LAMBTON KENT DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

 

SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

Tuesday,

Wallaceburg District Secondary School

             7:00 p.m.

May 30, 2006

Library

 

 

 

M I N U T E S

 

 

PRESENT:

Rose Gallaway, St. Clair Child and Youth Services

 

Norma Hills, Community Living Sarnia-Lambton

 

Elizabeth Hudie, Trustee

 

Susie Jones, Trustee (Vice-Chair)

 

Al Kuhn, Community Living Chatham-Kent

 

Marion Lennan, Lambton County Developmental Services

 

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

 

Lisa Saul (for Lisa Matthews), Learning Disabilities Association of Lambton County

 

Donna Scherer, Learning Disabilities Association of Chatham-Kent

 

Charlene Taylor, Member "at large" (Chair)

 

Wenda Vallee (for Margaret Smith), Autism Society of Ontario, Chatham-Kent Chapter

 

Jonathan Quaglia, Member "at large"

 

Janet Vanderwerf, Member "at large"

 

 

REGRETS:

Laurie Mawlam, Community Living Wallaceburg

 

 

RESOURCE

Jim Costello, Superintendent of Education

STAFF:

Denise Emery, Chris Gordon, and Geri Haskell, Special Education Co-ordinators

 

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1.0

CALL TO ORDER AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA - 7:05 p.m.

 

 

2.0

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF 2006 05 18

 

The Minutes of 2006 05 18 were approved as written.

 

 

3.0

BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES - None.

 

 

4.0

APPROVAL OF 2006 AMENDMENTS TO THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PLAN

 

 

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, 2005)

-         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.

 

A complete review took place last year with an entire revised copy of the Plan submitted to the Ministry of Education in June, 2005 (no feedback has been received to date).  G. Haskell lead SEAC through the proposed amendments to the Special Education Plan for 2006 to be presented to the Board for approval prior to submission to the Ministry of Education:

 

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

·         Add an explanation of Net New Needs under the “Procedures” section:

      Net New Needs

A process developed by the Ministry of Education to determine newly enrolled students with high needs net of any funding requirements resulting from previously identified ISA 2 and 3 students who have left a Board.

·         Change the last bullet of the IEP or Individual Education Plan explanation under the “Procedures” section to read:

·          Refer to Ministry of Education documents Individual Education Plans:  Standards for Development, Program Planning and Implementation and Individual Education Plan (IEP):  A Resource Guide for more information.

·         Change the first bullet of the ISA or Intensive Support Amount explanation under the “Procedures” section to read:

·          A former process developed by the Ministry of Education whereby data was gathered to show that an individual student required intensive support from a variety of programs and services offered by the Board.

 

ACRONYMS

·         Add CDA (Communication Disorder Assistant)

·         Add CODE (Council of Ontario Directors of Education)

·         Add NNN (Net New Needs)

·         Add SIP (Special Incidence Portion)

 

SECTION 1 - THE BOARD’S CONSULTATION PROCESS

·         Appendix 1.1 - Process for Revision of Special Education Plan - 2003 to 2006

·          Chart has been amended.  Revised Appendix 1.1 attached.

 

SECTION 2.3 - EARLY IDENTIFICATION PROCEDURES AND INTERVENTION STRATEGIES

·         Appendix 2.3.11 - Administrative Procedures - Speech and Language Services

·          Speech and Language Services Administrative Procedures have been amended.  Revised Appendix 2.3.11 attached.

 

SECTION 2.4 - IDENTIFICATION, PLACEMENT, AND REVIEW COMMITTEE PROCESS

·         Page 28 - Number of IPRC’s during the Previous School Year have been revised based on October 31, 2005 statistics:  Referrals = 572, Reviews = 3492, Appeals = 0.

·         Appendix 2.4.3 - Understanding the IPRC Process:  A Parent Guide

·          SEAC Insert in Parent Guide has been revised to reflect current SEAC membership and to also include individual e-mail addresses.  Revised Insert attached.

 

SECTION 2.9 - INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLANS

·         Page 55 - Change the last sentence of the 2nd Paragraph to read:  Appendix 2.9.1 includes two exemplars of the most recent version of the IEP for the District.

·         Appendix 2.9.1 - Individual Education Plan

·          New web-based IEP has been introduced.  Revised Appendix 2.9.1 (two exemplar IEP’s, including the IEP Parent/Student Consultation Form) attached.

 

SECTION 2.10 - PROVINCIAL AND DEMONSTRATION SCHOOLS

·         Page 60 - Number of Students Currently Attending Provincial Schools has been updated based on 2005-2006 statistics:  Amethyst = 13, Robarts = 4, W. Ross Macdonald = 9, E.C. Drury = 1.

 

SECTION 2.11 - SPECIAL EDUCATION STAFF

·         Page 64, Item 2.8 - Remove Itinerant Resource Teacher for Technology section (position no longer exists).

·         Page 64, Item 4.0 - After the 1st sentence add:  One Speech-Language Pathologist is responsible for student assessment re:  assistive technology and augmentative communication.

·         Page 64 - Add a descriptor for the Itinerant Resource Support Technologist (new position):

      The Itinerant Resource Support Technologist is a qualified university or college graduate with expertise in the area of assistive technology.  This technologist provides training, analysis, technical and administrative support to staff and students in the area of assistive technology.

·         Appendix 2.11.1 - Special Education Staff

·          Chart has been updated based on 2005-2006 statistics.  Revised Appendix 2.11 attached.

 

SECTION 2.12 - STAFF DEVELOPMENT

·         Page 68 - Top of Page - Change the description beside Appendix 2.12.2 to read:  After-School and Other Workshops Offered with a Special Education Focus during 2003-04, 2004-05, and 2005-06 school years.

·         Appendix 2.12.1 - Planning for Staff Development

·          Chart has been updated for 2005-06.  Revised Appendix 2.12.1 attached.

·         Appendix 2.12.2 - After-School and Other Workshops with a Special Education Focus

·          Chart has been updated for 2005-06.  Revised Appendix 2.12.2 attached.

·         Appendix 2.12.3 - Education Assistants and Tutor Escort Professional Development Day Workshops

·          Chart has been updated for 2005-06.  Revised Appendix 2.12.3 attached.

 

SECTION 3 - SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITEE

·         Appendix 3.1.1 - SEAC Membership List

·          Membership List has been updated for 2006 and e-mail addresses have been added.  Revised Appendix 3.1.1 attached.

·         Appendix 3.1.2 - SEAC Meeting Information Flyer

·          Flyer has been updated based on 2006 Membership.  Revised Appendix 3.1.2 attached.

·         Appendix 3.1.3 - SEAC Information Brochure

·          Brochure has been updated based on 2006 Membership.  Revised Appendix 3.1.3 attached.

 

Motion:      Moved by A. Kuhn, seconded by E. Hudie, that the Special Education Advisory Committee recommend that the Lambton Kent District School Board approve the 2006 Amendments to the Special Education Plan as presented.

 

The Motion CARRIED.

 

 

5.0

PRIORITY #3 - STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, MEASUREMENT, AND ACCOUNTABILITY:  DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION (PART 1)

 

D. Emery explained that Part 1 of her presentation would provide an overview of what differentiated instruction is all about.  In the Fall another presentation will be conducted to provide specific details on how lessons are taught and how students are evaluated.

 

D. Emery stated that differentiated instruction is a new program that is being introduced province-wide.  In April, all of our Grade 2 Teachers, Elementary Administrators and Elementary Resource Teachers were trained.  They will then return to their schools and train other staff members.  A two-day Summer Institute will also be offered this August which all staff are invited to attend.

 

D. Emery read aloud the story “The Dot”, by Peter H. Reynolds.  The story reinforced the fact that students learn in different ways and have different interests.

 

Differentiated instruction recognizes that students differ in their readiness, interests and learning styles, and that instructional decisions regarding content, process and product will need to vary accordingly.  Teachers use assessment data to identify learning strengths and needs in order to plan effective meaningful learning experiences for their students.  Teachers establish an inclusive and respectful learning environment and plan ahead to differentiate instruction for small groups and individual students.

 

Differentiated instruction includes:

·         The belief that all students can succeed and achieve high expectations

·         Developing deep understanding of key learnings

·         Assessment data informing instructional decisions and feedback to students

·         Challenging students at an appropriate level based on readiness, interests and learning profiles

·         An inclusive, collaborative classroom community

·         Appreciating and building upon student differences

·         Flexibility in terms of instructional approaches, grouping and resources

·         Learners accepting increasing responsibility for their own growth and progress

·         All students involved in developing and using higher-order thinking skills

·         All students experiencing social, emotional and academic success.

 

SEAC participated in an interactive discussion involving quotations from a variety of sources all emphasizing the need for differentiated instruction.

 

Key Messages:

·         Every child is unique and has different learning needs

·         Everyone on the school team needs to respect and plan for the success of each child

·         Differentiating instruction is one way to meet the needs of all students

·         Teachers can differentiate the learning environment, the content, and the process and product.

 

 

6.0

DRAFT ANNUAL ACCESSIBILITY PLAN

 

C. Gordon reviewed the DRAFT copy of the Board’s Annual Accessibility Plan for 2006-2007.  Under the Ontarians with Disabilities Act (ODA), all public institutions must develop an Annual Accessibility Plan.  The Plan must provide general guidelines on how public buildings and programs will be made more accessible to people with disabilities.  This is the fourth year of the Plan, which is a work in progress that falls under the mandate of the Human Resources Department.  Special Education Co-ordinators Chris Gordon and Debbie Seager, and SEAC Member Maggie Rochon are Accessibility Working Group Committee members.  The focus for 2006-2007 will be on attitudinal issues.

 

SEAC had the opportunity to ask questions and provided the following feedback:

·         challenges for persons with non-evident disabilities do not seem to be addressed--a future focus could be on accessibility issues for students, parents, and staff with hidden disabilities.

 

 

7.0

SPECIAL EDUCATION AND SEAC AWARENESS PLANNING

 

Discussion continued on the planning for the two Awareness Open Houses to be held in October, 2006.  Items determined include:

·         possible locations:  Alexander Mackenzie Secondary School (North), and Indian Creek Road School (South)

·         possible dates:  Wednesday, October 11, 2006 and Wednesday, October 18, 2006

·         external publicity:  a notice will be prepared for Trish Johnston our Communications Officer to release to the press/radio.

·         formation of sub-committee:  J. Quaglia, M. Rochon, E. Hudie, N. Hills, D. Emery, and J. Costello volunteered.  Brief meeting will be held immediately before (6:15 p.m.) the next SEAC meeting on June 15, 2006.

·         possible Agenda:

o        opening remarks (Superintendent/Director)

o        Steps to Success and IPRC Process Presentation (Special Education Co-ordinator)

o        ending remarks (SEAC Member)

o        movement to carousels (booths for Itinerant Teams, SEAC with info. pamphlets from various associations/agencies represented on SEAC, Students and success stories)

·         selection of title:  still undetermined (“We’ve Come a Long Way”, “On Your Mark”, “Getting Started”, “________, an Evening of Information Sharing and Networking”).

 

 

8.0

WEB-BASED IEP UPDATE

 

G. Haskell provided an update on the implementation of the new web-based IEP.  Most teachers are excited about using the new team approach to writing IEP’s prompting a lot of dialoging and networking on differentiated instruction.  All students must have an IEP by 30 days into each school year.  Most elementary staff will create their IEP’s using the new design, but some teachers will use the old version and then phase-in over the course of the 2006-2007 school year.  Secondary schools will phase-in the new IEP over a two year period.

 

 

9.0

CORRESPONDENCE

 

C. Taylor announced that a letter had been received from the Chatham-Kent Chapter of the Autism Society of Ontario.  Margaret Smith will be replacing Wenda Vallee as their SEAC representative effective immediately.  W. Vallee will continue as their “alternate” representative.  W. Vallee was thanked for her long-term service and commitment to SEAC.

 

 

10.0

ASSOCIATION REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESS

 

M. Rochon received an invitation to attend a meeting hosted by the Ministry of Community and Social Services concerning Children’s Aid Societies.  J. Costello stated that the Board received the same invitation and a staff member was appointed to attend.

 

G. Haskell provided a brief update on the recent Regional “Education for All” CODE Symposium.  A team from the Lambton Kent District School Board attended.

 

A. Kuhn reminded SEAC that the Community Living Chatham-Kent Annual Golf Tournament will be held on June 3, 2006 at Countryview Golf Course in Chatham.  Interested participants must pre-register by contacting Community Living Chatham-Kent.

 

C. Taylor outlined a recent initiative at Northern Collegiate Institute and Vocational School for students experiencing social skills difficulties.  Students participated in lunch hour activities and designed a game for use with younger students.  A recent article in the “Sarnia Observer” highlighted the success of the program.

 

 

11.0

QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC - None.

 

 

12.0

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

 

C. Taylor suggested SEAC receive information on the presentation made to staff by Dr. Steve Timmer in April and any follow-up involving the use of assistive technology in the classroom.

 

·         DRAFT 2006-2007 SEAC Meeting Schedule

·         2005-2006 Special Education Equipment (ISA 1) Claims Report

·         Differentiated Instruction (Part 2) - Fall, 2006

 

 

13.0

NEXT MEETING

 

 

 

Thursday, June 15, 2006

 

Wallaceburg District Secondary School - Library

 

7:00 p.m.

 

 

14.0

ADJOURNMENT - 9:00 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joan Sparks,

 

Recording Secretary.