09-16-11 Strg Minutes - Sonoma County SELPA

SONOMA COUNTY SELPA
STEERING COMMITTEE
MINUTES
September 16, 2011
ATTENDANCE:
Judy Adams [SELPA]
Heidi Adler [ANOVA]
Chris Allen [Matrix]
Diane Ashton [CRP/Healdsburg]
Annabel Bentley [Windsor]
Kathy Bregder [SELPA]
Kelly Brooks [SELPA]
Mary Ann Carpenter [Old Adobe]
Jennifer Coker [Cloverdale]
Catherine Conrado [SELPA]
Cathy Crawford [New Directions]
Ginger Dale [North County Consortium]
Kathryn Davy [West County Consortium]
Marie Derr [CAC]
Elizabeth Edson [Pathways Charter]
Greg Englar [SELPA]
Marlene Fisher [Bellevue/Wright]
Vince Hamilton [WSCUHSD]
Kathryn Hill [SCOE]
Mandy Hoffman [SCOE]
Deborah Malone-Larson [SELPA]
Nanci Mathison [Sonoma Valley]
Lana McNamara [Sebastopol Independent]
Kevin Powers [New Directions]
Tricia Rast [Petaluma City]
Nikarre Redcoff [SELPA]
Carlo Rossi [SAY]
Erika Salazar [Redwood Consortium]
Debra Sanders [Santa Rosa]
Ann Savvidis [Mark West]
Lynda Scigliano [SELPA]
I. OPENING/CALL TO ORDER
Catherine Conrado called the meeting to order at 9:15 a.m.
II.
III.
IV.
PUBLIC INPUT
There was no input from the public.
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA
The agenda was re-ordered, with the CAC update to be heard immediately after the lunch
break.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Kelly Brooks: A listing of all SELPA workshops for 2011-12 was provided. Class offerings
and registration are available online at the SELPA website.
Nikarre Redcoff: If your district is anticipating SESR follow-up communication from the
CDE, all follow-up letters are being directed to superintendents, with copies to the SELPA
office. If you have questions, contact Nikarre.
Catherine Conrado: This year's Northern California Special Education Legal Symposium
sponsored by the law offices of Fagen, Friedman and Fullfrost will be held in Concord on
October 28, 2011 and March 9, 2012. The SELPA is unable to generate a group purchase
order this year.
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V. ACTION ITEMS
A. Modifications to ADR Guidelines: [Kelly Brooks]
In an effort to further streamline the ADR process, the SELPA team enlisted
member support to approve proposed modifications to the ADR Guidelines. As a
tool to be used when requesting a facilitated IEP, the following documents were
presented for review, feedback and implementation:
o DRAFT IEP Review Worksheet/Checklist
o DRAFT IEP Review Worksheet Appendix [description of items on the
Worksheet]
o SAMPLE student worksheet
Given time constraints, action was deferred to the October 14, 2011 Steering
Committee meeting.
B. Adaptive Technology Grant for 2011-12: [Susan Mark-Raymond]
A total of 9 districts [5 second-year applicants and 4 first-year applicants]
submitted applications for the 2011-12 Adaptive Technology Grant. Information
was presented to the Superintendents' Council at its September meeting, with
approval given to enlist the services of 2 Steering Committee members to review
applications.
Ann Savvidis and Mary Ann Carpenter volunteered to participate in the review
process, with grant award notifications to be made after September 23, 2011.
C. Nonpublic Schools/Agencies: [Greg Englar]
Behavior Emergency Intervention Reports [Exhibit L of Master Contract]:
The SELPA has issued a reminder to nonpublic schools regarding the required
submission of completed reports to LEAs and the SELPA. This includes
completion of the action taken as a follow-up to the intervention, and distribution
of that information to LEAs, parents, and BICMs. Districts should review these
upon receipt to ensure an appropriate behavior intervention plan is being
implemented.
Transportation Excess Cost:
When a nonpublic school wants to alter a student’s day by changing the drop-off
or pick-up times with the bus company, this may trigger an excess charge-back to
the district. All transportation change requests are to be approved by the district
prior to a change in transportation. Bus companies have been informed that unless
approved by the district they should not change the schedule, and, any unapproved
changes and resulting excess costs are to be billed to the nonpublic school.
Elimination of the ED 3632 LCI category on the NPS Rate Sheet [Pending]:
Since this is no longer a required mandate, the specialized rate for AB3632
students is not necessary. [SCOE/LCI students will no longer be separated out for
specialized services/rates.]
New Directions Rate Request:
New Directions has requested a rate of $156.74/day for 6 ED students previously
served in its Compass day treatment class, which will allow these students to
continue receiving County Mental Health individual and group counseling services
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while they move to New Directions' integrated SDC Venture class, effective
October 1, 2011.
A motion was made by Annabel Bentley and seconded by Tricia Rast to recommend
approval of New Directions' rate request of $156.74/day for 6 ED students
previously served in its Compass day treatment class while they move to the
integrated SDC Venture class, effective October 1, 2011. The motion carried with all
in favor.
III.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. CAC Report: [Marie Derr]
Acknowledged the support and dedication of the special education community in
helping students with special needs in Sonoma County.
Thanked the Steering Committee for nominating the CAC as last year's Spirit of
Education recipient. The award money will be used to host a half-day Saturday
symposium to include a line-up of speakers to cover special education topics.
A goal for the current year is to develop a resource packet for new parents.
Following is a snapshot of this year's CAC topics which will be listed in its soonto-be-released
2011-12 CAC brochure:
o September 14: Behavior [Rose Velasquez]
o October 12: Speech [Kelly Brooks]
o November 9: IEPs [Carlo Rossi]
o December [No Meeting]
o January 11: Bullying [Speaker TBD]
o February 8: Friendship/Social Issues [Rose Velasquez]
o March 14: Transitioning from Middle to High School/Adult Life [Speaker TBD]
o April 11: Coming to Terms with Your Child's Diagnosis [Speaker TBD]
o May 9: What Happens to a Sp. Ed. Child when a Parent Passes? [Speaker TBD]
B. Governance Roles and Responsibilities for Steering Committee Representatives:
Clarification was provided on the roles and responsibilities of Steering Committee
representatives.
Designees for Region VI [North County] were established, with Diane Ashton
representing the elementary districts and Annabel Bentley representing secondary
districts. A listing of area representatives will be presented at the next meeting.
C. Input from the Membership on Priority Issues and Future Direction of Steering:
Describe a time when the Steering Committee performed really well and what
were the circumstances?
o Making sense of SESR information and being supported
o Negotiating with CMH to reduce our bill
o When small and isolated districts were considered
o Meeting every two weeks is helpful [Conclusion: this is the first year of monthly
meetings and Steering approved the calendar as scheduled; will re-evaluate in
the Spring; some members appreciate the reduction in meetings.]
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o Legal Services at every other meeting was helpful, particularly for hot topics
[Conclusion: Legal services were previously provided at no charge to the
SELPA; since SELPA bears the costs, it was deemed prudent to keep the current
schedule of presentations.]
o Regular "Legal Updates" from Legal Services
o Breaking into small subcommittees to develop guidelines and report back to
group [Conclusion: Steering was reminded of a prior request from the Council
to reduce numbers of meetings as members were away from their duties too
frequently.]
o Establishing meetings for Special Education Directors/Coordinators only;
additional meetings would be helpful
o Opportunity for members and attendees to request specific agenda items
o Good regional representation [Steering representatives presented issues and
sought opinions at regional meetings and brought them back to Steering]
o When meetings had an atmosphere of consensus and working toward a common
goal despite size or location of district
o When Steering Committee recommendations were trusted; there was less
pressure to make decisions based on costs and more focus on student outcome
o More of a business approach to moving forward
o Charter schools now have a voice
o Worked through private school issues successfully over many sessions
o ATC Grant decisions where there was good discussion, varying opinions, and
outcome to use as proactive model and dollars to encourage staff in the field to
more savvy with technology
o Developing best practices across districts in Sonoma County, i.e., ADR, Program
Standards, etc.
o When collegial sharing is encouraged and we learn from each other's experiences
o When members are asked for input on agenda
o When subcommittees are active and effective and there is follow-through on
recommendations
o When IEP Coaches were actively trained
o Autism Authorization
o AB3632 team came together with common concerns
o Collectively come together and express concerns, disseminate information, and
offer our ideas to leadership to then have a process and plan on how to move
forward
What do you value most about being a member of the Steering Committee and
why?
o Appreciation for being part of a community who share common experiences;
appreciation for everyone else's expertise and willingness to share
o Having great colleagues who we can call on when we need support
o It's a safe environment
o Sharing ideas/brainstorming
o Support from peers and being with people that have similar jobs [sometimes feel
isolated at district site]
o Having a break from IEPs
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o Collaboration with colleagues/peers
o Opportunity to learn, particularly from Carl Corbin's legal presentations
o Humor/laughter and feeling of belonging rather than "in it alone"
o Respect and appreciation for one another
o Support, sharing common concerns and to generate solutions
o Carl Corbin's presentations
o A forum to gather information collectively
o Support and validation of our mission
o The give and take and sharing experiences [hearing from others]
o Having a gate keeper of the information that prioritizes what we need to focus on
in special education
o There is a focus on the interests not just the issues even when everyone isn't in
agreement, the discussion is worthy
o The sense of acceptance and respect of you as a seasoned or new member
o Collegiality/collaboration
o Having valuable and time-sensitive information to share with staff and parents
o Working together on difficult cases
o Being better informed regarding special education issues
o Meetings provide information on the future direction of special education
o Validation
o Lots of variety and humor
o NPS and IEP updates
o Learning information that keeps us legally safe
o Consistent opportunity to get caught up on special education
o Feeling like a part of something; membership is important
What do you want for the future of the Steering Committee?
o Continued standardization of following special education procedures
o More active subcommittees [having subcommittee meeting time during Steering
Committee meetings]
o Receive "Legal Updates" monthly; add as a standing item on agendas
o Reinstate subcommittees or do they represent duplication of staff time
o Time line to gauge topics on the agenda
o Additional time on agenda for specific problem solving
o Minutes from State SELPA organization; more information from State SELPA
organization
o Continued information on what's going on at state and federal level
o Director-only meetings to be held more frequently
o More input from Legal Services and routine "Legal Updates"
o Celebrate worthy programs and successes
o Support for twice monthly meetings
o SELPA Program Specialists to share frequently asked questions
o Opportunity to submit agenda items
o More parent awareness of what Steering Committee is all about
o Agenda timelines if big discussions are taking place the group can decide
whether or not to continue or place on next agenda
o Really like having Director-only meetings
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o Seasoned directors to mentor newer directors
o More sharing of how districts are implementing programs/policies
o Regular attendance so don't have to recap on issues that were already addressed
[consider developing a protocol of what to do if you missed a meeting, i.e., call
the chair/presenter, read minutes, contact a colleague, etc.
Are there other specific topics to be covered in 2011-12?
o How would an independent charter school provide services to a group of
students, i.e., EL or services that are not currently included in the program?
o Legal hotspots
o Feedback on what districts are doing to provide mental health service [suggest
having as a standing item on all agendas]
o Funding and current practices implemented by other districts
o Budgets and how to reduce encroachment
o How charter schools provide services
o RtI model, particularly at secondary level; what are districts doing - need for
continuity [the logistical component of eligibility]?
o Special education eligibility
o Mental Health clarification and ongoing updates
o IEP changes and suggestions for better compliance
o ADR/complaint updates
o Legal hotspots and cutting edge information on special education
o Strategies on how to partner successfully with parents
o SELPA Director/Program Specialists to compile a list of FAQs to be shared with
the membership
o Transition services
o Restraint/seclusion information
o Review standards for students under the umbrella of full inclusion services
D. Mental Health for 2011-12 and Beyond: [Catherine Conrado]
Copies of the following documents were presented and reviewed:
o Draft Methodology for Allocating Mental Health Funding for 2011-12.
o Draft Invoicing Documents
o Snapshot of Costs by Type of Service
o CASEMIS Services Codes/Directions for Coding
o Steering Committee feedback from August 19, 2011 Mental Health PowerPoint
School psychologists should be required to attend the September 28, 2011 CANS
workshop.
Questions regarding mental health services can be directed to Catherine Conrado.
IV.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 3:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynda Scigliano
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SELPA Administrative Assistant
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