Purpose(s):

•  To focus on interests and issues regarding special education in Bellingham Public Schools.

•  To serve as an advisory group to the Special Education Department.

Basis for Establishment:

•  Request of the Director

Decision Making:

•  Consultative (input)

•  Delegated (with clear parameters)

Plan:

•  Identify issues

•  Seek input from Representative groups

•  Compile and summarize input

•  Participate in decision-making

•  Participate in long and short-term strategic planning

Qualifications:

•  Chosen by members of Representative groups

•  Willingness to participate for 2-year term

Members:

•  Open, Secondary Admin Representative

•  Cindy Pearson, OT-PT & Vision Representative

•  Linda Kovol, Life Skills Representative

•  Jennifer Woods , Early Childhood-Preschool Representative

•  Yvonne Sorter, Elementary Resource Representative

•  Yvette Casto, Psychologist Representative

•  Jody BonDurant-Strong, Assistant Director

•  Bethany Verner, HS & Comm Trans Resource Representative

•  Open, EBD Representative

•  Trinn Murray, MS Resource Representative

•  Desiree Casson-Wald, SLP & D/HOH Representative       

•  Wendy Barrett, Elementary Admin Representative

•  Sue Thomas, Director

•  Laurie Russell, Elementary Paraeducator Representative

•  Open, Secondary Paraeducator Representative

Responsibilities:

•  Regularly attend meetings

•  Solicit input from Representative groups

•  Accurately represent the interests & issues of Representative groups

•  Actively participate in discussions at meetings

•  Share the responsibility for taking notes at meetings

•  Participate in decision-making

•  Provide feedback to Representative groups

Timeline:

•  2008-2009 Meeting dates :

9/30/08

10/28/08

11/14/08

No meeting in December

1/15/09

2/17/09

3/17/09

4/14/09

5/21/09

No meeting in June

Budget Implications:

•  Substitutes for participants

•  Participate in decision-making that may have budget implications

Other: