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January 2006 Executive Committee Minutes MEMBERS PRESENT: Cindy Pittman (President), Tom Adams (President-elect), George Van Horn (Past-President), Vendetta Gutshall (Treasurer), Gary Collings (Secretary), Saundra Lange (SW), Jim Murray (C), Cheryl Corning (SE), Theresa Oberley (NE), Patti Kem (NC), Lynn Gosser (E), Pat Pierce (NW). MEMBERS ABSENT: OTHERS PRESENT: Bob Marra, Nina Brahm, Karol Farrell, Steve Wornhoff I. Approvals A. Minutes – Cindy Pittman called the meeting to order and requested a motion to approve the December 14, 2005 minutes. MOTION: Jim Murray moved the minutes be approved. After a second by Saundra Lange, the motion was approved. Members accepted the suggestion to discontinue hard copy mailings in lieu of electronic transmission of agenda and minutes to members of the Executive Committee effective with the February 2006 meeting. Alternates will not be included in the transmission. The respective representative will forward the documents to her/his alternate as needed. B. Treasurer's Report and Claim Docket – Vendetta Gutshall distributed handouts for the Financial Report. The January 2006 Docket was presented in the amount of $6,073.64. MOTION: Pat Pierce moved to approve the Docket as presented. After a second by George Van Horn, the motion was approved. Vendetta reported that of the $110,600 budget, $54,033.07 had been expended to date. The $9,391.39 balance in the Scholarship Fund is pending transfer to CASE for tax-exempt purposes. She circulated two thank you cards. She wants to also consider an electronic transmission of the Treasurer's Report in the future if feasible. C. Membership Committee – Vendetta Gutshall reported this group was not able to meet on January 17, 2006. She, however, met with the Smekens representative on that date to discuss a membership brochure and card. Smekens is viewing the content of the website and studying Patron membership incentives as well as developing a template for conference registrations. Vendetta has received the first Patron membership ($250) from Meccatech (Michigan). Patron members and sponsors for last year's Fall Conference 2005 golf outing are to be recognized at the Spring Conference 2006. D . Roundtable
Topical Proposals – Pat Pierce requested up to $4,000
from the Northeast's share of last year's proceeds for a speaker
on FBA/BIPs in March as well as a speaker on RtI in the future.
MOTION: George Van Horn moved to approve the Northeast
request. After a second by Patti Kem, the motion was approved.
E. Strategic Plan – Officers are to meet on February 15 as a task force to review the plan and make suggestions for consideration by the members of the Executive Committee. Patti Kem suggested a future plan include a recruitment objective for high school students who might wish to pursue a career in teaching or related services. II. Strategic Plan: 2002-2005 Goal I – Encourage communication, support, and recognition of special education Objectives: 1.1 increase communication among colleagues 1.2 provide ongoing support to special educators 1.3 broaden our membership to include all eligible professionals A. Report: Conferences 1. Spring Conference: February 16-17, 2006 – Tom Adams reported there are 67 registrants to date. The registration form is on the website and in the Cable newsletter. Both the Legislative and Executive Committees will meet on Wednesday, with the Past Presidents' Dinner that evening followed by a reception. Dr. Suellen Reed, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, will be the keynote speaker on Thursday, followed by various large group presentations and Fun Night activities in the evening. The general membership meeting will be held on Friday followed by the Division report. Executive Committee members are to have luncheon dialogue with members of the ISEAS University Forum after the conference concludes. Members confirmed that Baskets are to be donated by both districts and roundtables for the auction to benefit the Scholarship Fund. Bidding guidelines were suggested and cost ranges may need to be considered by a future work group. 2. Fall Conference 2006: September 27-29, 2006 – Tom Adams commented that he will visit the University Inn in Lafayette as a possible site. The Golf Outing will be the fundraiser for the Scholarship Fund. 3. CEC/CASE Board Update – Vendetta Gutshall disseminated multiple handouts from the November 2005 CASE Board of Directors meeting in Scottsdale. She called attention to the September 12, 2005 CASE Task Force final report titled Design for the Future and a calendar of future events www.casecec.org . CASE will continue as a unit of CEC due to the cost of replication of services. CASE has requested “success stories” from States to be included in a future publication. 4. Vendor Committee – Bose, McKinney, Evans is sponsoring the social at the Spring Conference. Dawn McGrath (ICAN/ISTAR) has requested a table at the conference. Members agreed that ICAN would not be charged a fee as a state project in contrast to vendors, which may be charged $500. Tammy Ummel is marketing to vendors. It was suggested she send a follow-up thank you letter to vendors after the conference and request feedback on how beneficial the conference had been for their business. B. Standing Committee Reports 1. Porter Scholarship – Applications will be available at the Spring Conference. 2. Recognition/Awards – George Van Horn presented the names of three retiring directors for Honorary memberships: Phyllis Craig (Kokomo), Linda Duncan (Carmel), Eileen Schellhammer (Martinsville). MOTION: Pat Pierce moved to grant Honorary membership to Duncan, Craig, and Schellhammer. After a second by Vendetta Gutshall, the motion was approved. The respective roundtable representatives were asked to inquire whether each retiree wanted a retirement clock or donation of the funds to the Scholarship Fund. George will coordinate a colleague to present the recognition to each retiree at the Spring Conference. 3. Past Presidents' Council – Executive Committee members and Past-presidents are scheduled for a 6:00 PM dinner on February 15, 2006. 4. Nominations – Tom Adams, as President-elect and chair of this committee, recommended Pam Wright (Johnson County) as President-elect for 2006-07 and Gary Collings as Secretary. MOTION: George Van Horn moved to accept the nominations. After a second by Jim Murray, the motion was approved. The slate of officers will be presented to the general membership for approval on February 17, 2006. 5. Roundtable Activities – Southeast finalized a summary of performance template for students completing programs. They are meeting next week at Englishton Park to observe the new Three Springs program. Northwest had John Hill to discuss the employability/transition report. They are considering a follow-up topical in Fall 2006 on practical approaches to RtI. North Central focused on details related to their April 13 th topical on transition. Southwest had both Brett Bollinger and John Hill present at their last meeting. This month Evansville will present on its web-based IEP. Northeast distributed transition packets with CDs. They are compiling salaries for related services personnel in their region. Susan Albrecht will present on FBA/BIPs at their next meeting. Goal III – Support the development of public policy to address the needs of all students Objectives: 3.1 advance our legislative platform 3.2 connect and collaborate with other professional organizations, state agencies, and the Indiana DOE for policy development A . Report: Division of Exceptional Learners – Bob Marra commented that USDOE officials recently endorsed the revised HOUSSE to be released by the end of January after the Advisory Committee of the DOE Division of Professional Standards has reviewed it. The HOUSSE will be available at the ICASE Spring Conference as well as posted to the DOE website in March. Members agreed that pinpointing who is the primary instructor for core academic subjects is the pivotal point of HQ status. In reply to an inquiry, Bob responded the request for a one year extension is being prepared and will be discussed during the USDOE on-site visitation on January 19 th . Members agreed the March 15 Academy should continue its dialogue on RtI and learning disabilities and postpone the topic of private schools pending the release of the federal regulations. Bob emphasized the additional 2% for alternate assessment is on modified academic standards in the proposed federal regulations but can not be operationalized pending final approval. The Division is considering the options of either teacher rating and/or measures of student performance (curriculum based). Bob proposed ISTAR can assess those with mild disabilities in a different way but on the same standards (in contrast to developing a modified set of standards). B. Report: Public Policy and Legislative Committee – Tom Adams reported Joan McCormick is coordinating this committee's work and serving as the KWK contact. The committee is to meet on February 15 prior to the Spring Conference C. Other Business – Rule 26 - Karol Farrell was present to report on the status of the DEL Rule 26 (Eligibility Criteria) Task Force. The purpose of the task force is to review whether the evaluations and assessments for each exceptionality area are appropriate as set forth in 511 IAC 26. The task force will report its conclusions to Bob Marra. At their January 13 organizational meeting, members of the Rule 26 Task Force reviewed Blind or Low Vision and Deaf Blind. Karol Farrell presented task force notes to the members of the Executive Committee. Members asked that Karol electronically transmit such marked up versions showing additions/deletions to them in advance, and they will provide her with feedback from roundtables at subsequent meetings. Karol has outlined the process as follows: 1. Representatives from each roundtable should share and review task force notes on each disability category with its members. 2. Representatives are to bring feedback (questions, concerns, and comments) relating to the task force notes back to a subsequent meeting of the Executive Committee. 3. The Executive Committee will compile a single feedback document from ICASE for the task force. 4. Karol will attend the Executive Committee meetings to receive the feedback for her review with the task force. Karol offered to attend future Executive Committee meetings to receive input from prior suggestions and provide committee suggestions on additional categories. The following categories will be reviewed by the Task Force as follows: February 10 (Multiple Dis., TBI, DD), March 10 (LD), March 23 (Mild Dis.), April 14 (Aut), April 25 (ED), May 16 (OHI), and June 9 (CD). COVOH - Steve Wornhoff was present to assure members that COVOH was not defunct, has gone through a reorganization, and has employed a new Executive Director, Dr. Loui Lord Nelson. Their new link is: http://covoh.org/index.html . Steve explained that COVOH continues as an “organization of organizations” with over 30 years of service to those with disabilities. COVOH continues to have a strong voice with the General Assembly regarding issues related to all aspects of those with disabilities. Steve suggested that ICASE will continue to benefit from on-going activities of mutual benefit in its affiliation with multiple organizations providing a broad perspective. Vendetta Gutshall remarked that COVOH's advocacy is comprehensive and goes beyond education. Last year COVOH did not invoice organizations for dues, which had been $2,000 annually for ICASE. Steve asked that the ICASE Executive Committee consider a lump sum payment to COVOH of $1,000 for last year and $2,000 for 2005-06. George Van Horn suggested that RT representatives might first want to review the COVOH proposal, mission, and legislative activities with their respective groups. MOTION: Jim Murray moved for ICASE to renew its membership with COVOH with a one-time fee payment of $3,000. After a second by Vendetta Gutshall, members debated the need to have key talking points in behalf of COVOH before proceeding. Others noted roundtable representatives have the responsibility to make such decisions. Call for the Question – motion carried with 1 Nay. Steve offered to ask the Executive Director to make herself available for Roundtable meetings as well as compile a COVOH briefing packet to be distributed electronically to the Executive Committee. Medicaid – Theresa Oberley reported Fort Wayne recently had the first Medicaid audit of education programs in the state conducted by Healthcare Excel in behalf of the state agency. Her district's billing agent, Meccatech, was available to answer all questions during the day and a half audit. Auditors reviewed 70 files from the past two years. She was satisfied with the process but learned that all therapists' log sheets need to be available. Auditors emphasized that COTAs and PTAs must be in the room providing services if such are to be billed. Physicians' orders were not expected for speech pathology only for OT/PT. III. NEXT MEETING : March 16, 2006 (8:30 AM) – DOE (Riley Room) |