ICASE Executive Committee Meeting
Executive Committee Listserv <icaseexecutive@googlegroups.com>
April 16, 2009 Minutes
ISEAS Office - Carmel

(These minutes are considered a draft until approved at the next scheduled meeting.)

MEMBERS PRESENT: Lynn Gosser (President), Vendetta Gutshall (President-elect), Pam Wright (Past-President), Denise Bashore (Treasurer), Gary Collings (Secretary), Karol Farrell (C), Connie Griffith (SE), Jan Dunham (E), Mary Beth Hamilton (NE), Donna Krol (NW), Cheryl Harshman (NC), Larry Bass (SW), Joan McCormick (Legislative and Research), Steve Wornhoff (Membership and Fiscal), Patti Kem (Professional Development)

OTHERS PRESENT: Martha McFarland, Hank Binder, Robin Parker (Part B), Sharon Cook (Free/Reduced Lunch)

I. APPROVALS

A. Minutes – Lynn Gosser called the meeting to order and requested a motion to approve the March 19, 2009 minutes. MOTION: Donna Krol moved to approve the March 19, 2009 minutes as presented. After a second by Jan Dunham, the motion carried.

B. Treasurer’s Report and Claim Docket – Denise Bashore distributed the Treasurer’s Report including the Claim Docket of $7,945.02 as of March 31, 2009 with a Cash on Hand balance of $251,483.32 as of March 31, 2009. MOTION: Vendetta Gutshall moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report including the Docket as of March 31, 2009. After a second by Cheryl Harshman, the motion was approved.

Denise requested permission to pay a pending invoice of $70,011.64 when it is received from the Crowne Plaza for the ICASE Spring Conference. MOTION: Joan McCormick moved to approve payment of the pending invoice from the Crowne Plaza. After a second by Tom Adams, the motion was approved.

Besides the $10,200 held by CASE, the cash balance in the Scholarship Fund is $5,308.06 as of December 31, 2008.

II. DOE CENTER REPORT –
Hank Binder reminded members about tomorrow’s IDOE webinar he and Sharon Knoth will host on the topic of “Guidance for Funds Under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Being Made Available Under the ARRA. Accompanying documents are posted on the IDOE website at http://www.doe.in.gov/stimulus.

Hank distributed a copy of the Assurance page to be submitted to Lance Rhodes and the April 9 Memo from Sharon Knoth regarding Options for Reduction of Maintenance of Effort. He emphasized all special education stimulus funds must be used in a manner consistent with Part B regulations for both special education and related services. The proportionate share for non-public school calculations is to be based on the December 1, 2008 census.

The stimulus Part B funds will be sent to planning districts consistent with standard procedures. Nothing prevents sub-allocations to member corporations as sub-grantees. In such cases, IDOE will accept individual budgets from sub-grantees (a single district application with multiple budgets). Each corporation would have to set up a separate account (7953) and forecast cash needs to be consolidated and submitted by the District Director. Electronic submissions will be required for all documents. This year’s rate for 2008-09 indirect costs (to be multiplied against planned expenditures minus equipment) will be posted for the stimulus Part B applications. Members discussed both special transportation and special facilities (improvements within the footprint of existing buildings) as considerations.

The pages of the stimulus application have been reduced (no services count section, assurances removed, and the narrative section for early intervening services has been removed). The application will be retroactive to February 17, 2009 and go through September 30, 2011 for a period of 27 months. There will be no carry-over due to the length of the grant period, but quarterly reports will likely be required. Cash balances will be monitored quarterly. There is no required deadline for submission and no child find public notice requirements. All encumbrances must be liquidated by December 2011 (90 days after September 30, 2011 closing date).

An LEA must have met adequate compliance for the five state-monitored indicators to be eligible to reduce its local Maintenance of Effort (MOE). An eligible LEA that takes advantage of the option to reduce its MOE by up to 50% of the amount of increase in Part B funds may use its Part B dollars allocated through ARRA to cover the costs of the services previously paid through state and local funds as long as the LEA ensures that it satisfies the reduced MOE requirement. Using Part B funds in this manner is not considered supplanting.

The special education costs a district no longer pays can be transferred to the Part B stimulus application. These “freed up” State/local funds no longer spent on special education must be used for existing or new NCLB activities. The checkpoint will be the figures that are reported as MOE on the standard Part B application (2009-10 will be the first preceding school year).  The first MOE reduction will show up on the 2010-11 school year applications.

III. EXECUTIVE STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS

A. Legislative and Research – Joan McCormick announced that HB 57 regarding the relocation of Educational Interpreter certification to DOE was signed by the governor on April 14 and is effective immediately. Guidelines are to be written by July 2010. Patti Kem suggested Joan prepare a “press release” for dissemination.

Joan reported that the committee met yesterday to review Kenley’s amendment to the budget bill (HB 1001) that would reduce state appropriations to schools in the amount of Part B and Title I stimulus funds. Tom Adams said KWK (Kelli) reminds us that this amendment (or others) can show up attached to any bill in the future.

Joan also noted the committee is seeking input from the membership in preparation for the CASE Institute in July at Washington D.C.

B. Membership and Fiscal Management Committee Report – Since Steve Wornhoff had to leave the meeting, Gary Collings asked if memorial contributions had been made in both the name of Bob Robertson and Bob Seitz. Denise Bashore confirmed she would make a $50 contribution for each. Joan McCormick proposed a future ICASE award to Senator Lubbers.

C. Professional Development Committee Report - Patti Kem reported on the CEC Convention and the keynoter, Marlee Maitlin. Patti recommended Julia Weatherly’s presentation on ways to avoid due process.

The Fall Conference is to be held on September 30 – October 2, 2009 at the Marriott North (Keystone at the Crossing) in Indianapolis.

The Spring Conference 2010 is set for February 18 -19 at the Crowne Plaza/Union Station in Indianapolis.

IV. SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORT

A. Nominations – Completed

B. Roundtable Task Force – Pending

V. SUPPORTING the MEMBERSHIP

A. Identifying and Addressing Membership Needs

1. SLP Task Force Update – Pam Wright reported on information from Deb Harmon about a $10,000 grant, for which ISHA can apply to ASHA to address personnel shortages. Deb has proposed a facilitator be included in the grant application. Members expressed concern about the ISHA focus on caseloads but concurred with the focus on personnel shortages. They intend to reconvene the task force around this grant opportunity.

2. Support for New Directors – Patti Kem said she picked up several ideas on ways to support new directors from the Georgia CASE strand at the CEC Convention.

3. RtI Task Force – Tara Rinehart has left her DOE position for a principalship in North Montgomery. Glenda Hott (Blumberg Center) will be coordinating the RtI activities. On March 12, 2009 Tara Rinehart announced Indiana’s RtI guidance document is available at <http:www.doe.in.gov/Indiana-rti/>.

B. Improving/Facilitating Communication

1. Roundtable Reports – Jan Dunham (E) requested $150 of current RT balance for costs related to an upcoming meeting. MOTION: Vendetta Gutshall moved to approve the request. After a second by Mary Beth Hamilton, the motion was approved. Donna Krol (NW) requested $500 of current RT balance for costs related to an upcoming meeting. MOTION: Pam Wright moved to approve the request. After a second by Connie Griffith, the motion was approved. Mary Beth Hamilton (NE) said they met Monday to formulate stimulus questions for Friday’s webinar, which they will watch. Connie Griffith (SE) said they have 130 registrants for their upcoming topical. Cheryl Harshman (NC) said they discussed the stimulus funds at their last meeting.

VI. PROMOTING/ADVANCING the ORGANIZATION

A. Examining Organizational Structure – No information

B. Strengthening National Connections
1. CASE Membership/Executive Committee Updates – report tabled for next meeting

2. CEC/CASE Board of Directors Meeting at Seattle (April 1 – 4, 2009) – report tabled for next meeting

C. Promoting State Partnerships – Discussion of Roles and Expectations tabled.

 
VII. OTHER BUSINESS

1. 2009-10 Calendar of Meetings – Draft discussed to be approved at next meeting

2. Future Revision of Strategic Plan – Lynn Gosser proposed this as a summer activity.

3. Constitutional Revisions – Pam Wright has been making notes of needed changes and proposed to convene Officers to review the additions/deletions at a future date.

VIII. NEXT MEETING: May 21, 2009 (DOE) – June 3rd meeting may be cancelled.