursday, April 22, 2004
Wallaceburg District Secondary School - Library
7:00 p.m.
12.0
ADJOURNMENT - 9:00 p.m.
Joan Sparks,
Recording Secretary.
