MEMBERS PRESENT:  Cheryl Harshman (President), Patti Kem (President-elect), Steve Wornoff (Treasurer-June 2012), Jan Dunham (Secretary-June 2011), Lisa Waber (E–June 2013), Saundra Lange  (SW-June 2012), Bev Garrison (SE-June 2011), Jane Sanderson-Winkoff (NW-June 2010), Tom Barth (NC-June 2011), Tom Bell (C-June 2013), Jada Conner (NE 2012), Tom Adams and Joan McCormick (Co-Chairs Legislative and Research-June 2011), Kathy Hensley (Chair Professional Development-June 2013), Dave Chastain (Chair Membership and Fiscal Management-June 2012)

MEMBERS ABSENT:  Denise Bashore (Deputy Treasurer)

OTHERS PRESENT:  Wendy Hite (NE Alternate), Lynn Gosser (Strategic Planning Committee), Cheryl Corning (Scholarship Committee), Karol Farrell (State Advisory Council Representative)

I. APPROVALS

A. Minutes – Cheryl Harshman called the meeting to order at 8:15 a.m. and asked for a motion to approve the August 4, 2010 minutes.  MOTION:  Jada Conner moved to approve the August 4, 2010 minutes as presented. After a second by Tom Adams, the motion was unanimously approved.

B. Treasurer’s Report and Claim Docket – Steve Wornoff distributed his treasurer’s report, showing a balance of $220,207.93 as of August 31, 2010.  He shared that the docket for August expenses will be presented for approval at the October meeting.  He also shared that an informal audit of ICASE funds will be conducted later today.  In keeping with past practice of a formal audit being conducted every other year, he intends to have that audit completed in 2011.  If anyone knows of an auditor who might do an audit inexpensively, Steve would appreciate contact information.  Steve also shared that a tax preparer will need to complete this year’s tax information due to the difficulty of preparing taxes for a not-for-profit organization.

II.  IDOE REPORT –Anne Davis was not invited to attend today’s Executive Committee meeting due to the time constraints of the committee and her scheduled presentation at Friday’s meeting; however, Karol Farrell provided information on the two-day Response to Instruction Pilot School Training that was held in July.  Participants included representatives from ISTA, ICASE, and the eleven schools chosen for the pilot project:  Blue Ridge Primary School and Suncrest Elementary School (Community Schools of Frankfort), Hawthorne Elementary School, Monger Elementary School, and Roosevelt Elementary School (Elkhart Community Schools), Bridgeport Elementary School and Chapel Glen Elementary School (MSD of Wayne Township), Meredith Nicholson School 96 (Indianapolis Public Schools), Henry Evans Elementary School, John Meister Elementary School, and River Forest Elementary School (River Forest Community School Corporation). 

The first day of training included Leanne Kwiatkowski welcoming the participants and a keynote address by Dr. Tony Bennett.  Dr. Bennett emphasized the need for good core instruction.  He also stressed that Indiana’s RtI model should support all students.  RtI coordinator Allyson Luther provided an overview of RtI and shared that RtI resources and supports for all Indiana schools would be available at the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year on the IDOE and the Learning Connection web sites.

The participants learned about universal screening and progress monitoring from Rebecca Martinez, problem solving from Dawn Miller, and strategies for English Language Learners from Sandra Guitierrez during the second day.  The keynote on day two was presented by Phil Talbert.

All sessions conducted during the two-day training are available on the IDOE RtI web site.  Interested schools will have an opportunity to apply for a second cohort for the 2011-2012 school year.  These initial RtI buildings will support IDOE in expanding RtI across the state.

Karol asked the Committee to be vigilant about any rumors about adding language to Article 7 concerning responsibility for the RtI process.  Karol did not feel it is in special education’s interest to have more rules embedded in Article 7.

In addition to special education’s involvement in RtI, Cheryl announced that Vendetta had been invited to join the DOE Literacy Initiative by Anna Schultz.  Vendetta shared that she was not invited to participate as a representative of ICASE.  Cheryl will contact Ms. Schultz to see if ICASE may participate.

III. EXECUTIVE STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS

A.  Legislative and Research –The Legislative Committee continues to work on the platform for the upcoming legislative session.  Members wishing to provide input may do so by contacting their legislative representative.  Funding, SLP/SLPA, seclusion and restraint, interpreters, and funding for alternative residential placements are some of the platform items.  Committee members have also had conversations with Dr. Tony Bennett, Anne Davis, and Todd Huston about extending the age students may be labeled developmentally delayed.  A survey of members about this possibility may be conducted by the Legislative Committee.  Concern was expressed and numerous questions were asked by the Executive Committee members about the funding for alternative residential placements.  Joan McCormick explained that how the alternative residential money is distributed is not a legislative issue; however, the legislature needs to understand the importance of the state holding onto the money rather than distributing it among all corporations. (NOTE:  The Executive Committee identified the following items as priorities during the March 18, 2010 Executive Committee meeting:  school finances, discipline, and statewide testing.)

B. Membership and Fiscal Management Committee Report- Dave Chastain asked several questions about the role of the Membership and Fiscal Management Committee.  Many of the jobs done by the ISEAS Project are currently not being done.  How to get the priority items completed and by whom were topics of much discussion. It was decided that Dave would bring a list of questions to the October meeting for roundtable representatives to ask their members to determine what is most important to the membership.  Roundtable representatives will also gather the following information from each district in their region so the directory may be updated:  name of director, name/s of assistant directors, office address, e-mail addresses, telephone number, fax number, corporation/s served, and the roundtable representative who will be in charge of updating information.  Hiring someone to update the information will be explored.

C. Professional Development Committee Report –Kathy Hensley reported that her committee is working on a presentation by Temple Grandin’s mother, the Support Staff Seminar, and plans for next fall’s 50^th anniversary celebration for ICASE. Kathy is in the process of investigating facilities for the fall conference, so she would appreciate any feedback on this fall’s facility.

IV. SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS

A.  Nominations –Vendetta Gutshall needs each roundtable’s representative for the Nominating Committee prior to the October 14 Executive Committee meeting.  The person chosen must be a unified member.

B. President’s Appointments   

1.  Licensing Focus Group – No report.

2.  IASP/ISHA Best Practices Task Force –Cheryl shared that Mary Beth would be giving an update on ASHA.

V.  SUPPORTING the MEMBERSHIP –

A.  Identifying and Addressing Membership Needs

1. IAPSS Coalition of Organizations – No report.

B. Improving/Facilitating Communication

1. Roundtable Topical Proposals –A presentation on Minds in Motion has been chosen by NE; however, the topical date will be moved to the spring of 2011 instead of the fall of 2010.  Jada will request approval at the October meeting.

2. Roundtable Reports –Saundra Lange (SW) shared that the SW Roundtable had not met.  Bev Garrison (SE) shared that SE Roundtable will hold a topical in the spring of 2011.  Bev asked if SE’s topical would interfere with NE’s topical.  Due to the distance between topical sites, it was determined there would be no issue with both roundtables holding their topical in the spring.  It was requested that neither topical be held near the spring ICASE conference date.  Jane Sanderson-Winkoff (NW) shared that Anne Davis will be their guest at the October meeting, and they will continue to plan the spring topical.  Tom Barth (NC) shared that Naomi Swiezy attended NC Roundtable’s meeting to discuss the work of the autism project.  Tom Bell (C) shared that Central Roundtable met in August and discussed such issues as APC funding, alternative residential funding, and a possible topical for the fall of 2011.

Jada Conner (NE) shared information about her roundtable’s intent to present information on Minds in Motion this spring.  The NE roundtable has also been discussing topics for this year’s meetings.  Lisa Waber (E) shared that Naomi Swiezy will attend the October East Roundtable meeting, and Dr. Teresa Grossi requested a member from East Roundtable join her committee.

VI.       PROMOTING/ADVANCING the ORGANIZATION

A. Examining Organizational Structure

1. Future Revision of Strategic Plan –Strategic planning will continue immediately following the Executive Committee meeting.

2. Constitutional Revisions-No report.

3. Executive Committee Handbook-No report.

B. Strengthening National Connections-No report.

C. Promoting State Partnerships-No report.

VII. OTHER BUSINESS

None

VII. MOTION TO ADJOURN by Patti Kem was seconded by Jane Sanderson-Winkoff.  It was unanimously approved.

NEXT MEETING:    October 14, 2010, Hamilton-Boone-Madison, 10:00 a.m.