Representatives in attendance:
Sue Alfawicki, ES Resource
Donna Davis, MS Resource
Stew Egbert, HS Resource
Yvette Casto, Psych
Diane Delahunty, OT/PT & Blind/Vision Impaired
Kathy Gann, SLPs & DHH
Debora Haney, EC/Preschool
Leslie Knudsen, EBD & Behavior Specialist
Mary Lindsey, Lifeskills
Jean Prochaska, Elem Admin
Ann Buswell, Secondary Admin
Sue Thomas, Facilitator

Topic: Lawsuit
Summary:

• Sue to get a copy of the letter that was sent to parents

Next Steps:

• Send copy to Focus Group members
• Suggest that copies of letters sent to all parents of special education students be given to special education teachers (re: for any subsequent mailings)

Topic: Personnel
Summary:

• Discussion of placement of certified and classified staff

Next Steps:

• Sue to bring staffing formula to January meeting

Topic: Trigger Money
Summary:

• Check to see if there is a change in how monies are allocated

Next Steps:

• Sue will email results

Topic: Consolidated Program Review
Summary:

• Some psychologists and teachers have looked and cannot see what they did wrong

Next Steps:

• Sue or Lucille will meet individually with those who have specific questions
• Sue T., Mary L., Yvette C., and Kathy G. will meet to write the Continuous Improvement Plan
• Sue will ask OSPI to see parent survey information

Topic: Priority Task List
Summary:

• Previously, there has been parent & school staff participation in the Family-Educator Partnership Project (FEPP) – However ongoing participation of parents and staff was difficult - Meeting times and completion of goals were stumbling blocks – However, parent participation in program planning is required in IDEA
• Web-based IEP form will be investigated - Cost will be an issue
• Eligibility criteria for district programs flowchart is being developed
• Early Release/Late Arrival - Special education staff will meet together on January 13, 2005 (am – high school; pm – elem/middle
• Professional judgment criteria - eligibility
• Data matrix for referral – pre-referral activities and other interventions are being handled by SST (Student Support Team) - Change to: Preferred process and Documentation (SRI)
• Enrollment of students in district programs in non-neighborhood schools
  ~ Affects WASL scores for schools with district programs (EBD and Lifeskills)
  ~ Could positively affects scores of sending schools
  ~ Will there be negative pushback?
• Special education students NYAS
  ~ IEP is an intervention
  ~ Student success plan is the “umbrella” which may include the IEP
  ~ Students NYAS may be required to attend summer school – Impact on ESY?
• Professional development for adaptive PE teachers
• Professional development for general education
  ~ Looking for other areas of need for general education teachers
  ~ May use level meetings to present information
  ~ Eight sessions on autism last year – participants included general educators
• Support services - other service delivery models
• WASL / NCLB
• Portfolio assessment
• IEP annual review date could be changed – would necessitate 2 meetings the first year
• This will be THE most important December 1st count (will likely have impact on the special education lawsuit)

Next Steps:

• Proposal to have adjunct group for Parent Advisory Group
• Sue will review after new district policies are completed
• “IEP online” demo November 10th
• Eligibility criteria for district programs (flowchart) will be ready for review in January
• Agenda for early release workshop will be out by winter break
• Psychs are working on researching national information and psych association recommendations
• Sue T will ask Michael Berres about form used by Ferndale School District for students who do not access special education (e.g. refuse services)
• ESS leads the student-support team in each elementary school
• Kindergarten screen 3 x/year is an assessment that could be used in IEP development (and, in monitoring results, for program planning)
• Continue to investigate professional development
• Autism workshop for general educators - November 3rd (send out general announcement)
• Basic differentiated instruction workshop scheduled for 1/28, 2/4, 3/15 & 4/15 (Peggy Taylor)
• Source book will be provided to attendees of differentiation workshop for the specialist – January 7th
• SLP 4:1 plan presentation in December (Kathy)
• Portfolio assessments is still changing
• Add to list – IEP annual review dates as an issue

The next meeting is Thursday, December 9th – 8:00-10:30 am