Board Report Florence Unified School District #1
NOVEMBER 2012 Board Report
Ginni Shuss, Director of Exceptional Student Services
Conferences/Training/Meetings for Special Needs Staff:
· Ginni and three psychologists attended the 23RD Annual CASE Conference which emphasized best practices as well as special education law.
· Seven staff members attended at least one day of a three day conference related to Transition for students.
· Three teachers and Kelly Smith attended a workshop on co-teaching.
· Two staff members attended a conference on Autism and Anxiety.
· Sandi Foss did a workshop entitled “IEP Bootcamp”.
· Adam Leckie did a workshop entitled “Assessing Behaviors and Writing Functional Behavior Plans”
· Ginni attended the Penn State job fair and interviewed 6 eager graduates for special education positions.
· There was training for staff on using the Wynn Literacy Software Program. This program was designed to enhance the success for individuals with reading and writing challenges. It uses a bi-modal approach of simultaneously highlighting text as it is spoken as well as transforming printed text into understandable information. Adam Leckie will be training in how to utilize the system to all of the high school students with special needs.
Materials and Supplies
· Materials were ordered for the life skills class at Poston Butte that included Banking Math, Basic Writing and Life Skills Practice.
· Additional testing materials arrived (the new version of the WPPSI-IV Kit).
· Specialized eating utensils arrived for students in the Apollo Program.
Project Bridge
· Three families were helped with bills for electricity, water and rent.
· There were 22 people assisted this month with food, clothing and hygiene products.
MEDICAID
· There has been a reimbursement of $13,451.91 at this point. Virginia Holtz, the MEDICAID Coordinator has learned of some additional billing opportunities, which we hope will increase revenues.
Special Olympics
· Students participated in the State Bocce tournament held in Surprise. Students had a great time spending the night, attending opening ceremonies and going to a dance. We came home with gold and silver medals.
· Unified Sports
The Unified Sports program is underway. Recently representatives from Coolidge, San Tan Foothills, Poston Butte, and Florence met with Scott Brown the AIA and Special Olympics Arizona Unified Sports Liaison. Each school has signed a letter of intent to implement Unified Sports on their campuses, participating in at minimum track and basketball. Queen Creek, while not present at the meeting, committed to implementing Unified Sports and participating with the other area schools.
At this time we have scheduled track to begin in January and basketball to begin in March. Each school is currently recruiting coaches and athletes to participate in both sports.
There will be one mentor that will oversee the program for this area (Adam Leckie). They will be required to communicate with each of the sites to schedule competitions, to ensure proper paperwork and training is completed for coaches and athletes, and in general, administering the Unified Sports program.
Technology
· We have implemented an assistive technology team in the district for students with special needs. The description of the responsibilities and purposes is as follows:
AT Team:
The assistive technology team is an interdisciplinary group of educational professionals from the areas of special and general education, speech and language, and occupational therapy. The goal of the AT team is to maximize student access to the general education curriculum and school environment through use of assistive technology. Assistive technology provides the opportunity for students with life-long learning difficulties, cognitive impairments, physical challenges, and/or medical issues to have equal access to education.
An assistive technology device is defined as "any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of a child with a disability. Exception. - The term does not include a medical device that is surgically implanted, or the replacement of such device." ( § 602(1)).
An assistive technology service is defined by IDEA 2004 as "any service that directly assists a child with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device." ( § 602(2)). The term includes:
1. the evaluation of the needs of such child, including a functional evaluation of the child in the child's customary environment;
2. purchasing, leasing, or otherwise providing for the acquisition of assistive technology devices by such child;
3. selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying, maintaining, repairing, or replacing assistive technology devices;
4. coordinating and using other therapies, interventions, or services with assistive technology devices, such as those associated with existing education and rehabilitation plans and programs;
5. training or technical assistance for such child, or, where appropriate, the family of such child; and
6. training or technical assistance for professionals (including individuals providing education and rehabilitation services), employers, or other individuals who provide services to, employ, or are otherwise substantially involved in the major life functions of such child.