Special Education

Focus Group

December 4, 2003 Meeting Notes

Representatives in attendance:

Sue Alfawicki, Elementary Resource

Donna Davis, MS Resource

Stew Egbert, HS Resource

Yvette Casto, ESSSs/Psychologists

Diane Delahunty, OT/PT & Blind/Vision Impaired

Kathy Gann, Speech Language Pathologists & Deaf/Hard of Hearing

Debora Haney, Early Childhood/Preschool

Leslie Knudsen, EBD & Behavior Specialist

Mary Lindsey, Lifeskills

Lucille Nollette, Compliance

Sue Thomas, Facilitator

Topic: December Count

Summary:

• Congratulations to teachers and staff on their effort for this critical federal count

Topic: Change of Placement Process Flowchart Draft

Summary:

• Lucille presented draft of "Change of Placement Process"

• Behavior plan should be tried for at least 2 weeks before judging it
• Systematic approach that uses IEP process
• Parent permission is not needed for a member of the behavior team to observe, but it is a courtesy to involve the parent

Next steps:

• Behavior plan teaching component is being taught to teachers
• It is a courtesy to inform the parent before an observation
• Change top box "Inform Lucille" to "Inform Special Ed. Dept." Sue or Lucille will give technical assistance.
• Change second "Inform Lucille" to "Inform Sue (Lifeskills) or Lucille (EBD)" who will become a team member
• Change title of draft to "Change of Placement Process for Lifeskills, EBD and Special Programs"
• Change "school team identifies student as a problem" to "school team identifies student's behavior as a problem"

Topic: Manifestation Process

Summary:

• Concerns about who schedules and makes decisions
• Changes to behavior plan are not necessarily a new IEP

Next steps:

• Lucille is willing to meet with school staff about process.
• Teachers should send changed behavior plan with "Updated date" at top to SpEd office.

Topic: Structured process for reduction of student-specific IA time

Summary:

• Document student needs by time. List who can fulfill students needs (IA, SpEd teacher, Teacher)

Next steps:

• IA's will be assigned when student is in need of IA help.
• Birchwood will continue to work on matrix.
• Sue T. will investigate what the law requires on the IEP for IA time and services.

Topic: Family - Educator Partnership Project (FEPP)

Summary:

• A new policy will be presented to the School Board in 2004, which will list a variety of parent participation activities. It will be in compliance with NCLB, not just FEPP.

Topic: IEP Information

Summary:

• The changes will include information that would be nice to include

Next steps:

• New changes will be presented on 12/15 to staff and to all others January.

Topic: State Forms Packet

Summary:

• Given to Focus Group members for their information. Accommodations page is not included because it is not complete

Topic: Budget

Summary:

• Programs have not been given budgets due to changes in contracts and cost of out-of-district placements

Next steps:

• SpEd staff got 2 additional days in contract. Sue T will try to move monies from programs and departments
• SpEd will order materials that are absolutely necessary to fulfill IEP needs.

Topic: Surveys for itinerant space

Summary:

• OT/PT notes are needed

Topic: Graduation Requirements

Summary:

• There will be a change of policy
• Graduation requirements for a student on an IEP will be driven by the IEP

Next steps:

• Will be presented to School Board in January 2004

Topic: IEP Related Time

Summary:

• Now provided in all elementary schools

Next steps:

• Working on middle school and high school restructuring

Topic: SpEd website

Summary:

• Up and running
• Meeting notes for this year will soon be posted

Next steps:

• Last year's Focus Group recommendations will be added.
• There will be a link from SpEd site to Focus Group page

Topic: Levy presented by Dale Kinsley

Summary:

• Includes 2 propositions
• Proposition 1
• Programs and operations
• 2/3 pays for 50 certificated and 50 classified and professional staff days
• 1/3 under funded programs i.e., transportation, special programs, and extra curricular activities
• Bleak future if it fails
• Proposition 2
• Capital Levy for Technology
• Have investment, but need money for maintenance, software, replacements

Next steps:

• Dale will visit schools within the next month.
• Vote: January 14, 2004 (absentee) to February 3, 2003
• Coalition of administrators and School Board, including Bellingham, will be lobbying the State to fully fund SpEd. A 1980 court case directed the State to fully fund SpEd

Topic: Preparation for January

Summary:

• Budget decisions need to be made by February and March
• Current concerns

  •  Continuum of services

  •  IA supervision time by teachers

  •  One teacher to cover K-5

  •  Middle school teaming issues for SpEd teachers

  •  Trigger formula

  •  Deaf/HOH model (5 current Bellingham students)

Next steps:

• Bring lists of:

•  What works in current model

•  What doesn't work

Topic: Quick Guides to Inclusion

Summary:

• Mary Lindsey shared

Next steps:

• Will look at books in January