Minutes - Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board

SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SEAC)
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Education Centre, Belleville
Board Committee Room
PUBLIC MINUTES
_________________________________________________________________________________
Present:
Margo Russell-Bird Children’s Treatment Centre
Thelma Goodfellow Trustee
Harry Marissen Trustee
Kelly Mathieson Family Space Quinte
Ralph Porter Member-at-large
Dwayne Stacey Children’s Aid Society
Joanne TenWolde Community Living Prince Edward
Resource:
Trish FitzGibbon Superintendent, Special Education Services
Jennifer Meade Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF)
Cathy Portt System Principal
Regrets:
Phyllis Bement Community Care Access Centre (CCAC)
Megan Luke Children’s Mental Health
Tonia Shelmerdine Ontario Principals’ Council (OPC)
Wendy Wild Down Syndrome Support Network, Quinte
Absent:
Betty Jean Brookes Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte
Jennifer Lucas Association for Bright Children (ABC)
Susan Seaman Counselling Services of Belleville and District
Jennifer Vincent Loyalist College
Minutes:
Julie Kezar Administrative Assistant
Guest:
Cindy Waite Speech/Language Pathologist
Welcome
Chair Stacey welcomed SEAC members to the meeting.

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Minutes of February 26, 2009_________________________________________________________
Approval of the minutes
Moved: Kelly Mathieson
Seconded: Thelma Goodfellow
Business arising from the minutes
There was no business arising from the minutes.
That the minutes of January 22, 2009 be approved.
Carried
Continuous Assessment Process Overview
Superintendent FitzGibbon introduced Cindy Waite, who is a speech/language pathologist and part of
our specialized services team. A handout was distributed which provided an overview of the Ontario
Psychological Association (OPA) project from 2006 to 2008.
Cindy shared that OPA received a grant of $20 million to be used to support school boards to reduce
wait times for students requiring psychological assessments and to enhance teacher capacity. In
recognition of the importance of early identification of a student’s learning needs, the Ministry targeted
students in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 4 as priorities for assessments through this project.
The board identified priority items, which focussed on psycho-educational assessments, teacher case
conference participation, speech and language educational assistant learning network, Strategies for
Success: A Program for Students with Learning Disabilities resource, TOWL-3 (which is a test of written
language), and Using Continuous Assessment as an Intervention Model: A resource guide for student
intervention from the classroom to psycho-educational services.
As a result of the OPA grant, the following initiatives were achieved:
• 98 additional psycho-educational assessments were contracted out;
• wait times for all psycho-educational assessments were reduced;
• 110 teachers were able to participate in post-assessment conferences with psychological
services staff and resource teachers;
• educational assistants were supported to meet with speech and language pathologists to review
programs and share best practices, as well as the creation of an on-line “chat” network;
• Strategies for Success resource document was developed and distributed;
• Various assessment tools were researched, which resulted in the selection of the TOWL-3 test;
• Using Continuous Assessment as an Intervention Model resource was developed based on the
assessment and intervention model presented in Education for All and distributed;
• Training of key staff on the Using Continuous Assessment as an Intervention Model resource,
TOWL-3 assessment tool, Strategies for Success resource, and Key Math 3 assessment tool.
It was noted that all of the focus items are sustainable and will continue to be used beyond the scope of
the OPA funding. A discussion ensued and various questions were posed regarding the OPA project
as well as the cessation of Ministry funding.
System Principal Portt then shared an overview of the Continuous Assessment document to provide a
more in-depth understanding of the guide, which has proven to be a very practical tool. Trustee
Marissen shared that he felt the document was very well done, and will be a great resource for years to
come. One suggestion was to share the document with community agencies. SEAC members will
receive a copy of the Continuous Assessment binder at the March meeting.

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Minutes of February 26, 2009_________________________________________________________
Special Education Budget update
Superintendent FitzGibbon provided some background information regarding one of SEAC’s goals
which was to have regular updates pertaining to the special education budget. Superintendent
Rutherford prepared a report regarding 2009-2010 budget timelines which was distributed to committee
members. For the past few years, the Ministry has set June 30 as the deadline for school boards to
submit budget estimates for the upcoming school year. The board has been able to meet this deadline
when the Ministry funding announcements have been released in March.
Budget timelines and tasks for 2009-2010 have been developed by senior administration in order to
meet the June 30 deadline, with the expectation that once again the Ministry will release the funding
regulations by March 31, 2009.
The Minister of Finance has recently announced that the provincial budget will be released in late
March, which could impact the release of the funding allocation for school boards. Superintendent
FitzGibbon indicated that if the announcements are later than usual, the timelines will need to be
altered.
Chair Stacey indicated that SEAC members would like to continue to provide feedback to the board,
specifically relating to the protection of special education funding.
Joint SEAC Meeting with Algonquin Lakeshore Catholic DSB and Limestone DSB
Superintendent FitzGibbon shared that an invitation has been received from Limestone DSB to attend a
joint SEAC meeting with Limestone DSB and Algonquin Lakeshore Catholic DSB on Wednesday, May
20, 2009. A guest speaker named Stacey Routh will be presenting on the issue of mental health
effects on children, whose parents are deployed through the military.
SEAC members indicated that they were interested in attending the meeting; therefore, it was agreed to
change the date of the regular SEAC meeting in May from Thursday, May 28, 2009 to Wednesday,
May 20, 2009. At the end of the presentation in Kingston, our committee will re-group to proceed with
the balance of the agenda items.
Shared Solutions planning update
Further to the last discussion regarding planning a joint Shared Solutions training, a work group met
today to establish a framework for Phase 1 of the planning. The work group consisted of Todd Hinks,
Sandra Hill, Joanne TenWolde, and Superintendent FitzGibbon. Katie Cudmore was unable to join as
she is on vacation.
Trish shared the results of the work session. Phase 1 will be held on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 from
12:00 to 2:30 (tentatively). The training will include various activities, case studies, power point
demonstrations, and full group discussions.
Information
Special Connections
Julie shared that the newsletter insert featuring Children’s Mental Health Services was emailed to
schools for inclusion in their next school newsletter.
Report from members, resource and staff
Jennifer Meade - shared that on Monday evening she, Cindy Rymes and Jenn Hawkins made a
presentation at the Board Meeting on how assistive technology and the CODE project aids student
learning. A very positive article written by Jason Parks was featured in the Picton Gazette on February
26, 2009.

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Minutes of February 26, 2009_________________________________________________________
Kelly Mathieson – shared that the transition to school meetings have occurred, with positive feedback
received. She noted that the Best Start Expert Panel was reviewing the Curriculum Early Learning
Framework (ELK) document, and that a mini conference is occurring on Saturday, March 28, 2009 at
Family Space from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A presentation by the Ministry is occurring as well as the
President from Lanark County. Lynn Crawford-Beare is also presenting on how the ELF intersects with
the JK/SK curriculum.
Ralph Porter – shared that he hosted 4 of the Belleville Bulls who were involved in the world hockey
tournament on February 9, 2009. On February 5, 2009 he attended an immigration ceremony where 2
of his Mexican friends became Canadian citizens. Last Monday, he introduced the Honourable David
C. Onley who is the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, at the joint 41st Kiwanis Rotary meeting. Ralph
has also just placed an order for 1,200 Night Before Kindergarten books. He has also distributed FASD
materials to Beverley Croft (FASD Coalition of Ottawa), Alicia Gould (Belleville General Hospital), and
Linda Jarvic in New Brunswick.
Harry Marissen – is continuing to work on the No Child Without Program through the Lions Club. Harry
is also receiving requests to support schools in the area, starting with CML Snider in Wellington.
Thelma Goodfellow – shared how much she enjoyed seeing teachers and students in action during her
recent visit to Tyendinga P.S.
Dwayne Stacey – shared that the partnership with the board for educational programs in care and
treatment facilities is going well.
Correspondence
2008 Director’s Report
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
Next Meeting:
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Board Committee Room - 5:00 p.m.