ICASE
Executive Committee Meeting
Executive Committee Listserv
<icaseexecutive@googlegroups.com>
April 15, 2010

These minutes are considered a draft until approved at the next meeting.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Vendetta Gutshall  (President), Lynn Gosser (Past-President), Cheryl Harshman (President-elect), Gary Collings (Secretary—June 2011), Margie Labelle (C—June 2010), Jan Dunham (E–June 2010), Jada Conner  (NE—June 2012),  Saundra Lange  (SW—June 2012), Bev Garrison (SE—June 2011), Pam von Rahl (NW--June 2010), Patti Kem (Professional Development—June 2010), Joan McCormick (Legislative and Research—June 2011),  Steve Wornhoff (Membership and Fiscal—June 2012)

ABSENT:  Denise Bashore (Treasurer—June 2012), Tom Barth (NC—June 2011), 

OTHERS PRESENT:  Karol Farrell, Tom Bell, Fran Osborne-Wood, Dave Chastain, Tom Adams, Cheryl Corning, Dawn McGrath (DOE), Ann Davis (DOE), Michael Craciunoiu (DOE).

I.          APPROVALS

A.        Minutes -- Vendetta Gutshall called the meeting to order and asked for a motion to approve the March 18, 2010 minutes.  MOTION:  Patti Kem moved to approve the March 18, 2010 minutes as presented. After a second by Lynn Gosser, the motion was unanimously approved. 

B.         Treasurer’s Report and Claim Docket – In the absence of Denise Bashore, Steve Wornhoff presented the March 2010 Financial Statement showing a general cash balance of $220,258.39 with a profit to date of $25,858.11 as of March 31, 2010.   The March 2010 docket of expenses for $54,514.32 was presented.  MOTION:  Cheryl Harshman moved to accept the March 31 financial report including the March 2010 docket.  After a second by Saundra Lange, the motion was unanimously approved. 

 The ICASE Scholarship Funds held in the ICASE account were $6,576.59 and the funds held by CASE were $10,200.01.  Roundtable balances totaled $6,594.51.      

 C.         Treasurer’s Resignation  -  Steve Wornhoff read the letter of resignation from Denise Bashore  effective April 30, 2010 and prior to the end of her term through June 30, 2012. MOTION:  Vendetta Gutshall moved to appoint Steve Wornhoff as Treasurer to complete the term through June 30, 2012.  After a second by Jada Conner, the motion as unanimously approved.

Vendetta announced that Denise Bashore is willing to accept the position of Deputy Treasurer.  Denise and Dave Chastain would co-chair the Membership and Fiscal Management Committee for the remainder of Steve’s term through June 2010.  Dave Chastain will assume responsibility for the membership aspect.

Steve Wornhoff reported that Denise’s assistant, Becky Krumreid, will continue with the accounting/bookkeeping responsibilities.  The official ICASE mailing address will continue to be Denise’s office in the Northwest Indiana Special Education Cooperative.

D.        Secretary’s Resignation – Gary Collings read his letter of resignation effective April 30, 2010 prior to the end of his term through June 30, 2011.  MOTION:  Vendetta Gutshall moved to appoint Jan Dunham as Secretary to complete the term through June 30, 2011.  After a second by Tom Adams, the motion was unanimously approved.                             

II.        IDOE REPORT – Dawn McGrath attended today’s meeting and presented the following information:

·         Maintenance of Effort – a draft of the slide for the MOE webinar on April 21 was presented.  The 15% is to be applied across all Part B grants and the 50% reduction of the MOE amount is across the “increase” in Part B grants including the two stimulus ones.  Modifications may be necessary to both the grant applications and cash requests including stimulus funds, which may invoke time and effort reporting for personnel.

·         Non-public Schools – members were referred to a recent DOE memo of clarification.

·         APC – the new interface will give directors limited reviewer access to data of member school corporations in a district via a drop down box.

·         USDOE Application – May 10 is the due date and the application is on-line for public comment.

·         ISTART 7 – upgrades will not likely be on-line until Summer 2011 as a contractor has yet to be selected.

III.       EXECUTIVE STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS

A.                 Legislative and Research – Joan Mc Cormick, Chairperson 2008-11, reported on the status of the DOE Interpreter provisions.  Becky Bowman has appointed a committee including Karen Goehl (ISU Blumberg), Nancy Holsapple (Old National Trail), Cindy Lawrence (ISD), Terri Miller (Hamilton Boone Madison) and others.  Public hearings for the DOE proposal have yet to be published.

Joan commented that SLPs without the ISHA CCCs need to apply for the IPLA license by June 30 to be grandparented to supervise SLAs under the current regulations.

The retention language in the Read-On Indiana legislation has been interpreted by Becky Bowman to require a CCC determination for students with disabilities.  A summer task force may be formed.

Cheryl Harshman remarked that she will not be able to attend the CEC Convention and suggested that her reimbursement funds be used to support an additional member of the legislative committee to attend the CASE summer institute.  MOTION:  Cheryl Harshman moved to reallocate her travel funds from the CEC/CASE Convention to support Liza Bates if available or another member of the legislative committee to attend the July CASE Summer Leadership Institute in Washington D.C.  After a second by Margie Labelle, the motion was unanimously approved.

B.                 Membership and Fiscal Management Committee Report- Steve Wornhoff, Chairperson 2009-2012, reported that the Membership Committee met on March 30 at the Hamilton Boone Madison building.  At its June 23 session the committee is going to address the Patron membership levels, how to better communicate across the various committees, review membership categories including the Unified option, and attendance of RT representatives on various subcommittees.

C.                 Professional Development Committee Report - Patti Kem, Chairperson 2007-2010, reported that the committee has a meeting on April 19 to address staggered terms, delivery options and topics for a future seminar for Secretaries and Support Staff.

Vendetta commented that the appointment of Patti’s replacement as Chairperson of the Professional Development Committee is pending.                    

The 2010 Fall Conference will be held at the Marriott East (21st and Shadeland). The CEC 2010 Convention (April 21–24) will be held in Nashville, TN.

IV.       SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS

A.              Nominations -- completed

B.       President’s Appointments       

1.         Licensing Focus Group – Vendetta remarked that a liaison may be needed in the future.

2.         IASP/ISHA Best Practices Task Force – Lynn Gosser commented that Leah Nellis and Deb Harmon have arranged a May 7 meeting.  The task force is expected to address guidelines and case studies to reduce the confusion between learning disabilities and language impairments.

V.        SUPPORTING the MEMBERSHIP –

A.        Identifying and Addressing Membership Needs

1.               IAPSS Coalition of Organizations – Margie Labelle said John Ellis would be pleased to host a meeting after May 18th .

2.               State Advisory Committee -- Karol Farrell, as chairperson of the State Advisory Council (SAC), asked for feedback regarding the elimination of the Board of Special Education Appeals.   Vendetta commented that Pat Pierce has a conference call with attorneys on April 22 regarding this topic.  Pat will summarize the information and forward it to Vendetta for distribution.  The SAC will be considering by-laws at a future meeting.   The next meeting is May 7th at which DOE will report on the 20 federal indicators will be reviewed.

B.                 Improving/Facilitating Communication

1.                  Roundtable Topical Proposals – Saundra Lange confirmed that the Southwest RT will host the session with Alexa Posny (USDOE/OSERS) on May 28 at Bloomington High School South.  MOTION:  Jan Dunham moved to approve the Southwest request for up to $350 for refreshments at the May 28 session.  After a second by Margie Labelle, the motion was unanimously approved.

MOTION:  Lynn Gosser moved to approve up to $1300 for the Southwest  retreat in June at Spring Mill Park.  After a second by Jada Conner, the motion was unanimously approved.

2.                  Support Staff Seminar – See the above report of the Professional Development Committee.

3.                  Roundtable Reports – Dave Chastain (East) said Karen Marcum (New Castle) was retiring at the end of the school year.  Saundra Lange (SE) said Leah Jessee (DSP) has taken a principalship for next school year.  Pam von Rahl (NW) said Bernadette Brier (Hobart and Lake Station) and Joan McCormick (Michigan City) are retiring at the end of the school year.  Joan is going to take the directorship position at East Chicago.  Jada Conner (NE) asked that the Topical rotation and format be reviewed.  They are exploring RtI options for a Fall topical conference.  Tom Bell (C) said they discussed ISTART7  and will forward his notes to Jada Conner, who is compiling such information for feedback to DOE.  Their April 23 meeting will be at the Central Indiana Educational Service Center to be hosted by its new executive director, Dr. Mary Ann Dewan.

VI.     PROMOTING/ADVANCING the ORGANIZATION

A.                 Examining Organizational Structure

1.      Future Revision of Strategic Plan –Vendetta said a June 21 (1:00 PM) and June 22 dates have been selected for the retreat to be held at Hamilton Boone Madison.  Past-Presidents and alternate RT representatives are to be invited and a facilitator(s) to be selected.  Vendetta distributed copies of both the current Constitution and the Strategic Plan outline.  She asked that members review each document, solicit input from their respective RT members, and make notes of needed changes.

2.      Constitutional Revisions – No new information.  Lynn Gosser previously offered to contact Pam Wright for her notes to be compiled for future discussion.

3.   Executive Committee Handbook – No new information from Cheryl Harshman.

B.                 Strengthening National Connections

CASE Membership/Executive Committee Updates – Vendetta congratulated Tom Adams on his election as CASE Treasurer to be announced at the upcoming CEC Convention. 

Annual CASE Report – Lynn Gosser said that she will forward the template used last year by Pam Wright for various members to complete their respective sections.

 C.              Promoting State Partnerships

Liaison Reports – Vendetta reported on the April 1 conference call with Deb Harmon (ISHA), Donna Lehman, Mary Beth Hamilton, and Pam Wright.  As a follow-up Vendetta will be sending a survey to directors regarding number of personnel, number registered with IPLA, etc.        

VII.     MOTION TO ADJOURN by Jan Dunham/Margie Labelle was unanimously approved. 

VIII.    NEXT MEETING:    June 3, 2010 (10:00 AM) @ Embassy Suites in downtown Indianapolis 

NOTE:  The May 20 meeting was cancelled.