LAMBTON KENT DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

 

SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

Wednesday,

Wallaceburg District Secondary School

             7:00 p.m.

February 20, 2008

Library

 

 

 

M I N U T E S

 

 

PRESENT:

Ruth Ann Dodman, Trustee

 

Kelly Goldsmith (for D. Scherer), Learning Disabilities Association of Chatham-Kent

 

Melissa Hewitt, VOICE for Hearing Impaired Children

 

Norma Hills, Community Living Sarnia-Lambton (Chair)

 

Elizabeth Hudie, Trustee (Vice-Chair)

 

David Katzman, Community Living Wallaceburg

 

Jonathan Quaglia, Member "at large"

 

Janet Vanderwerf, Member "at large"

 

 

REGRETS:

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

 

Rose Gallaway, St. Clair Child and Youth Services

 

Marion Lennan, Lambton County Developmental Services

 

Lisa Saul, Learning Disabilities Association of Lambton County

 

Margaret Smith, Autism Ontario - Chatham-Kent

 

Charlene Taylor, Member "at large"

 

Malcolm Tyrrell, Community Living Chatham-Kent

 

 

RESOURCE

Jim Costello, Superintendent of Education

STAFF:

Pam Graham, Principal of Special Education

 

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1.0

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

 

 

2.0

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF 2008 01 24

 

 

The Minutes of 2008 01 24 were approved as written.

 

 

3.0

BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES - None.

 

 

4.0

PRESENTATION:  2007-2008 CODE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROJECT UPDATE AND DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION

 

 

J. Costello introduced the Differentiated Instruction Team:  Geri Haskell, Ben Hazzard, and Kathy Morris.

 

Geri Haskell, Differentiated Instruction Coach, provided SEAC with an update on the 2007-2008 CODE Special Education Project.  Funding was significantly reduced during this third and final year of the project.  The project is a joint initiative between the Special Education, Student Success and Program Departments.  The partnership has allowed the Board to form a Differentiated Instruction Team that is responsible for providing professional learning support to teachers.  The special education focus has been on the E-ABLE programs and providing differentiated instruction for students with mild intellectual disabilities.

 

The Differentiated Instruction Team then led SEAC through a series of interactive exercises that demonstrated some of the principles and strategies of differentiated instruction.  The mandate of differentiated instruction is for all students to be successful.  Through a coaching model, the team provides job-embedded, collaborative, professional learning based on student needs.  The differentiated instruction model encourages teachers to know their students first, provide structure, and form strategies.  Participation this year was on a voluntary basis and resulted in 33 out of 53 schools receiving support.  Administrators have also been trained in differentiated instruction.  Binders have been developed that provide teachers with practical tools for use in their classrooms to support differentiated instruction.

 

D. Katzman asked how teachers know if differentiated instruction is working in their classrooms.  G. Haskell explained that goals are set in the beginning with indicators.  Reading assessments are done to see if strategies are helping with increased reading abilities.  Another indicator may be improved behaviour and absentee rates.

 

E. Hudie wondered if any instruction was provided to parents.  B. Hazzard explained that nothing is provided at this point but felt a list of strategies that parents can use at home would be helpful with mini lessons for parents being a good future direction.

 

 

5.0

SPECIAL EDUCATION PLAN

 

 

SEAC reviewed several sections of the Special Education Plan.  P. Graham explained the suggested revisions:

 

 

5.1

Review of Section 2.5 - Educational and Other Assessments

 

No suggested changes.

 

 

5.2

Review of Section 2.9 - Individual Education Plans (IEP’s)

 

·         Page 57 - Two more steps to the “Plan for Implementing the Ministry of Education Standards for IEPs” have been added:  “June, 2007 - Feedback received from the Ministry of Education resulting from the IEP Collaborative Review” and “September, 2007 - Revised web-based IEP templates as a result of feedback received from the Ministry of Education”.

·         Appendix 2.9.1 - Individual Education Plan Exemplars - Exemplars have been updated.  Revised versions were reviewed.

 

 

5.3

Review of 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 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 school years.

·         Appendix 2.12.1 - Planning for Staff Development - Chart has been updated for 2007-08.  Revised Appendix 2.12.1 was reviewed.

·         Appendix 2.12.2 - After-School and Other Workshops with a Special Education Focus - List has been updated for 2007-08.  Revised Appendix 2.12.2 was reviewed.

·         Appendix 2.12.3 - Educational Assistants and Tutor Escort Professional Development Day Workshops - List has been updated for 2007-08.  Revised Appendix 2.12.3 was reviewed.

 

 

5.4

Review of Section 2.13 - Equipment

 

·         Appendix 2.13.1 - Administrative Procedures related to Special Equipment Amount (SEA) Funding.  Administrative Procedures have been updated.  Revised versions were reviewed.

 

 

5.5

Review of Section 2.14 - Accessibility of School Buildings

 

·         Appendix 2.14.1 - Annual Accessibility Plan - Accessibility Plan has been replaced with September 2007 to August 2008 version.  Revised Appendix 2.14.1 was reviewed.

 

 

5.6

Review of Section 2.15 - Transportation

 

No changes suggested.

 

 

6.0

CORRESPONDENCE - None.

 

 

7.0

ASSOCIATION REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESS

 

K. Goldsmith distributed pamphlets from the Learning Disabilities Association of Chatham-Kent providing details of their Winter/Spring 2008 Tutoring and Social Skills Programs.

 

D. Katzman informed SEAC of a recent news item on CTV and in the Globe and Mail about a 13 year old girl who is Autistic.  The clip may still be available for viewing at www.ctv.ca.

 

 

8.0

QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC - None.

 

 

9.0

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

 

·        Inclusion and Transition Presentation

·        Ministry Autism Project Update

·        Review of Special Education Plan

 

 

10.0

NEXT MEETING

 

 

 

Thursday, March 27, 2008

 

Wallaceburg District Secondary School - Library

 

7:00 p.m.

 

 

11.0

ADJOURNMENT - 8:10 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joan Sparks,

 

Recording Secretary.