LAMBTON KENT DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

LAMBTON KENT DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Thursday,	Wallaceburg District Secondary School	7:00 p.m.
October 27, 2005	Room 141

M I N U T E S

PRESENT:	Rose Gallaway, St. Clair Child and Youth Services
	Elizabeth Hudie, Trustee
	Susie Jones, Trustee
	Al Kuhn, Community Living Chatham-Kent
	Marion Lennan, Lambton County Developmental Services
	Ryan Lester (for Norma Hills), Community Living Sarnia-Lambton
	Maggie Rochon, Easter Seal Society of Ontario, Sarnia-Lambton Branch
	Lisa Saul (Lisa Matthews), Learning Disabilities Association of Lambton County
	Donna Scherer, Learning Disabilities Association of Chatham-Kent
	Charlene Taylor, Member "at large"
	Jonathan Quaglia, Member "at large"
	Wenda Vallee, Autism Society of Ontario
	Janet Vanderwerf, Member "at large"

REGRETS:	Laurie Mawlam, Community Living Wallaceburg

RESOURCE	Jim Costello, Superintendent of Education
STAFF:	Geri Haskell, Special Education Co-ordinator

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

1.0

CALL TO ORDER AND INTRODUCTION OF NEW TRUSTEE MEMBER

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. Elizabeth Hudie was welcomed as the new Trustee representative on SEAC, replacing Duncan Longwell. SEAC agreed to provide a token of appreciation to Mr. Longwell in recognition of his long-term service and dedication to the exceptional pupils of the Board.

2.0

REPLACEMENT OF SEAC CHAIR

Following a discussion concerning the replacement of SEAC Chair it was determined that the selection process could take place now rather than waiting until January, 2006. Charlene Taylor let her name stand for SEAC Chair and was declared Chair by acclamation. Susie Jones agreed to act as SEAC Vice-Chair.

Donna Scherer was thanked for her service as SEAC Vice-Chair.

3.0

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF 2005 09 22

The Minutes of 2005 09 22 were approved as written.

4.0

BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES

4.1

GRADUATION RATES INFORMATION

J. Costello provided SEAC with information confirming that special needs students who completed their secondary school program without receiving an Ontario Secondary School Diploma were included in recent “drop-out” rates announced by the Minister of Education. The Ministry method of drop-out rate calculation is a contentious issue province-wide.

4.2

ISA 1 EQUIPMENT CLAIMS COMPARISON DATA

The Ministry of Education has been contacted to see if any comparison data was available regarding the number of ISA 1 equipment claims made by surrounding boards of education during 2004-2005. No information has been provided to date, although we are hopeful details may become available after an upcoming ASET conference.

5.0

PRIORITY-SETTING EXERCISE

SEAC participated in a Priority-Setting Exercise with the goal of determining two or three topics to focus on over the 2005-2006 school year. The following three items were identified as the major topics for future discussion:

· Individual Education Plans (including implementation, accountability, and confidentiality)

· Parental Education and SEAC Awareness (information workshops on SEAC, IPRC process, IEP process, where to go for help, items for school newsletters, etc.)

· Student Achievement, Measurement, and Accountability

Other suggestions included:

· Drop-out Rates and Graduation Rates

· Enrichment Programs

· Mental Health as an Exceptionality and Education for Teachers

· Suitability of Placements and Programs

· Inclusion for Physical Activities

· Co-op Placements

· Behaviour, Suspensions, and Zero Tolerance

· Equipment and Services and Alternate Forms of Reading Materials

· Attitude and Education of Staff and Students toward Behaviours of Special Needs Students

· Accessible Schools for Physical Disabilities

· Transitions for School to Work/World

· Funding for Special Education Programs

· Early Intervention and Assessment

· Range of Disabilities of Students

It was determined that the January, March, and May SEAC meetings would be devoted to presentations and discussion of the three identified topics (one topic at each meeting).

6.0

SEAC LEARNING WEBSITE REFRESHER

A. Kuhn led SEAC through a refresher on the wealth of information provided on the “Special Education Advisory Committee e-Learning Information Program” website designed by the Ministry of Education: www.seaclearning.ca.

SEAC members were also reminded that a link to the SEAC Learning website, along with monthly SEAC Minutes and Agenda are available through the Special Education/SEAC section of the Board’s website: www.lkdsb.net.

7.0

EDUCATION FOR ALL: THE REPORT OF THE EXPERT PANEL ON LITERACY AND NUMERACY INSTRUCTION FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Each SEAC Member was provided with a copy of the Expert Panel Report. G. Haskell outlined preliminary plans for implementation of the recommendations contained in the Report, which included a recent in-service for Principals. More information will be provided at the next meeting along with an update on the CODE Special Education Project Proposals.

8.0

WEB-BASED IEP REVIEW UPDATE

J. Quaglia provided a progress report from the SEAC Web-based IEP Sub-committee. The Committee is currently reviewing some exemplary samples of the new IEP. G. Haskell provided details on the implementation plans for the new web-based IEP program. Schools will begin using the new format as they receive access to the Board’s new Student Administration System.

9.0

2005-2006 PROGRAM REVIEWS

Original plans were to conduct Program Reviews, beginning in 2005-2006, for Behaviour and Learning Disabilities. Due to staff obligations postponement may be necessary. The Special Education Co-ordinators will review needs and report back to SEAC with their suggestions for one Program Review for 2005-2006.

10.0

CORRESPONDENCE - None.

11.0

ASSOCIATION REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESS

L. Saul distributed an “Autism in Canada Fact Sheet” on behalf of L. Matthews. She also circulated a pamphlet providing details of an evening with Richard Lavoie on November 15, 2005, beginning at 7:00 p.m., in the Auditorium at Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical School: “On the Waterbed--The Impact of Learning Disabilities on the Family”, hosted by the Learning Disabilities Association of Lambton County.

G. Haskell reminded SEAC members to contact Denise Emery (emeryde@lkdsb.net) if they were interested in attending the presentation by Richard Lavoie on the afternoon of November 15, 2005, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Victoria Playhouse in Petrolia, entitled “Some Strategies that Don’t Work with Children with Special Needs, and Some that Do”.

D. Scherer distributed information on a Conference, “From Research into Practice: 2^nd National Conference on Learning Disabilities”, November 3-4, 2005, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Details were also provided on a SEAC Training Workshop on December 3, 2005, presented by the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario (LDAO) and LDAO on-line courses. Visit www.ldao.ca for further details.

A. Kuhn reported on a presentation he recently attended at Indian Creek Road School featuring Dr. Duncan McKinley. He also announced that Community Living Chatham-Kent will be celebrating their 50^th Anniversary on October 29, 2005.

S. Jones announced that she was a member of the Vice-Principal Interview Team over the past three days and was very impressed with the candidates and their attitudes toward teaching students with special needs.

12.0

QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC - None.

13.0

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

· Education for All: The Report of the Expert Panel on Literacy and Numeracy Instruction for Students with Special Needs and CODE Proposals

· Special Education Plan

· 2005-2006 Program Review(s)

14.0	NEXT MEETING

	Thursday, November 24, 2005
	Wallaceburg District Secondary School - Room 141
	7:00 p.m.

15.0

ADJOURNMENT - 9:00 p.m.

	Joan Sparks,
	Recording Secretary.