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LAMBTON KENT DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD |
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SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE |
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Thursday, |
Wallaceburg District Secondary School |
7:00 p.m. |
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October 26, 2006 |
Library |
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M I N
U T E S |
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PRESENT: |
Rose Gallaway, St. Clair
Child and Youth Services |
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Norma Hills, Community
Living Sarnia-Lambton |
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Elizabeth Hudie, Trustee |
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Susie Jones, Trustee
(Vice-Chair) |
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Al Kuhn, Community Living
Chatham-Kent |
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Maggie Rochon, Easter Seal
Society of Ontario, Sarnia-Lambton Branch |
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Lisa Saul (for Lisa
Matthews), Learning Disabilities Association of |
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Donna Scherer, Learning
Disabilities Association of Chatham-Kent |
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Margaret Smith, Autism
Society of |
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Jonathan Quaglia, Member
"at large" |
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Janet Vanderwerf, Member "at large" |
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REGRETS: |
David Katzman, Community Living Wallaceburg |
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Marion Lennan, Lambton
County Developmental Services |
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Charlene Taylor, Member
"at large" (Chair) |
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RESOURCE |
Jim Costello, Superintendent of Education |
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STAFF: |
Pam Graham, Principal of Special Education |
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1.0 |
CALL TO ORDER,
INTRODUCTION OF REPLACEMENT SEAC MEMBER, AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. E. Hudie and S. Jones chaired the meeting. It was announced that David Katzman is replacing Laurie Mawlam as the SEAC representative from Community Living Wallaceburg. |
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2.0 |
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF
2006 09 21 |
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The Minutes of 2006 09 21 were approved as written. |
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3.0 |
BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES J. Costello informed SEAC that Superintendent of Business, R. Andruchow, will attend the November SEAC meeting to provide a 2006-2007 Budget Update and a review of the Board’s financial statements. In reference to the Future Agenda Item “Safe Schools Action Team Document”, J. Costello provided additional details. In 2004, the Ministry of Education established a “Safe Schools Action Team”. In June, 2006 this Action Team released their final report to the Minister of Education. One of the recommendations contained in the Report was to direct each District School Board to establish a Safe Schools Committee and that there should be a representative from SEAC as a Committee member. They also recommended that SEAC should be consulted on any system-wide matters of safety for special needs students. At this point the document is simply a Report and no directives to Boards have been issued yet. J. Costello circulated a copy of the Report. D. Scherer requested information on the “Tools for Learning Forum” attended by special education personnel. J. Costello agreed and suggested that information also be brought forward at the next meeting on the Geneva Centre Autism Conference recently attended by staff. At the request of D. Scherer, J. Costello and P. Graham provided an update on the Premier Accessibility Suite software implementation plan. In-servicing for Resource Teachers and student coaches will take place over the next two weeks. D. Scherer expressed concern about the lack of technologists available to have new software and hardware available for students in a timely manner. |
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4.0 |
FEEDBACK FROM SEAC OPEN
HOUSES |
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SEAC discussed the two “Education for All” Open Houses held on October 11 and October 18, 2006. J. Costello mentioned that Executive Council and the Board were very supportive and impressed. Thanks were extended to J. Quaglia and C. Taylor for their powerful and heartfelt speeches given at the Open Houses. It was estimated that a total of 170 people attended the Open Houses. Copies of articles that appeared in local newspapers were distributed. The evaluation/feedback forms that were completed by participants at each Open House were circulated. Most responses were very positive. Copies of thank you letters that will be sent to the host schools by SEAC were also circulated. SEAC felt it would be beneficial to conduct the Open Houses again next year and build on the success. The following suggestions were also made: · Get the word out--direct Principals to mention the Open Houses in newsletters, distribute information at the end of June to parents. · Speech from student next year. · Equipment demonstration could be part of presentation. SEAC expressed appreciation to the enthusiastic special education personnel who attended and set-up information stations. J. Costello thanked SEAC for making this an initiative and for their attendance at the Open Houses. |
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5.0 |
SPECIAL EDUCATION PLAN |
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5.1 |
News from the October
Regional Special Education Council Meeting J. Costello provided details of information received at the October Regional Special Education Council Meeting: · New branch of the Ministry of Education has been created, Special Education Strategic Planning. · Special Education Plans will be aligned with other Ministry reporting requirements and transformed to focus on target-setting and improvement-planning related to student achievement and program effectiveness. The Ministry may request one further “amendment” year until further details are available. It is anticipated that the Special Education Plan will become part of the Board’s larger Accountability Plan. · Ministry believes that program, student success, and special education should blend together. At the end of the day there is only one student. · Ministry is concerned about the number of IPRC meetings. Time would be better spent meeting to plan program. As a result information will be forthcoming about streamlining the IPRC process. ·
The Ministry of Education has released
information and direction regarding the transformation of special education
in · The Ministry has requested that, by November 7, 2006, Boards submit a sample of IEP’s from 2005-2006, as well as the June, 2006 Report Cards and 2006-2007 IEP’s for the same students. · A review of the funding formula is taking place which would hopefully build in some flexibility for district school boards. · An Autism Reference Group has been formed. J. Costello also reported on a recent “Legal Issues” seminar he attended. |
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5.2 |
Review of Section 4 -
Co-ordination of Services with Other Ministries or Agencies SEAC reviewed Section 4 of the Special Education Plan. Based on feedback received from the Ministry of Education the following revisions were suggested: · On Page 76, add a descriptor paragraph after “Transitional Supports for All Students” outlining the School Support Program for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder: School
Support Program - Autism Spectrum Disorder (SSP-ASD) A collaborative working relationship has been established between the SSP-ASD Consultants and the Lambton Kent District School Board. The SSP-ASD Consultants and Itinerant High Needs Team work together to provide professional development to the district as well as individual school needs. They provide a range of strategies, resources and in-school/in-class consultation for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. A copy of the Memorandum of Understanding between the local School Support Program - Autism Spectrum Disorder Lead Agency, the Thames Valley Children’s Centre, and the Lambton Kent District School Board is attached as Appendix 4.6. ·
Add: Appendix 4.6 - School Support Program - Autism
Spectrum Disorder Memorandum of Understanding. |
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6.0 |
CODE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROJECTS |
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6.1 |
Joint 2005-2006 CODE
Special Education Project Final Report SEAC received and reviewed a copy of the Final Report to the Council of Ontario Directors of Education (CODE) from the 2005-2006 “Effective Use of Assistive Technology in the Classroom” Joint Special Education Project between the Lambton Kent District School Board and the St. Clair Catholic District School Board. |
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6.2 |
LKDSB 2005-2006 CODE Special Education Project Final Report SEAC received and reviewed a copy of the Final Report to the Council of Ontario Directors of Education (CODE) from the 2005-2006 “Assessment and Differentiated Instruction” Special Education Project operated by the Lambton Kent District School Board. |
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6.3 |
2006-2007 CODE Special
Education Project Proposal SEAC received and reviewed a copy of the 2006-2007 Council of |
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7.0 |
NEWSPAPER
ADVERTISEMENT: CALL FOR SEAC
MEMBERSHIP A sample of the newspaper ad inviting applications from local associations and interested individuals to serve on SEAC for the next four-year term was reviewed. The ad will appear in local newspapers on or about November 8, 2006. Letters of application are due by November 30, 2006. The Board will appoint the new SEAC Members, using pre-established criteria, at the first regular Board meeting in January, which is January 16, 2007. The first official meeting of the new SEAC will be in February, 2007. Copies of the ad were
distributed at the recent SEAC Open Houses and have also been forwarded to
the Executive Director/President of each association currently represented on
SEAC. J. Costello outlined the administrative procedure, in compliance with Ontario Regulation 464 of the Education Act, concerning the appointment of SEAC Members. Highlights included: · SEAC may consist of no more than twelve local association representatives, three members “at-large”, two trustees, and one member to represent the interest of First Nation pupils. · SEAC applicants must be: eighteen years of age or older, Canadian citizens, public school electors, and not an employee of the board. · An ad hoc committee of the board will be struck to establish criteria for selection and to review applications. |
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8.0 |
LEARNING TO 18 INITIATIVE J. Costello distributed a brief overview of the “Learning to 18”
Ministry of Education initiative. The
Ministry formed a consortium of investigators to undertake a series of
research studies regarding early school leavers in · Every secondary school must have a Student Success Team to review and study data of students that are dropping out. · Each secondary school has a Student Success Teacher (credit recovery, etc.). · Goal by 2010 is to have an 85% graduation rate · Support programs include: At-Risk Co-op (workplace environments for students who are at-risk of dropping out), funding for after school literacy and math programs, cross panel learning teams (elementary and secondary literacy days), Pathways to Success Step 4 Step Program, Connections Program (officer has been hired to interview potential dropouts). |
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9.0 |
CORRESPONDENCE |
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9.1 |
Letter from SEAC reviewed a copy of a letter sent by the Thames Valley District School Board SEAC to the Minister of Education. The letter voiced concern over the current funding formula, declining enrolment, and the grant announcement process. |
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10.0 |
ASSOCIATION REPORTS AND
OTHER BUSINESS A. Kuhn announced that Family
Service Kent is the lead agency for the Passport Initiative which provides supports
for individuals after they graduate from school. L. Saul mentioned that the Lambton
College Foundation has donated some used computers to the Learning
Disabilities Association of Sarnia-Lambton to be distributed to members who
may be in need of a computer for home-use. |
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11.0 |
QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC - None. |
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12.0 |
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ·
Budget/Financial
Statement Update ·
Special
Education Transformation Initiatives ·
Reports
from the Tools for Learning Forum and the |
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13.0 |
NEXT MEETING |
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Thursday, November 23, 2006 |
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7:00 p.m. |
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14.0 |
ADJOURNMENT - 8:55
p.m. |
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Joan Sparks, |
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Recording Secretary. |