Special Education

Focus Group

February 12, 2007 Meeting Notes

Representatives in attendance:

Marci Anderson, Elementary Resource

Sean Shaughnessy, Middle School Resource

Bethany Verner, High School Resource and Community Transitions

Deborah Monroe, Psychologist

Diane Delahunty, OT/PTs & VI

Jennifer Woods, EC-Preschool

Heidi Belmondo, Life Skills

Lucille Nollette, Director

Teresa VanHaalen, Elementary Admin

David Frick, Elementary Paraeducator

Amelia Lunde, Secondary Paraeducator

Sue Thomas, Meeting Facilitator

Representatives unable to attend:

Leslie Knudsen

Karen-Margrethe Bruun

Gordon Grissom

Topic:  Staffing

Summary: 

• Possibility of converting Teacher FTE to SLP FTE
• Need for more Life Skills Teacher FTE – convert from other teacher time?
• FMS needs more paraeducator time

Next Steps:

• Present potential changes to Susan Z – but wait until projected classlists are ready for final recommendations

Topic:  Ethnicity, Gender Disproportionality in special ed?

Summary:

• This is an area of high visibility in IDEA 2004
• What are our district data in these areas?

Next steps:

• Lucille will present data at the March meeting

Topic:  Minimum, Moderate, Maximum special ed

• Team teaching – working with general ed to modify & individualize instruction
• Co-teaching – sharing responsibility for presentation of content
• Should we be working inclusively in the gen ed classrooms or should we continue to provide pullout support in Resource?

• “Inclusive”

- Support all students in all content areas

- Able to modify appropriately

- But where does SDI happen?

- Can see how instruction is being delivered in gen ed, with better knowledge for reteaching as needed (can this be done by paraeducators?)

“Resource”

- Focused, intentional instruction towards goal areas

- Assumes that quality “first instruction” is taking place in the gen ed classroom

- When in Resource, what are students missing in gen ed?

Next steps:

• Sue will provide applicable readings about best practices
• The reps need to poll their constituents on this topic

Topic: Paraeducators

• We continue to move away from 1:1 student-specific IAs
• We are using these IAs to support the program
• Why should some (minimal!) students have 1:1 support? (should this person be the same year to year?)
• “Student-specific”

- Medical reasons, sign language, Braille, autism

- Support the program, not just 1 student

- Should not be designing instruction – delivery of instruction only

- May be needed when previous interventions have been ineffective

- Ongoing needs should be reviewed regularly

 Next steps:

• Lucille will pull the “student-specific” job description and see if modifications need to be made
• Sue & Lucille to review together, then take to HR for recommendation
• We want to remove the “student-specific” from the job title

Topic: Staff Development for Paraeducators

• Paras have $100 through BASE
• Paras have many questions related to their role in the District
• There is no orientation for new paras
• Could there be online posting of required training such as blood-borne pathogens?
• Perhaps early release/late arrival days can be used for training (although in the BASE contract these are also “bankable” days that can be used for classroom team meetings after school)

Next steps:

• Amelia & Dave will poll our “long-term” paras for feedback – what kinds/types of professional development is needed for both new & veteran paras?