Representatives in attendance:
Donna Davis, MS Resource
Stew Egbert, HS Resource
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
Jean Prochaska, Elementary Administration
Ann Buswell, Secondary Administration
Sue Thomas, Facilitator

Guests:
Dale Kinsley, Superintendent
Jim Stevens, Asst. Superintendent
Tanya Rowe, Director of School Information

Topic: Review Updated Info
Summary:

• Schedule of Meetings
• 2004-2005 Priority Task
• 2004-2005 Preliminary Budget
• 2004-2005 Certificated Staffing
• 2004-2005 Professional Development Class Highlights:
  ~ Secure Training for Administrators (Leslie K)
  ~ Preschool Assessments for Psychologists (Laurie Ford)
  ~ Differentiation for Specialists (Sue T)
  ~ Transition Planning - High School and Middle School (Cinda Johnson)
  ~ Using Grade Level Expectations to write IEPs (ESD 189)
• CEC Well-Prepared Special Education Teacher booklet
• “Reaching Higher” (OSPI)
• “Effective Districts” (Gates Foundation)
• Reviewed Consolidated Program - trends
• CPR Continuing Improvement Plan – sub-committee – Kathy Gann, Mary Lindsey, and Psych Representative - Meet in mid-October….due to State in mid-December.
  Next Steps:
• Update committee template:
  ~ Add Ann Buswell
  ~ Change Lucille to “Director” rep
  ~ Add “Deaf/HH to Kathy’s rep description
• Individual members will look at budget and prepare for discussion
• 2004-2005 Classified staffing ready next time
• Update special Education programs and services for next meeting

Topic: Superintendent Kinsley and Jim Stevens’ Presentation About Special Education Lawsuit

Summary:

• Step 1 - Coalition of Districts was formed
• Step 2 - Educate Legislators
• Step 3 - Try to get change in funding through the legislature
• Step 4 - Prepare for lawsuit. May be heard in 18-24 months
• Step 5 - OSPI meetings have discussed budgets
• Jim explained funding and how general education and special education funds are blended to provide services.
  ~ This complicated system does not truly represent cost of educating students.
  ~ Legal costs are not considered to be part of special education budgets.
• Dale would like all parents to understand:
  ~ The State and Federal governments are mandated to fully fund special education programs
  ~ It is appropriate to tie funding to the services driven by IEP.
  Next Steps:
• Coalition supports changing funding formula for Special Education
  ~ Cap for number of students per district may be illegal
  ~ All disability categories are funded for the same amount of money
• WEA is working on a lawsuit that includes all education funding, not just special education
• Parent advocacy group (Parent Coalition) disagrees with lawsuit - they feel there may be discrimination - Communication among groups is unclear – Districts will work with WEA to clarify communication to form a positive union of goals
• Certificated staff is asked to explain the districts’ position to parents
• After the lawsuit - Next step will be to define “appropriate service levels”