LAMBTON KENT DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

 

SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

Thursday,

Wallaceburg District Secondary School

             7:00 p.m.

November 22, 2007

Library

 

 

 

M I N U T E S

 

 

PRESENT:

Rose Gallaway, St. Clair Child and Youth Services

 

Melissa Hewitt, VOICE for Hearing Impaired Children

 

Norma Hills, Community Living Sarnia-Lambton

 

David Katzman, Community Living Wallaceburg

 

Marion Lennan, Lambton County Developmental Services

 

Jonathan Quaglia, Member "at large"

 

Lisa Saul, Learning Disabilities Association of Lambton County

 

Donna Scherer, Learning Disabilities Association of Chatham-Kent

 

Charlene Taylor, Member "at large" (Chair)

 

Malcolm Tyrrell, Community Living Chatham-Kent

 

Janet Vanderwerf, Member "at large"

 

 

REGRETS:

Jackie Dorssers, Ontario Association for Families of Children with Communication Disorders

 

Elizabeth Hudie, Trustee (Vice-Chair)

 

Bruce Stonefish, Trustee

 

Margaret Smith, Autism Ontario - Chatham-Kent

 

 

RESOURCE

Pam Graham, Principal of Special Education

STAFF:

Peg Dawkins and Debbie Seager, Special Education Co-ordinators

 

Dan Kelly, Lambton Kent Secondary Administrators’ Association

 

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1.0

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

 

 

2.0

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF 2007 09 20

 

 

The Minutes of 2007 09 20 were approved as written.

 

 

3.0

BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES

 

 

3.1

Revised IEP Template

 

A sampling of IEP Exemplars using the revised IEP Template was reviewed by SEAC.  The template was revised following Ministry of Education recommendations.

 

J. Quaglia asked for clarification of wording used on the Grade 5 Autism Exemplar under the Language area and Current Level of Achievement:  “…reading and writing skills are at the Grade 1 level.  Modified”.  Does this mean that the Grade 1 reading and writing program is modified?  If not, the wording is not clear for parents and may need to be revised.

 

 

3.2

Final CODE Special Education Project Report, 2006-2007

 

SEAC received a copy of the final 2006-2007 Special Education Project Report submitted to the Council of Ontario Directors of Education (CODE).

 

 

4.0

SEAC OPEN HOUSE FEEDBACK

 

 

C. Taylor circulated the evaluation forms submitted during the October 10 and 17, 2007 SEAC Open Houses.  There were 19 evaluations received and all were very positive.  All agreed that the concept of the Open Houses is excellent, but they have not been well-attended by parents and public.

 

P. Graham presented the question:  Do we continue with the Open Houses in light of the fact that they have not met attendance expectations?  A discussion followed raising the following points/ideas:

·        those who attended indicated the evening was very worthwhile

·        host Open Houses every other year

·        incorporate some of the positive comments from the evaluation forms into the Open House announcement flyer

·        target parents of younger children who are struggling (send them a personal letter)

·        venue may have lead parents to believe it was for Secondary only

·        produce a SEAC newsletter instead of Open Houses (D. Scherer circulated a copy created by the Rainbow District School Board SEAC)

·        create an e-learning section on the Board’s website where parents can view a video clip on the special services

·        provide information in a variety of forms (verbal, written, etc.)

·        provide schools with information items monthly that can be inserted into school newsletters

 

SEAC agreed that a different approach should be taken next year and that further discussion should take place with J. Costello.

 

 

5.0

SHARED SOLUTIONS:  A GUIDE TO PREVENTING AND RESOLVING CONFLICTS REGARDING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

 

 

P. Graham summarized the contents of the recently distributed resource guide entitled, “Shared Solutions:  A Guide to Preventing and Resolving Conflicts Regarding Programs and Services for Students with Special Needs”.  The guide provides informal dispute resolution processes for parents and educators along with recommended approaches to prevent and resolve conflicts regarding special education programs and services.  A Board Team, including SEAC Members J. Dorssers and D. Scherer, attended an in-service session on October 29, 2007 that included presentations on key strategies found in the guide along with discussion and role-playing exercises.

 

D. Scherer commented that the guide is probably one of the best documents on conflict resolution that she has seen the Ministry distribute.  If all parties (teachers, students, parents) buy into the process there will have great success.  “Don’t let this document sit on a shelf.  It needs to be used.”

 

D. Katzman, realizing the value of the document, has circulated a copy to his staff at Community Living Wallaceburg.

 

M. Tyrrell found the recommendations in the guide impractical, stating that when he is faced with a conflict situation he asks two questions:  “What do you want to accomplish?” and “What have you thought about?”

 

P. Graham mentioned that Principals will receive copies of the document along with additional information at a meeting next week.

 

The document is also posted on the Ministry’s website at www.edu.gov.on.ca.

 

 

6.0

BILL 212 - SAFE SCHOOLS WORKSHOP

 

SEAC Members N. Hill and D. Scherer attended an information workshop on Bill 212 on October 22, 2007.  The workshop provided a review of the legislative changes to the Safe Schools portion of the Education Act, along with direction to school administrators with regard to progressive discipline approaches, bullying, and the particulars around suspensions and expulsions.

 

P. Graham summarized the contents of Bill 212, stating that there will be roles and responsibilities for all members of a school community.  The goal of Bill 212 is to provide positive and safer school environments.

 

D. Scherer mentioned that, according to Bill 212, SEAC must be consulted during the revision process of Board policies dealing with Safe Schools.

 

 

7.0

2007-2008 PRIORITIES

 

SEAC reviewed the priorities they established at their September, 2007 meeting:

·        Safe Schools, Bullying

·        Exploration of Local Agencies Supporting Students with Mental Health Difficulties

·        Inclusion/Differentiated Instruction (including the Grade 8 to 9 Transition Process).

 

SEAC determined that they would like a presentation on the priority topics every other month, beginning in January, 2008.  The following order was established:

·        Safe Schools, Bullying - January, 2008 (SEAC could also provide input to policy revisions at this time)

·        Inclusion/Differentiated Instruction (including the Grade 8 to 9 Transition Process) - March, 2008

·        Exploration of Local Agencies Supporting Students with Mental Health Difficulties - May, 2008.

 

8.0

EXCEPTIONAL PUPIL SUSPENSION STATISTICS

 

A chart summarizing the Number of Exceptional Pupil Suspensions for 2006-2007 was reviewed.  Secondary = 917, Elementary = 505.

 

P. Graham explained that the numbers were disappointing and will be shared with Principals at a meeting next week.  In an attempt to determine a cause for the increased number of suspensions, especially at the secondary level, it was determined that more information was needed in order to conduct a thorough analysis of the data.  Reports are needed that will provide a breakdown of suspensions by school along with reasons and number of suspensions per pupil.

 

SEAC members stressed that the sooner an in-depth analysis can be conducted, the sooner the root causes can be determined and prevention strategies can be put in place.

 

J. Quaglia would like SEAC to receive statistics on 2006-2007 expulsions and suspensions of non-exceptional pupils.

 

 

9.0

BEHAVIOUR PROGRAM REVIEW UPDATE

 

P. Graham reported that the recommendations from the Behaviour Program Review Committee will be included with the next SEAC Agenda package.

 

 

10.0

CORRESPONDENCE

 

C. Taylor informed SEAC that thank you letters have been sent to the SEAC Open House host Principals as well as to the students that spoke at the Open Houses.

 

 

11.0

ASSOCIATION REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESS

 

D. Katzman reported that he recently attended a World Congress on Deaf-Blind Issues.  Ray Kurzweil, the creator of “Kurzweil software” was one of the keynote speakers.  Community Living Wallaceburg is in the process of establishing a children’s residence in Chatham-Kent.  Community Living Wallaceburg Travel Club lottery tickets are now on sale at $50.00 each.

 

D. Scherer announced that the Learning Disabilities Association of Chatham-Kent has received a two-year Trillium Foundation Grant which will allow them to conduct Assistive Technology workshops.  Funding will allow for the purchase of computers and software (Kurzweil, Premier Suites, Dragon Naturally Speaking, etc.) in order to offer workshops to adults, students (including college students), teachers, etc.

 

 

12.0

QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC

 

Christine Canniff commented that she recently attended a local advocacy workshop.  When asked, only five people in attendance indicated that they knew what SEAC was.  She also stated that the Shared Solutions guide is good, but most parents she deals with are so frustrated they sometimes approach the school in a disrespectful manner.

 

 

13.0

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

 

·        Behaviour Program Review Committee Recommendations

·        October 31, 2007 Exceptional Pupil Statistics

·        Special Education Plan

 

 

14.0

NEXT MEETING

 

 

 

Thursday, December 13, 2007

 

Wallaceburg District Secondary School - Library

 

7:00 p.m.

 

P. Graham polled SEAC to see if the February, 2008 meeting could be changed from the 21st to the 20th (Wednesday instead of Thursday).  All in attendance felt Wednesday, February 20, 2008 would be acceptable.

 

 

15.0

ADJOURNMENT - 8:50 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joan Sparks,

 

Recording Secretary.