YORK REGION DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Transcription

1 ROUTINE YORK REGION DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE The regular meeting of the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) was held on Thursday in the Board Room of the Education Centre, Aurora at 7:18 p.m. with Chair N. Elgie presiding and the following members present: Members: Trustees: Staff: Regrets: M. Bryan, L. Burtt, M. Cannell, K. Everest, S. Facchini, M. Graham, K. Gouthro, A. Leung, F. MacDonald, E. Maynard- Lloyd, D. Rose and L. Ziraldo. S. Geller. C. McAdam, P. Milovanovic, L. Moreau, J. Porter, L. Sharratt and A. Ballard. L. Carruthers, A. Helps, R. Jacobson and I. Lehmann. SEAC Chair N. Elgie welcomed and thanked everyone for joining the SEAC Annual Holiday Dinner and final meeting of She introduced the Director of Education, B. Hogarth, who expressed the Board s admiration of the dedicated volunteers on the SEAC and the tireless work involved on behalf of special education students. He expressed the importance of all students having the ability and successful tools in place to allow learning. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The presentation to J. Andersen was cancelled due to her illness. (*)1. Moved by K. Gouthro, seconded by M. Bryan: That the agenda be approved as amended. MOMENT OF REFLECTION M. Bryan read the moment of reflection by Anne Sexton entitled Courage. A copy of the moment of reflection will be attached to the minutes for Committee members. J. Porter will deliver the moment of reflection at the January 10, 2008 SEAC meeting.

2 Special Education Advisory Committee Page 2 RECEIPT OF MINUTES NOVEMBER 1, 2007 (*)2. Moved by S. Facchini, seconded F. MacDonald: That the minutes of the November 1, 2007 Special Education Advisory Committee meeting be received for information. SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS Vice-Chair L. Ziraldo announced the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) awarded retired Special Education coordinator J. Andersen with the Educational Leader of the Year Award. Ms. Ziraldo expanded on Ms. Andersen s integrity and passion, outlook on life, sense of humour, and her ability to improve learning for all exceptional children. As well, Ms. Andersen was also awarded the Irene Mackowski Educational Leader of the Year Award. Vice-Chair L. Ziraldo extended the Committee s appreciation and acknowledged Ms. Andersen s outstanding work with exceptional children. Although she is currently retired, Ms. Andersen continues to work with exceptional children at the Children s Treatment Network (CTN). Ms. Ziraldo announced York Region District School Board student 10-year-old Riley Rotman, from Newmarket, won the Yes I Can Award. His success was acknowledged in the area of academics. SURVIVING HIGH SCHOOL WITH A HEARING LOSS PRESENTATION Coordinator of Regional Hearing Services J. Christen introduced grade 12 Vaughan Secondary School student Brooke Wayne. Ms. Christen explained Ms. Wayne has been supported by the York Region District School Board Regional Hearing Resource team throughout her school career. Alexander Mackenzie High School Sign Interpreter L. Guzman and Access Notetaker J. Kingsbury accompanied Ms. Wayne with her presentation Surviving High School with a Hearing Loss. Ms. Christen explained Ms. Wayne would demonstrate how the continued guidance and technical advancements in the field of deafness have equipped her with tools to move forward in her future life goals. J. Christen outlined how the Access Notetaking program is used with the hearing impaired. Notetaking provides the essentials of auditory information being relayed in the classroom. Computers are connected wireless through the Internet and a router and the notetaker s notes are seen on the hearing impaired student s laptop screen providing live closed captioning. There is also a chat program called NetMetting. NetMetting allows communications to occur, such as teacher lectures. Although not every word can be typed the key is that the student receives the message at the same time as other students in the classroom and participation is immediate.

3 Special Education Advisory Committee Page 3 B. Wayne introduced herself and gave a brief overview of her personal school experience with a hearing loss. On the honour role since grade nine, Ms. Wayne is currently in the grade 12 academic stream and has above average marks. She explained how Access Notetaking is one accommodation providing critical support. The program allows her to participate in class at the same time as other students. Notes are transcribed for announcements, class discussions, jokes or verbal banter. It helps her to be confident and outspoken and feel better about herself. Itinerant support is another help. The Itinerant support teachers support her academically, behaviourly and socially and help to provide coping skills. Communications is another critical area. It eliminates challenges in the classroom and reduces frustration levels while building confidence and self-esteem. Ms. Wayne mentioned one problem is that people assume because she is deaf they need to speak louder and slower. She is adept at lip reading which helps to minimize this problem. Technology has made her successful. MSN Messaging is commonly used because it is faster and more private than a TTY (telephone, typewriter or teletypewriter). It enables easier communication with family and friends giving her a chance to improve her writing and typing skills and creating independence. Ms. Wayne encourages her teachers to use closed captioning on videos in the classroom so she can understand the context of the program and can participate in conversations with friends and families. When attending the movie theatre she uses the Rear View Window (RWC) system which allows her to understand what is being said in the movie. The RWC fits in a cupholder and reflects onto the back of a seat. She can enjoy a movie like anyone else. Ms. Wayne appreciates her friends patience and assistance. She thanked J. Christen and A. Pignataro for their patience and effort in working with her and she thanked the SEAC for allowing the opportunity to tell her story. SEAC Chair N. Elgie presented Ms. Wayne with a certificate of appreciation. THE GLASS IS HALF FULL PRESENTATION Elementary Principal, Reesor Park Public School J. Porter introduced musician Justin Hines. Ms. Porter, who taught Mr. Hines in grade six, shared with the Committee his passion for music, singing, songwriting and his numerous charitable ventures. When J. Hines was 14 years old he won a radio contest to sing the national anthem at a Toronto Raptors basketball game. This was his first performance in front of 17,000 people. Note: K. Everest left the meeting at 7:50 p.m. A York Region District School Board graduate, Mr. Hines copes with Larsen Syndrome, a rare joint condition. Mr. Hines shared a story of his days at Parkview Public School with a couple of examples of his nurturing school years. Music was the area he pursued and he currently has a record label and he signed a record deal one year ago. He has traveled to Dubai, the United Kingdom and will be heading to South Africa.

4 Special Education Advisory Committee Page 4 J. Hines sang a few bars from his top 20 hit called Wish you Well which is on his current compact disc Sides. He appreciates all the supportive assistance he has received from teachers, family and friends and thanked the SEAC for having him present his story. Vice-Chair L. Ziraldo presented a certificate of appreciation to Mr. Hines and mentioned he was performing at the Newmarket Theatre on January 12, Note: The Committee recessed from 8:05 p.m. to 8:17 p.m. Note: A. Leung left the meeting at 8:15 p.m. (*)3. Moved by M. Cannell, seconded by F. MacDonald: That the Special Education Advisory Committee receive the Surviving High School with a Hearing Loss and The Glass is Half Full presentations for information. SPECIAL EDUCATION PLAN Superintendent of Education L. Moreau commented no responses for the Special Education Plan have been received. SUCCESSFUL PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES Vice-Chair L. Ziraldo acknowledged the two presentations delivered at the meeting were examples of SEAC successful practices and challenges. She congratulated both B. Wayne and J. Hines for sharing their individual stories. REPORT FROM THE BOARD At the October 25 th Board Meeting Trustee L. Carruthers announced she was running for President of the Ontario Public School Boards Association. The election was recently held with Trustee L. Carruthers receiving a tied vote on the first ballot and a close defeat on the second ballot. At the November 7 th Joint Board Consortium meeting there was an update on the five major initiatives for the current school year. These initiatives are; effectiveness and efficiency reviews on transportation consortia; routing efficiencies; school vehicle service provider site visits and evaluations; communication with York Region Transit; and website information review. During the November 29 th Board Meeting the Board approved inclusion of the replacement of Whitchurch Highlands Public School in the Board s Capital Strategy.

5 Special Education Advisory Committee Page 5 The Board also approved a revised list of permit rates for Community Use of Schools. At the Inaugural Board Meeting on December 3 rd Trustee Diane Giangrande was elected as the new Board Chair, Martin Van Beek as Vice-Chair, and Susan Geller is now the Budget Committee Chair. In January 2008 Coordinating Superintendent of Education K. Thurston, Superintendent of Education J. Havercroft and Superintendent of Curriculum and Instructional Services L. Sharratt are retiring. The SEAC wished Superintendent of Curriculum and Instructional Services L. Sharratt all the best in her future endeavours. (*)4. Moved by L. Ziraldo, seconded by S. Facchini: That the Special Education Advisory Committee receive the Report from the Board for information. SPECIAL EDUCATION REPORT Superintendent of Curriculum and Instructional Services L. Sharratt announced after 43 years in the education field she was retiring at the end of January 2008, but would continue to help out in the transition for the new Superintendent of Curriculum and Instructional Services B. Planche. Ms. Sharratt stated the annual Quest Conference held in November had more than 800 attendees. SEAC members can view the Quest Conference on Roger s television throughout the year. L. Sharratt said the conference made technology available to anyone unable to attend in person. Students were also quite involved in the three day conference. Guest speakers lectured on understanding students of today s era. Superintendent of Curriculum and Instructional Services L. Sharratt asked SEAC members to consider attending the 2008 Quest Conference. Superintendent of Education Louise Moreau commented that the students attending Quest were articulate, complex and thought provoking during presentations. Action Item Ms. Moreau acknowledged December was a busy month for special education consultants. In the area of professional development there has been involvement in the Council of Directors of Education (CODE) project which has an emphasis on junior and senior kindergarten and learning in the early years. The focus concentrates on the starting points for learning for early at-risk students and how the Board is supporting these students from a multi-disciplinary perspective. Superintendent of Education L. Moreau explained the Ontario Psychological Association (OPA) project is in progress. The Board is targeting students from kindergarten to grade four and considering the use of assessments to drive instruction from a case management perspective. Taken into consideration is how to understand the needs and

6 Special Education Advisory Committee Page 6 strengths of students who have been through the in-school team process and how to best provide professional development, resources, and support to these students. Ms. Moreau stated that on the November 30 th professional development day Educational Assistants (EAs) who support secondary students received a vast array of professional development opportunities such as job coaching and literacy development. Every year a three-part assessment series is offered to new Special Education Resource Teachers (SERTs). Part one concentrates on understanding assessments and part two, which was recently held, concentrates on professional assessment such as speech and language, psychological, physical assessment and how to use the assessment in order to program plan. Assistive technology training for all interested staff is available every Tuesday and Thursday in the north and south of the region on a voluntary basis after school. Superintendent of Education L. Moreau commented the work superintendents engage in at the various Community Education Centres is focused on literacy development and is now being imbedded in their daily routine. The Board is viewing how schools are supported in areas such as case management focusing on at risk students or students needing special education services or English language learning. This leads to different instruction in meeting student s needs. At the secondary level Superintendent of Education C. McAdam stated the same areas of achievement and learning instruction are being covered. There has been extensive use of the 13 literacy parameters. Gender achievement has been an area of interest in the area of programming. Administrators and teachers in the region s north sector have discovered a thought provoking piece of gender research in the book Raising Boys written by author Stephen Biddle. Ms. McAdam stated everyone should read this book. Superintendent of Curriculum and Instructional Services L. Sharratt mentioned a research proposal will be presented to Director s Council regarding the differences in gender learning during the next five years. Superintendent of Education L. Moreau requested a SEAC volunteer to speak about the SEAC at the Early Intervention Services of York Region introductory night for children going into kindergarten. The event is scheduled for Thursday, January 24 th at 7:00 pm. at Richmond Hill Secondary School. SEAC representative M. Cannell volunteered to be the representative. Action Item (*)5. Moved by S. Geller, seconded by D. Rose: That the Special Education Advisory Committee receive the Special Education Report for information. COMMUNICATIONS SUB-COMMITTEE UPDATE

7 Special Education Advisory Committee Page 7 The Communications Sub-Committee meeting was cancelled. SEAC Vice-Chair L. Ziraldo thanked Administrative Assistant A. Ballard for organizing this evening s events. The Thursday, February 14, 2008 SEAC meeting is rescheduled to Wednesday, February 13, There will be future discussion on the Ontario Psychological Association (OPA) project. The election for the SEAC Chair and Vice-Chair will be held at the January 10, 2008 meeting. Ms. Ziraldo stated the committee for the Shared Solutions; a Guide to Preventing and Resolving Conflicts Regarding Programs and Services for Students with Special Needs document is still seeking feedback from SEAC members. Action Item (*)6. Moved by L. Burtt, seconded by E. Maynard-Lloyd: That the Special Education Advisory Committee receive the Special Education Report for information. FUTURE PRESENTATIONS Ontario Psychological Association (OPA) Project January 2008 Safe and Supportive Schools March 2008 Tools for Learning Presentation Transitions Student Transportation Services (STS) ADJOURNMENT (*)7. Moved by M. Bryan, seconded by K. Gouthro: That the Special Education Advisory Committee meeting adjourn at 8:45 p.m.