Representatives in attendance:
Donna Davis, MS Resource
Stew Egbert, HS Resource
Yvette Casto, Psychologist
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, Director
Jean Prochaska, Principals
Ann Buswell, Secondary Administration
Sue Thomas, Facilitator

Guests:
Dale Kinsley, Superintendent
Jeanette Herrera, Human Resources Manager

Topic: Special Education Lawsuit
Summary:

• Dale reported that the lawsuit is scheduled for 10/2005. At first, the lawsuit was based on student services. The eleven district alliance hired American Institute of Research. Now proposing Washington use the National standard for Washington to determine funds, etc. National Standards are above Washington standard. We were asking for $101 million for 2002-2003 year. To meet national standard we need an additional $240 million. Bellingham would need an additional 20 + FTE certificated staff to reach national mean.

Next Steps:

• Purposes:

  1. recoup $101 million in local discrepancy moneys

  2. change state formula/standard

• Ultimately legislature needs to re-formulate funding for education

Topic: CPR Plan
Summary:

• Continuous Improvement Plan.

• Four year plan

• Annual review

• Document what we do without adding work

• Source Book – information for teachers, accountability

Next Steps:

• Find out how many/which source books have been put together

• Ask for additional copies for each worksite

Topic: Needs Assessments
Summary:

• Focus has changed from monitoring number of students on the count to first teaching, what we have done to improve student’s performance on state tests, what we will do to improve student’s performance by grade levels and subject area

• Looking at levels 1, 2, 3 support model

Next Steps:

• Implementing:
1. Powerful teaching
2. Differentiated instruction
3. Professional development
• Focus Group poll constituents (by 3/11/05 meeting) Is there anything beyond CIP that individual groups would like as professional inservice?

Topic: IA Job Description
Summary:

• Level III

• Focus Group read and analyzed Level III specific qualifications/responsibilities and gave suggestions

Topic: Disposition of Placement Forms
Summary:

• We lose track of students who leave public school for any reason

• All county Special Education Directors meet with private school providers to explain rights and responsibilities

Next Steps:

• Look at private school WAC, IEP’s and ISP’s

• Design standard letter for parents who withdraw students from special education but continue to attend school. Consider Sehome’s letter form.

• Revamp Placement Form and get feedback from Roeder Special Education staff. Goal is to complete and have available in June.

Topic: IEP Online
Summary

• A web based system that addresses all special education processes, forms, records, reports and data collection

• The program prompts each step and closes report, IEP, when completed

• Changes and new information can be scanned into system

• Can email parents

• Use of IEP online has reduced paperwork by 50%
  Questions:

• Could goals and objectives page be emailed to teachers?

• Could updates, etc., be shared with staff?

• Could data be sent to another district when a student moves?

Next Steps:

• Sue will present to CAT 2/15/05

• Options for paying for training will be explored

Topic: Out of District Placements
Summary:

• Contract for 2-12 grade: Whatcom Discovery $480,228 / 16 students

• Contract for Deaf/HOH Anacortes $238,743 / 6 students

• Contract for MS-HS: Interim Alternative Ed at Discovery Site $13,260 / up to 8 students at a time

• Contract for 8-12 grade: Home Port Learning Center $48,500 / 7 students

• Consultants:
  1. bilingual assessment
  2. Psych evaluation
  3. Autism IEP guidance and coaching
  4. Psychometric for psych testing

Topic: Current Staffing and Distribution
Summary:

• There were many suggestions and ideas on how to cover next year’s needs

• Certificated suggestion was to shave IA time from all HS secretary time. Consider kindergarten specific hours 51.75 hours. Base IA time on % of K, % of resource. Give each resource room 7 hours each not dependen on K, etc.
  1. 6.5 hours Geneva
  2. delete 13 hours elementary
  3. delete 6.75 MS
  4. delete 6.75 HS

Next Steps:

• Consensus seemed to be to cut IA time to staff an additional Elementary Lifeskills class

Topic: Change of Placement Process to a District Program
Summary:

• Draft presented

Next Steps:

• Focus Group members will read and make marks/ changes and bring to next
  meeting

Topic: Additional agenda items will be forwarded to next meeting