Officers Present at Business Meeting:  Vendetta Gutshall (President), Lynn Gosser (Past-President), Cheryl Harshman (President-elect), Gary Collings (Secretary)

I. Call to Order:  Vendetta Gutshall called the morning business meeting to order, welcomed members, and called attention to the agenda and other handouts on the tables. 

II. Approval of Minutes:  Vendetta Gutshall called for approval of the February 26, 2008 minutes.  MOTION:  After a motion for approval by Jan Dunham and a second by Jim Sands, the February 26, 2009 minutes were approved unanimously by voice vote as presented.

III. Treasurer’s Report:  Steve Wornhoff presented the financial report in the absence of Denise Bashore. The Budget Report was distributed for July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 showing a cash balance of $194,400.28 in the Chase Bank account.  The income total for the same period was $215,230.05, and the total expenditures were $249,021.80.  The 2009-10 Budget appropriation is $236,450.   

 

Steve reported he and Gary Collings, as members of the Finance/Membership Committee, had completed the required informal audit and filed no significant concerns.

Vendetta called for a motion to accept both the Treasurer’s and Audit Reports.  MOTION:  After a motion for approval by Pam von Rahl and a second by Cheryl Corning, the Budget/Expenditures Reports for July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 were approved unanimously by voice vote as presented.

IV. ISEAS Report:  Gary Collings reviewed the activities of the ISEAS Project culminating from its 30 year history.  He expressed his gratitude to both Susie Thacker and Cinda Long for their career commitments to a project coming to an untimely end in January 2010.   Gary voiced his appreciation to Bob Marra, Sharon Knoth, Hank Binder, Paul Ash, Nancy Zemaitis and other Division staff members whose DOE careers were cut short and a loss to the field of special education.

V. Executive Standing Committee Reports: 

A. Legislative and Research – Joan McCormick, chairperson, recognized the RT representatives on the committee.  Joan emphasized the benefits of their annual congressional trips to Washington D.C. during the CASE Leadership Institute, the support from KWK and the value of the federal-state-local links for governmental affairs. The short session of the General Assembly will be from January 4 through March 10, 2010.  Joan asked the membership for their input on items to be considered for the legislative session.  She reminded members to begin their contacts with local legislators from their respective legislative districts.

B. Membership and Fiscal Management – Steve Wornhoff, chairperson, reviewed the sub-committees.  The Roundtable process and procedures will need to be revisited along with other current ISEAS Project activities.   The ICASE membership has increased 35% from five years ago.

C. Professional Development – Patti Kem, chairperson, thanked David Geeslin and the Vibrations student group for the morning entertainment.  Future dates of note are November 19^th Topical on Seclusion and Restraints, February 18-19 Spring Conference, October 2011 ICASE 50^th Anniversary.

VI. Special Committees/Liaison Reports:    

A. New Directors – Tracey Shriver has hosted the new directors sessions the past three years.  There have been 25-30 participants attending the three sessions each year.  Tracy introduced the new Directors 

B. CASE Report – Tom Adams, chairman of the CASE Membership Committee, addressed the membership drive that will include a 10% discount on CEC dues.  There are 132 Indiana members of CASE. 

Tom introduced Luann Purcell, CASE Executive Director, who complimented ICASE as an exemplary state affiliated unit through the efforts of its members.  Luann presented the membership with both a Certificate of Excellence for its 8% increase in membership and the CASE award for Outstanding Achievement in the Area of Communication.  She urged ICASE to continue as many of the activities of the ISEAS Project as feasible. 

C. IAPSS Coalition – Margie Labelle gave the background of how John Ellis (IAPSS) took the lead in forming a coalition of organizations and institutions from a summer meeting Vendetta and she had with him.  The intent of the coalition is to develop a common voice.  Yesterday’s meeting of the coalition was a continuation of the discussion on licensure and legislation.  The members have reached a consensus on common elements regarding the concerns raised by the new REPA proposals.

D. REPA Task Force – Pam Wright noted the Superintendents’ Study Councils are asking for input from Directors on hot topics.  A position paper was developed by the task force and presented by Pat Pierce at a recent public comment session.  Pam complimented George Van Horn for his active role on the DOE licensing board.

Pat Pierce commented the task force was pleased that the DOE licensure for SLPs was reinstated and that the CD emergency permits would continue. A related question is whether SLPs will need an education minor?

Pat reported a concern for the expansion of the eligibility for a Director of Exceptional Needs license to include building administrators and social workers. Disagreement was expressed from some members.  Vendetta suggested the task force may need to poll the membership on the Social Worker issue as was done for Guidance Counselors with the Rules 2002.

Other considerations were the DOE movement away from CRUs with the selection of professional growth needs at the discretion of the building administrators. The role of IHE licensing advisors would be eliminated for license renewals. Permits or waivers for administrator licenses would be allowed for the duration of employment by the requesting school board. Conversions from Rules 46-47 may allow candidates to teach in areas under Mild or Intense Interventions for which they have had no previous preparation, e.g., emotional disturbance.

E.  State Advisory Council – Karol Farrell reported on its August 14^th meeting, which included the DOE proposal to eliminate the Board of Special Education Appeals.  The e-mail survey of Directors had a negligible response with no definitive direction.  The DOE is to bring more due process information to their November 6^th meeting.

VII. Awards/Recognitions:  At Thursday’s luncheon meeting Bob Marra and Sharon Knoth were presented with the ICASE Distinguished Service Award.  Sheron Cochran was recognized with a Meritorious Award.  Tom Barth and Lou Dickman distributed vendor prizes.

VIII.    DOE Report:  At Friday’s luncheon speaker, Dawn McGrath, Coordinator of Special Education, introduced staff members who spoke about their respective assignments. Dawn addressed improving data quality and utility, goals, request for proposals, indicators, on-sites, compliance monitoring and local determinations, and the new scoring rubric.

Motion to Adjourn:  Dave Chastain with second by Bill Dreibelbis

Next Meeting:  February 19, 2009 at the Crowne Plaza (Union Station) in Indianapolis