Special Education

Focus Group

January 22, 2007 Meeting Notes (annual full-day working meeting)

Representatives in attendance:

Marci Anderson, Elementary Resource

Sean Shaughnessy, Middle School Resource

Bethany Verner, High School Resource and Community Trans

Deborah Monroe, Psychologist

Diane Delahunty, OT/PTs & VI

Karen-Margrethe Bruun, SLP & DHH

Jennifer Woods, EC-Preschool

Leslie Knudsen, EBD

Heidi Belmondo, Life Skills

Lucille Nollette, Director

Teresa VanHaalen, Elementary Admin

Gordon Grissom, Secondary Admin

David Frick, Elementary Paraeducator

Amelia Lunde, Secondary Paraeducator

Sue Thomas, Meeting Facilitator

Topic:  December 1st reports

Summary: 

• Downloaded to OSPI on January 15th – sorts data in a variety of ways including ethnicity
• Lucille will summarize information and look for trends

Next Steps:

• Present to group at the Feb or March meeting

Topic:  Safety Net

Summary:

• We missed the January deadline for submission
• We have come to rely on the revenue from Safety Net

Next steps:

• Must submit for next deadline

Topic:  IEP.Online

• IEP must include a statement of present level of performance in general education
• Just because IEP areas are not highlighted in yellow, the areas are still important – IEP.Online doesn’t “think”!
• Don’t like the formats drive what we do – fill in IEPs completely

Topic: Staffing & Budget proposals for 2007-08

• We broke into small groups to review student/staff projections for 07-08
• Life Skills numbers are rising; EBD numbers are falling
• SLPs are seeking more FTE
• Additional classified time during 06-07 was approved by Dale through an above-baseline request – Is more classified time needed for 07-08 and beyond?
• How can resources be better utilized (ie student-specific IAs)?
• The group made several proposals that will be reviewed by Sue T and presented to Susan Z