LAMBTON KENT DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

 

SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

Thursday,

Wallaceburg District Secondary School

             7:00 p.m.

March 31, 2005

Room 141

 

 

 

 

M I N U T E S

 

 

 

PRESENT:

Rose Gallaway, St. Clair Child and Youth Services

 

Al Kuhn, Community Living Chatham-Kent

 

Marion Lennan, Lambton County Developmental Services

 

Ryan Lester (for Norma Hills), Community Living Sarnia-Lambton

 

Lisa Matthews, Learning Disabilities Association of Lambton County

 

Graham McIntyre, Trustee

 

Maggie Rochon, Easter Seal Society of Ontario, Sarnia-Lambton Branch

 

Donna Scherer, Learning Disabilities Association of Chatham-Kent (Vice-Chair)

 

Charlene Taylor, Member "at large"

 

Jonathan Quaglia, Member "at large"

 

Wenda Vallee, Autism Society of Ontario

 

Janet Vanderwerf, Member "at large"

 

Mary Weerdenburg, Pathways Health Centre for Children

 

 

REGRETS:

Susie Jones, Trustee

 

Duncan Longwell, Trustee (Chair)

 

Laurie Mawlam, Community Living Wallaceburg

 

 

RESOURCE STAFF:

Denise Emery, Chris Gordon, and Debbie Seager, Special Education Co-ordinators

 

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1.0

CALL TO ORDER AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA - 7:00 p.m.

 

 

2.0

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF 2005 02 24

 

 

The Minutes of 2005 02 24 were approved as written.

 

 

3.0

BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES

 

The following documents were distributed regarding Educational Assistants, ISA 1 Equipment, and Special Education Training for Administrators:

·         Educational Assistant Job Profile

·         ISA 1 Equipment Provincial Statistics, 2002-03

·         ISA 1 Equipment Administrative Procedures

·         Ontario Principals’ Council “Special Education and the Principalship” Binder (circulated).

 

 

4.0

PRESENTATIONS

 

 

4.1

Physical Disabilities Program Review Committee

 

The Physical Disabilities Program Review Committee presented their findings to SEAC.  Members of the Committee included:

·         Terry Bresee, Community Care Access Centre

·         Tim DeActis, Principal

·         Mike Gilfoyle, Vice-Principal

·         Chris Gordon, Special Education Co-ordinator*

·         Mark Griffin, Pathways Health Centre for Children

·         Norma Hills, SEAC Member

·         Anne Johnston, Parent

·         Maggie Rochon, SEAC Member*

·         Jim Roe, Parent

·         Dave Schaller, Pathways Health Centre for Children*

·         Stacey Smith, Principal

·         Charlene Taylor, SEAC Member*

·         Mabel Thibault, Prism Centre for Audiology and Children’s Rehabilitation*

·         Colleen Witt, Alternative/Augmentative Communication Speech/Language Pathologist*

 

D. Seager introduced members of the Physical Disabilities Program Review Committee in attendance (marked with an asterisk above).  SEAC viewed a slide presentation prepared by C. Taylor with the assistance of her son Cody.  The slide presentation outlined the mandate of the program review, the process followed, and the results.  C. Taylor summarized:

·         The Program itself, for the most part, is effective.  The largest barrier is attitudinal.

·         Three main areas that need improvement:  physical accommodation issues, consistent communication between school staff, community practitioners, and parents, and inclusion in physical and co-curricular activities.

·         The recommendation is aimed at improving inclusion in the area of Physical Education and co-curricular activities:  “being AT the game is not the same as being IN the game”.

·         The Physical Disabilities Program Review Committee is hopeful that, through education and inspiration, a philosophy of inclusion will permeate our schools.

 

Recommendation:

 

Every elementary school principal will be encouraged to assign a staff member with an interest in inclusion as an Inclusion Facilitator in Physical Education and Extra-Curricular Activities.

 

Action Plan:

 

The Inclusion Facilitator will be provided an opportunity to:

·         Attend a workshop on practical ways to develop inclusion in Physical Education.

·         In-service staff in their building regarding full inclusion.

·         Be available as an on-going resource.

·         The “Active Living Binder” will be purchased for each school as a resource for staff.

·         Training will be provided for key staff to act as “Train the Trainer” (Active Living Coach)

·         A presentation at Area Principal’s Meetings regarding attitudes and strategies for inclusion in physical education activities will be made.

 

Dave Schaller outlined the benefits of the proposed recommendation and detailed the training and resources available through the Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability.

 

After having the opportunity to ask questions and provide comments, SEAC supported the recommendation and action plan, which will be reported to the Board.

 

D. Scherer thanked the Physical Disabilities Program Review Committee members for their hard work on behalf of the Lambton Kent District School Board.

 

 

 

4.2

2003-2004 EQAO Results and Exemption Rates

 

Bill Woodcock, Consultant for Academic Research and Development, provided a report on “Special Needs Issues Surrounding EQAO Assessments”.  A written report, along with comparison graphs were distributed to all SEAC members in advance of the meeting.  Highlights included:

·        EQAO Definition of a Special Needs Students

·        The percentage of Lambton Kent District School Board special needs students in both Grades 3 and 6 have consistently been around 20%, which is 4 to 5% more than the rest of the province.

·        The percentage of Lambton Kent District School Board special needs students who are first time eligible to write the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test mirrors the rest of the province.

·        In the last administration of the Grade 3 and 6 EQAO assessments 23 percent of Lambton Kent District School Board special needs students were able to reach the standard in Reading compared to 19% of the rest of the province.

·        Lambton Kent District School Board special needs students and those in the rest of the province struggled with the writing component of the EQAO assessments in both Grades 3 and 6.

·        Over the past two administrations of the Grades 3 and 6 Mathematics assessments, the percentages of special needs students who demonstrated mathematical skills that were at or above the provincial standard more than doubled for both grades.

·        Special needs students in Applied Mathematics programs have a much more difficult time achieving the provincial standard in Grade 9 Mathematics compared to special needs students in Academic Mathematics programs.

·        Schools have a legal responsibility to provide accommodations for all pupils with disabilities.

·        According to EQAO, accommodations “change only the way in which the test is administered or the way in which the person responds to the components of the test.  They do not alter the content of the test…”  Modifications are not allowed.

·        Accommodations provided for a student on any of the EQAO assessments must be identified on the student’s IEP and be consistent with the student’s regular classroom practice.

·        The two most common accommodations are changes in the environment and adjustments for time allowed.

·        Principals are required to consider an exemption if it is determined that the student will not be able to participate in the assessment, even with accommodations.

·        The Lambton Kent District School Board exemption rates are below the rest of the province.

 

SEAC had the opportunity to ask questions throughout the presentation.

 

J. Quaglia requested additional information on the actual number of special needs students used in determining the percentage of cohort comparisons throughout the report.

 

G. McIntyre would like the Board to receive information on dropout rates, including the percentage of special needs students that do not reach graduation.

 

D. Scherer thanked Mr. Woodcock for his informative presentation.

 

 

5.0

UPDATES TO 2002-2003 INTERNAL REVIEW OF SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

 

A revised version of Section 2 - Psychological Services Department, was reviewed.  C. Gordon highlighted updates that were made.

 

Input/comments from SEAC included:

·         Provide clarification between counselling and consultation.

·         M. Rochon and C. Gordon commended the Psychological Services Department on the large number of assessments conducted over the course of the 2003-2004 school year.

 

 

6.0

SPECIAL EDUCATION PLAN

 

D. Emery reviewed the suggested revisions for the following sections of the Special Education Plan. 

 

 

6.1

Review of Section 3 - The Board’s Special Education Advisory Committee

 

Suggested revisions include:

·          Appendix 3.1.1 has been revised.

·          Appendix 3.1.2 has been revised.

·          Appendix 3.1.3 has been revised.

 

 

6.2

Review of Section 4 - Co-ordination of Services with other Ministries or Agencies

 

Suggested revisions:

·          Page 76, Under Transition of Students into School from Preschool, Change the word “severe” in the 2nd sentence to “high”.

·          Page 76, Under Transition of Students into School from Preschool, Change the last sentence to read:  “The timeline, transition protocol with community agencies, and pre-school intake forms are found in Appendices 4.1 to 4.3.”

·          Page 76, Under Transition of Students out of School to Community Agencies, end of 1st sentence, Change Appendix 2.9.2 to “Appendix 2.9.1”.

·          Page 76, Under Transition of Students out of School to Community Agencies, Remove the 3rd sentence and the last sentence.  Additional changes will be made to this paragraph.

·          Page 77, Under Liaison with Community Agencies, Add:  Lambton College, and St. Clair College.

·          Appendix 4.1 has been revised and divided into four:  Appendix 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, and 4.4.

 

 

6.3

Review of Section 5 - Submission and Availability of School Board Plans

 

The following revisions were suggested to Section 5 of the Plan:

·          Page 79, Change 2003 at the end of the 1st sentence to:  2005.

·          Submission Letter will be revised.

 

 

7.0

WEB-BASED IEP REVIEW UPDATE

 

D. Emery informed SEAC of a setback in the implementation plans of the web-based IEP program.  The owner of the company, and creator of the web-based IEP that we were piloting, passed away suddenly during the March Break.  Family members are in the process of re-organizing the company which has delayed our training schedule slightly.

 

 

8.0

CORRESPONDENCE:  LETTER FROM HALTON DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD SEAC TO MINISTER OF EDUCATION

 

SEAC reviewed a copy of a letter, dated 2004 02 16, sent to the Minister of Education from the Halton District School Board.  The letter was in support of the ”OPSBA Position Paper on Special Education Funding”.

 

 

9.0

ASSOCIATION REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESS

 

A. Kuhn announced that Community Living Chatham-Kent will be celebrating their 50th anniversary with a gala on October 29, 2005.  A Bag Lunch Fundraiser will be held on May 4, 2005.  Information about the Bag Lunch Fundraiser can be obtained by contacting Chris Harvey at (519)352-1174, Ext. 232.  Also, the Parkfield store is closing, but the restaurant will remain open and will be expanded to include a meeting room.

 

W. Vallee had a question concerning the Options Program and graduation ceremonies at St. Clair College.  C. Gordon explained that St. Clair College has a strict policy concerning their graduation ceremonies.  Currently they do not allow recognition at their graduation ceremonies for students who complete “certificate” programs, although meetings are ongoing to discuss the situation.

 

G. McIntyre informed SEAC that local elementary teachers will elevate their work-to-rule measures on Monday, April 4, 2005.  He also announced that the Lambton Kent District School Board has been chosen as a partner in the province’s Best Start Plan, and that North Lambton Secondary School will pilot a 5-period day timetable, beginning in September, 2005.

 

R. Gallaway provided details of the “Our Children, Our Youth, Our Future Conference”, hosted by St. Clair Child and Youth Services to be held at St. Christopher’s High School on Saturday, April 9, 2005.

 

 

10.0

QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC - None.

 

 

11.0

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

 

·        2005-2006 Budget Presentation

 

 

12.0

NEXT MEETING

 

 

 

Thursday, April 28, 2005

 

Wallaceburg District Secondary School - Room 141

 

7:00 p.m.

 

 

13.0

ADJOURNMENT - 9:00 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joan Sparks,

 

Recording Secretary.