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S.E.L.A.C. Minutes of March 9, 2004

 

Attendees:      Shahin Barzin, Alma Davenport, Barbara Davis, Keller DiLuglio, Betsy Gooding, Bev Green, Gaeli Greene, Patricia McDevitt, Ginny Perry, Beth Pinto, Sandra Reynolds, Tony Rafanelli, Tracie Shea, Mary Waddington.

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Gaeli Greene.

 

AGENDA REVIEW - No additions.

 

COMMENTS, COMMENDATIONS, CONCERNS

 

·                 Alma Davenport is a new member.  She has a daughter at Quest Montessori.

·                 Betsy Gooding talked about the presentation in North Kingstown regarding risk-taking behavior.  The panel with past students was especially powerful. Ginny Perry said that this presentation is being done in different schools and asked whether it could be done in Jamestown.  Betsy Gooding mentioned that Mrs. Sipala said that we may have the program here.  The Substance Abuse Task force is working on it.  Sandra Reynolds noted that the Ali Dunn program will be presented to 7th and 8th graders in March.  Gaeli said she could see students detaching during the presentation in North Kingstown, because of the age of the drivers.  However, she thought that the Dunn presentation will make more of an impact.  Ginny Perry thought SELAC should send a letter of thanks to North Kingstown.  Betsy Gooding will write it. 

 

SPECIAL EDUCATION DIRECTOR’S REPORT

 

·                 School Support Visit - Beth Pinto wanted to commend the whole school community for their participation during the School Support Visit.  She cannot report yet because the report hasn’t been sent.  She hopes to share the report for Education Day.

·                 Three newsletters, College Link, Resources and Options, and RI Innovations, were available for committee members to peruse.

·                 A brochure that was sent from the R.I. Office of Special Populations was presented for members to see.

·                 The Sherlock Center conference on April 2 will concern alignment of the transition process with standards-based education. 

·                 A draft of the revised 504 school policy will be presented at the next School Committee business meeting.

·                 Beth is looking for three parents to join the high school committee.

·                 There will be a workshop on April 21 entitled “Improving Academic Achievement by Promoting Social and Emotional Learning.”  Betsy Gooding asked how parents are informed about these workshops.  Letters are sent twice a year. 

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

MINUTES REVIEW

Minutes for January 13, 2004 were accepted as corrected.

 

PLANNING CENTER - Ginny Perry asked about the Planning Center.  Gaeli Greene said that the center will be different from in the past.  Mrs. Sipala worked with the Lawn Avenue teachers, looked at resources, and redefined the Planning Center to meet the needs.  Maureen McGuirl, who will be taking the position, will be responsible for discipline, detention, after school programs, teachers in the lunch room, coordinating with school activities, liaison to parents, etc.  Tony Rafanelli said that he and Gaeli were concerned about special education students’ services because of the change in the position.  Gaeli Greene said she was satisfied that special education needs for students will be met.  The new position is filling a lot of roles.  Ginny Perry said that the school needs to define the position in writing so that everyone knows who is responsible for what.  

 

SUPPORT GROUP - Tony Rafanelli explained that he was approached by someone from another district who was having problems with a child falling behind and no response from the district.  He asked if the committee was interested in a support group where someone would act as a buddy/advocate.  We have Public Forum before the meeting.  However, this person was looking for someone to attend IEP or other meetings with him.  Tony said that committee members would have to be careful not to get in over their heads.  He thought there would have to be at least two people for Public Forum from 6:30 to 7:00.  Tracie Shea thought it was hard to imagine needing more that the present public forum, and said it would be hard to promote this new support group.  Alma Davenport wondered if it was possible to know ahead of time so that someone to answer particular questions could be here.  Keller DiLuglio said she would be comfortable helping someone who had a child with the same disability as her child’s.  Patricia McDevitt said that there was a list of people on the back of the SELAC brochure, and she called someone on the list when she needed help.  There was general discussion about names on a list.  The consensus was that members would be comfortable putting their names on a list but would not want any specific disability attached to it.  It was suggested that a letter could be sent to parents stating that there were parents who had expertise in specific areas and to call the Co-Chair for specifics.  Beth Pinto noted that RIPIN has an advocacy training program and would be willing to give a talk.  She will gather the list and will create a flyer for Awareness Day.  Gaeli Greene will keep the list.  A draft will be sent to the Warrior.

 

BYLAWS REVIEW - Regarding limitation of terms, the Bylaws are not clear.  Bylaws state that the majority of members should be parents of children with disabilities.  Tony Rafanelli asked that this review be tabled until after Awareness Day.  He asked members to make corrections and either give them to him or send them electronically by April 1st.  His email is ajrafanelli@cox.net.  Gaeli Greene said that on March 23, she will be attending a meeting of all SELAC chairs in the state.  She will ask the group about bylaws. 

 

AWARENESS DAY PLANNING -

 

·                 Tony Rafanelli said he wanted to get press releases in both papers.

·                 Program:  8 - 8:30 - School Band will play

·                              8:30 - 9:30 - Welcome by Mrs. Sipala and keynote by Senator Reed.

    9:45 - 10:45 - Mark Allard will speak about developmental assets, and there will be a presentation on transition to high school for special education.. 

    10:45 - 11:45 - Presentations on Gems Net, speech and language guidelines, and financial planning for special needs.

    11:45 - 12:45 - Presentations on Connected Math, navigating teenage years, and sensory integration.

·                 If Jack Reed cannot come, Tony Rafanelli suggested that Mrs. Sipala be asked to speak about the state of the school, and Beth Pinto might report on the School Support Visit.

·                 PTO is providing refreshments.

·                 Tony Rafanelli is keeping a list of the speakers’ audiovisual needs.

·                 The press release from last year’s program was revised.  An announcement  will go into the Warrior, and forms will be posted on the web site.  An announcement will also be sent to RIPIN and the Department of Education. 

·                 Tony Rafanelli will do a booklet with bios for the speakers.

·                 Shahin Barzin said that the SELAC booklet has names that need to be changed.  He will get the booklet to Beth Pinto so that changes can be made.

·                 A sub-committee meeting will be held on March 24 at 4:00 p.m. in Sandra Reynolds’ room in the Lawn Avenue School.  It will discuss final details. 

·                 Ginny Perry said that Cameron Toppa and Tommy Munro will help her with child care.    

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

 

Barbara B. Davis