Special Education

Focus Group

April 25, 2008 Meeting Notes

Representatives in attendance:

Trinn Murray, Middle Resource

Cindy Pearson, OT/PTs & VI

Linda Kovol, Life Skills

Desiree Casson-Wald, SLP & DHH

Laurie Russell, Elementary Paraeducator

Amelia Lunde, Secondary Paraeducator

Gordon Grissom, Secondary Admin

Sue Thomas, Meeting Facilitator

Jennifer Woods, EC-Preschool

Leslie Knudsen, EBD

Lucille Nollette, Director

Wendy Barrett, Elem Admin

Representatives unable to attend:

Deborah Monroe, Psychologist

Yvonne Sorter, Elementary Resource

Topic:  Count issues

Summary:

• Not all paperwork is being sent in to district in a timely manner. 
• Cannot support above baseline request, safety net application, etc. without consistently having students on count

Next Steps:

• Sue Thomas will communicate to administrators

Topic: Above baseline requests

Summary:

• Sue Thomas updated request for 08-09

Next steps:

• Need Sherrie Brown approval
• Staffing – moved forward
• Budget committee meeting – end of May might ask for presentation
• Superintendent signature

Topic:  Safety Net Application

Summary:          

• Nerve wracking submission
• 15 in-district students
• Requesting $183,169

Next steps:

• Wait for response from Safety Net committee meeting on May 28-29.  Sue or Lucille will attend.

Topic:  EBD Action Plan

• Heather Korbmacher presented work of group
• BRIDGES is the new name for the EBD program

Next steps:

• Training staff in summer and fall (and ongoing)
• Put Power Point presentation on website
• Purchasing curriculum (Stop & Think) and materials for staff

Topic:  Instructional materials

• Reviewed recommendations for Elementary/Middle School resource teachers

Next steps:

• Subcommittee to review and make final recommendations if funds become available before fall – Linda Kovol and maybe Yvonne Sorter

Topic:  Classified/Certificated absences/substitutes

• Nora Klewiada shared information/data to answer questions from group
• New substitute system this year yields data that we did not have before
• Nora described some aspects of new system vs. old
• Any system requires staff to know and use it correctly
• New systems uses both phone and online/web systems
• New system give more information about position – this is both positive and negative
• Considering how to train sub pool about positions that are hard to fill
• Continuous careful screening of all applicants – all year long
• Continuous advertising/recruitment of personnel
• Top, skilled candidates are in high demand – become less available to continue as subs
• Late notice of absences reduce probability of getting subs
• Days of week issue, Fridays in May – 175 out!
• Absences – 861 Special Education certificated staff – February 22 – March 18, Monday 172, Tuesday 206, Wednesday 160, Thursday 166, Friday 157
• District averages 10% absence everyday of the 861 reasons:  398 sick, 49 personal, 74 adoption/maternity, 311 excused/professional development, 29 miscellaneous, 62 persons (certificated SpEd) – 13.9 absences per pers
• 123 workdays @11.23% out
• Classified to February:  926 days of absences; 364 of them SpEd or open/temporary; 107 school days for SpEd – 12 opens absences need to be filled every day
• Who determines most important to fill?  Depends on time available.  Building secretary to help Human Resources to determine
• Problem:  absences for chronic illnesses on intermittent basis and recurring basis
• Wendy Barrett raised the question of, “Do/can/should people return to class/program when at professional development in district?”

Next steps:

• District trying to answer question, “What is acceptable sustainable level of absences?”
• Human Resources working with individuals and with BASE to address chronic absences
• Professional development absences is a building administrator decision on a case-by-case basis

Topic:  Student Specific IA’s

• Continue until next meeting

Topic:  Priority Task List

• Sue Thomas briefly addressed update that she provides

Next steps:

• Review, think about bringing to next meeting

Topic:  Representatives

• Amelia – 2
• Gordon – 2
• Jennifer – 1st of 2nd term
• Bethany 1st of 2nd term
• Leslie 1st of 2nd term

Next steps:

• Sue will manage

Topic:  Next meeting

• May 22 was date for next meeting – has been rescheduled to June 3