ESE Advisory Committee Meeting

Minutes

05/18/2016

Meeting Participants

Sherry Aemisegger, District
Lael Arango, Community
Sue Blanchard, Community
Laura Bluett, District
Michele Burt, District
Janet Clark, District
Stephen Colbert, Parent / Bozena Gasior, Parent
Jane Golding, District
Lina Hawana, Parent
Paula Keyser, Parent
Marty Massimo, District
Tracy McMannus, District
Kim Nance, Parent / Sandy Oliveras, Parent
MistiPollaro, Agency
Kristi Russell, District
Lisa Tucker, District
Andrew Wiener, Parent

Excused

Caroline Conlon, Parent Shandy Gregg, District Rachel Pages, Parent

Jessica Conover,District Doreen Jablonski, Parent Michelle Rogers, Parent

Visitors

Melissa Andress, District
Pamela Bostick, District
Kelly Hendrikson, District
Ann Kerben, District
Rich LaBelle, Agency / Kelli Mitchell, Community
Jason Padgett, District
Tonya Proffer, Parent
Julie Sagil, Parent
Kristen Stevenson, Parent / Brenda Thompson Stewart,
Parent
Aimee Stubbs, Community
Jean Stowell-Urban, Parent

Welcome and Introductions

Tracy McMannus facilitated and attendees introduced themselves.

Approval of Minutes

Minutes approved with onename correction.

Vacancies/Membership Elections/Recruitment

Vacant positions on the membership list were reviewed. The following volunteered to serve as members: Brenda Thompson Stewart (Gifted), Madeline Colbert (High School/ET Students), Jason Padgett (ESE Teacher 9-12). Paula Keyser offered to update the listing. Anyone else interested should contact Tracy McMannus at (727)588-6062 or .

Strategic Plan 2015-2016 Review/Updates

Per Jane Golding,discussions are underway on the possibility of adding two goals to the strategic plan.

2016-17 Feeder Pattern/Unit Allocations

These spreadsheets for elementary, middle, and high school will be placed on the ESE Advisory site by the end of the day tomorrow. Per Jane Golding and Sherry Aemisegger:

  • Some units were moved to allow students to be at their home zone school and to reduce their travel time.
  • After the 10 day count, they will have an accurate count as to the number of units.
  • Principals are aware of all feeder/unit changes, so parents can get information from them.
  • Speech-only PreK classes are being converted to blended units……some will be 3-year old blended units and some will be VPK blended units.

Inclusion Research/Practices

Ann Kerben did an overview of Florida Inclusion Network (FIN)and reviewed theBureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS) Strategic goals. She discussed the BPIE (Best Practices for Inclusive Education) and working with our school leadership. She handed out the F.A.C.T. Folio “Inclusive Classrooms-Is Your Child IN or WITH?” and discussed key points and answered questions. She emphasized that parents need to communicate with their child’s teacher(s) prior to and at the beginning of the school year regarding their child, their child’s IEP, and inclusion. Ann gathered feedback from parents on what future support could be provided from FIN regarding inclusion.

Extended Transition (ET)

Tamika Hughes-Leeks and Pamela Bostwick handed out a pocket folder containing information, forms, and booklets on extended transition. While transition looks at developmental activities from the beginning of school through all the years, their presentation focused on extended transition services from high school through age 22. Here are some highlights:

  • The Transition Portfolio form has been reinstituted.
  • Shadowing starts in September at 17 different extended transition program sites.
  • This year, open houses occurred twice in the fall and once in the spring.
  • Coordinate with many companies and agencies through PINCS (Pinellas Interagency Networking Council for Students).
  • Schools/transition teams work with group homes/guardians for those students who do not have parents.
  • With improved technology in the schools, can project future ET needs.
  • Application process is in November. This past year 96% of ET students signed up.
  • A student first receives a postcard denoting acceptance into a program, and then receives a sheet with more specifics, such as hours, transportation, dress code, etc.

ESE Advisory Agenda Topics

Jane Golding discussed the ESE Advisory Calendar for the 2016-17 school year. All reviewed and many expressed wanting to discuss and advise on things before they are decided (i.e. the budget). Jane recommended adding a line in the agenda for advising. She also added that the 2016-17 budget is not available yet to be presented.

Parent SubcommitteeUpdate

The purpose of this subcommittee is to develop an informational booklet for parents regarding ESE in Pinellas County Schools. MistiPollaro shared efforts to increase parent participation in this group, and will continue to work towards this parent initiative.

In the meantime, the FDLRS parent booklet from Palm Beach County had been adapted with Pinellas County info (per Tracy McMannus and Marty Massimo) and a DRAFT copy was shared. This will be provided to the district as a FDLRS resource.

OpenAgenda

Marty Massimo shared FDLRS resources lists on summer camps, support services, and upcoming events. All are available on their website and the district website.

Brenda Thompson Stewart expressed concerns regarding her PreK child with apraxia and his inability to communicate effectively at school. She would like teachers to have more training on apraxia. She has another child with dyslexia who is gifted, but can’t get services if child’s performance is average.

A parent of a child with dyslexia feels there is a lack of interventions……son regressed in both public and private schools. A private SLP used the Barton program and she has the data and stats to prove success.

Julie Sagil felt encouraged by the new ESE leadership. She offered to arrange for them to tour DePaul School.

Teri Statton was introduced as the new PreKESE Specialist.

Jason Padgett was the recipient of the “Random Drawing” for the Mentor Resource Bag.

On behalf of the ESE Department, Thank You recognitions were given to Paula Keyser, Marty Massimo, and MistiPollaro for their ongoing volunteer work and efforts with the ESE Advisory projects and operations.

Futuremeetings will be held 6-8pm at the Largo Administration Building, 2nd Floor Room B-213:

  • September 21, 2016
  • November 16, 2016
  • January 18, 2017
  • March 22, 2017
  • May 17, 2017

Word fn: ESE Advisory Minutes 05182016