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DOE/DEL (Grissom Room) (These minutes are considered a draft until approved at the next scheduled meeting.) MEMBERS PRESENT: Pam Wright (President), Tom Adams (Past-President), Lynn Gosser (President-elect), Vendetta Gutshall (Treasurer), Gary Collings (Secretary), Larry Bass (SW), Margie Labelle (C), Cheryl Corning (SE), Jan Dunham (E), Mary Beth Hamilton (NE), Donna Krol (NW), Patti Kem (NC) OTHERS PRESENT: Denise Bashore, Bob Marra GUESTS PRESENT: Dennis Born and Denise Norris (Supported Employment Consultation 765/641-8382) briefed members on the Indiana Work Incentives Planning and Assistance for SSI & SSDI Recipients who are Employed or Re-entering Employment. Their agency serves the Northern and Central counties and is based out of the Center for Mental Health in Anderson. Community Work Incentive Coordinators see about 1,000 individuals per year with approximately 40% able to terminate SSI and other entitlements. The Student Earned Income Exclusion allows students to keep SSI and earn a limited income while attending school or college. Michelle Tennell and Laurie Elliott (Youth Law T.E.A.M. of Indiana 317/916-0786) explained their organization was formed in 2004 to influence systemic change in the juvenile justice, education and child welfare systems. The Education Advocacy Project, Education Rights: The Law and Skills YOU Need to Know to be an Education Advocate, is a two-part training curriculum designed to assist foster parents, CASAs, biological parents, guardians, custodians, juvenile detention center personnel and other child-serving professionals in advocating for a student's education. The project is a collaborative effort of the Youth Law, Department of Education, Child Advocates, Inc., and the Indiana Office of Guardian Ad Litem and Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) services. Their organization is launching outreach to all juvenile detention centers through the Indiana Juvenile Detention Educators Standards Committee. In response to their request for director representatives on the committee, Donna Krol volunteered for the northern region. Margie Labelle will check with Rob Warriner (IPS) to see if he would be the central region representative. Cheryl Corning will inquire about a representative from the southern region. Nancy Holsapple, local director and liaison to the FSSA/DDAARS/DHHS Educational Interpreters Committee, was invited to update members about the status of this committee's work and the state agency's action to file complaints with DOE/DEL regarding non-certified interpreters as Larry Bass reported at last month's meeting. This committee was formed a couple of years ago through the Deaf-Blind Project at ISU. The committee has developed a rubric (like HOUSSE) through which educational interpreters can acquire a combination of credits and workshops to garner 100 points for certification. Nancy expressed her surprise when she learned from Jim Van Manen's report at the committee's last meeting on October 10 that he had recently filed several complaints against school corporations regarding interpreters who were without the required credentials. Jim Van Manen reported to the committee that the timeline for promulgating the new Educational Interpreter rule is uncertain. He observed personnel changes and the probable delay in the promulgation process will create other issues for this committee to address as the 2010 deadline looms closer requiring educational interpreters to have four (4) CEUs every two years (one CEU equals 10 hours). Nancy commented on the recent IPLA licensing denial for two of her SLPAs who are graduates from the Purdue program. Members also discussed the licensing entanglements for Speech Language Pathology Assistants between the IPLA and DOE. Nancy received a reply from Debbie Harmon speaking to the ISHA intent to support a new version of Title 880, which includes a third level of support personnel called the Speech Language Assistant in addition to the SLP I aid (high school) and SLP II (associate). ACTION: Pam requested that Tom Adams initiate a review of the statute and pending regulations in FSSA through the Legislative Committee as well as checking the proposed Article 7 language for educational interpreters as well as monitoring the proposed SLPA statute changes. Approvals A. Minutes Pam Wright called the morning meeting to order and requested a motion to approve the October 18, 2007 minutes. Larry Bass offered an amendment to the liaison section of the minutes for clarification. MOTION: Lynn Gosser moved to approve the minutes as amended. After a second by Larry Bass, the motion carried. Pam Wright requested a motion to approve the September 28, 2007 business meeting minutes to be presented at the February 29, 2008 business meeting. MOTION: Donna Krol moved to accept the business meeting minutes. After a second by Margie Labelle, the motion was approved. B. Treasurer's Report and Claim Docket Vendetta Gutshall distributed the financial report showing a remaining balance of $218,863.64 in the $242,000 budget and a docket of expenses in the amount of $5,494.14. MOTION: Cheryl Corning moved to accept the financial report and approve the docket as presented. After a second by Jan Dunham, the motion was approved. The Scholarship balance on hand is $4,435.64 plus $8,200 held by CASE. The total balance in the Roundtable Account for distribution is $16,392.06. Vendetta offered to explore
an ICASE membership affiliation with the National Association of
State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE). III. CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS A. Executive Standing Committee Appointments: 1. Legislative and Research Committee -At the October 2008 meeting, Pam Wright's recommendation for Joan McCormick as chairperson of the Legislative and Research Committee was approved. The President-elect and Past President are standing members. Tom Adams reported this committee meets tomorrow prior to the ISEAS Academy for organizational purposes and future directions as discussed today such as certification for educational interpreters and OT Assistants as well as licensing of both SLPs and SL Assistants (bachelor's) Tom asked if this committee is to be contacting other organizations about ICASE comments on Article 7 provisions? Lynn Gosser responded the work group is to meet prior to the November 30 SAC session. Once the ICASE position paper is finalized, the membership will need to connect with various partners. 2. Membership and Fiscal Management - Pam nominated Denise Bashore as the chairperson for Membership and Fiscal Management for 2007-2009. MOTION: Lynn Gosser moved to accept the nomination. After a second by Tom Adams, the motion was approved. The Secretary and Treasurer are standing members. 3. Professional Development - Pam continues to seek a chairperson for Professional Development 2007-2010. The President and Deputy Treasurer are standing members. MOTION: Vendetta Gutshall moved that all the expenses to the CASE Winter Institute be paid for the yet to be named chairperson. After a second by Donna Krol, the motion was approved. Pam reported Nan Records (CASE) has offered to meet with this committee to share her national experiences in this role. B. Special Committees: 2. Other: b. Recognition/Awards Pam appointed the Past President, Tom Adams, as chairperson at the October meeting. Members submitted a candidate's name (C.P.) for consideration. Pam reported from the CASE meeting that Michigan uses its Past Presidents' Council as it recognition committee. The Michigan retirees also run the scholarship fund raisers. 3. Duties of the Officers to be discussed at future meetings. IV. SUPPORTING the
MEMBERSHIP 2. April 29, 2008 (Northwest) Donna Krol reported Dr. Rob March is to present on "Positive Behavior Supports." 3. Fall 2008 (East) - Jan Dunham commented they are also considering a session by Dr. Rob March. 4. Spring 2009 (Southeast) Cheryl Corning said they are talking with IU Southeast faculty about a seminar on assessment of ESL students as well as a Spring 2009 topical. B.
Conferences/Activities/Reports C. Roundtable Reports of
Activities most roundtables are meeting next week. 2. Northeast Vendetta Gutshall reported Monica Conrad will be presenting on Article 7. 3. Central Margie Labelle
reported they are planning a retreat. Pam thanked the board for
its support of its officers to attend the national board
meeting. In lieu of a cash grant to CASE, members discussed
sponsoring two board members to attend the CASE Winter Institute
in January 2008 at Miami Beach. Larry Bass and Cheryl Corning
will consider the invitation to represent the ICASE Executive
Committee. VI. PROMOTING the
ORGANIZATION B. Division of Exceptional Learners Bob Marra provided an update on Article 7 that included a consideration to remove various citations such as HQ, FERPA, etc. from the text and place them in an appendix. At its last meeting the SAC removed the "mutually agreed upon time" language related to the parent's schedule, kept the 22 years, and considered eliminating severe discrepancy. The SAC has yet to act on preschool, and CD, LD, and HI remain under study. The last two meetings of the SAC are scheduled for November 30 and December 14. The official public hearings sponsored by the State Board of Education will be held in February 2008 at three locations (Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, and a southern site). Bob announced DEL will be releasing a reading survey to directors about how special education teachers are recruited and how well they are prepared for teaching reading. The same survey will be released by DOE to both principals and superintendents. A February 11 13, 2008
seminar on disproportionality will be held for 10 districts yet
to receive letters of invitation. The selection criteria will be
based on both the 2006-07 and 2007-08 census to be confirmed
after the December 1 child count. The formula would be a rate
2.5 times greater than the State average across two years and
two categories. The seminar will focus on how to re-direct Part
B funds to early intervening services. In June 2008 DEL will
conduct a summer institute for other districts on the "bubble". D. Appointees Other
Agencies/Associations VII. OTHER BUSINESS Directors have recently become aware of discussion about licensing OT Assistants and an apparent Senate version of a bill that was stripped of language to license OTAs. Senator Miller reportedly stated Indiana does not license assistants such as speech, PT, nursing, and physicians. Margie Labelle received an update from her OTR that the regulations for supervision of OTAs have not yet been determined by the licensing bureau (IPLA). Her OTR does not expect a change from the current regulations, which basically do not allow assistants to complete evaluations. OTAs currently can treat under the supervision of an OT who must meet with the OTA weekly or as determined by the OT based on the skills and experience of the OTA. There is a January meeting of a group of OTRs who work in schools to look at the regulations once they are finalized. Gary Collings requested a
$500 state sponsorship for the 25th annual Midwest Educational
Leadership Conference (MELC) to be held June 23 25, 2008 in
Breckenridge <http://iseas.org/melc.htm>. MOTION: Cheryl
Corning moved to approve the $500 sponsorship. After a second by
Margie Labelle, the motion was approved.
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