ICASE
Executive Committee Meeting
Executive Committee Listserv
<icaseexecutive@googlegroups.com>
February 17, 2010
Crowne Plaza at Union Station

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), Tom Barth (NC—June 2011),  Jada Conner  (NE—June 2012),  Saundra Lange  (SW—June 2012), Bev Garrison (SE—June 2011), Donna Krol (NW--June 2010), Steve Wornhoff (Membership and Fiscal—June 2012), Patti Kem (Professional Development—June 2010), Joan McCormick (Legislative and Research—June 2011)

 

ABSENT: Denise Bashore (Treasurer—June 2012)

 

OTHERS PRESENT:  Karol Farrell, Tom Bell, Tom Adams, Kelli Waggoner (KWK), Emily Hinton (KWK), Cheryl Corning, Dawn McGrath (DOE), Lee Ann Kwaitkowski (DOE)

I.   APPROVALS

A. Minutes -- Vendetta Gutshall asked for a motion to approve the January 21, 2010 minutes.  MOTION:  Jada Conner moved to approve the January 21, 2010 minutes as presented. After a second by Margie Bell, the motion was unanimously approved.  Joan McCormick expressed an exception to the facts in the DOE report regarding the meeting with the state superintendent.

B.  Treasurer’s Report and Claim Docket – In the absence of Denise Bashore, Steve Wornhoff presented the January 2010 Financial Statement showing a general cash balance of $207,341.99 with a profit to date of $12,941.71 as of January 31, 2010.   The January 2010 docket of expenses for $8,423.08 was presented.  MOTION:  Lynn Gosser moved to accept the financial report including the January 2010 docket.  After a second by Jan Dunham, the motion was unanimously approved.

The ICASE Scholarship Funds held in the ICASE account were $4,954.50 and the funds held by CASE were $10,200.01.  Roundtable balances totaled $23,683.72.      

Joan McCormick asked if the committee might send three (3) representatives including the Past-President and two members from this committee to the summer CASE Institute in Washington D. C.?  She noted that her proposal is covered in the current budget. MOTION:  Lynn Gosser moved to send up to three representatives as proposed to the CASE summer institute in Washington D. C.  After a second by Bev Garrison, the motion was unanimously approved.

C.  2010-11 Calendar of Meetings – the second draft was reviewed and the Spring Conference dates of September 30 and October 1 were added.  Patti Kem proposed that the Fall Conference 2010 be held at the Marriott East off of Shadeland in the northeast area of Indianapolis.  MOTION:  Jan Dunham moved to accept the amended 2010-11 Calendar of Meetings.  After a second by Cheryl Harshman, the motion was unanimously approved.

II.   IDOE REPORT – Dawn McGrath and Lee Ann Kwaitkowski arrived at the meeting (11:00 AM) and shared the following points:

·         Lee Ann said that the RtI guidance document developed a couple of years ago by the State Team was considered by the state superintendent to be too broad.  He asked that it be refined with a narrowed focus to academics.  The stakeholders present in the recent meeting offered input, which is being compiled and will be reviewed by a group of teachers before the document is released.  She has requested the assistance of the National RtI Center and Dr. Bruce Passman (University of Kansas) is her contact.  Lee Ann commented that the related funding concerns are also being discussed at the federal level.  Vendetta proposed a future dialogue with the state superintendent related to state funding options.

·         Dawn highlighted the “community” thread for special education administrators on the Learning Connection as a resource for both local and state administrators.  In response to a question she emphasized that the ICAN software continues to exist but the “help desk” function is no longer available and now requires a telephone contact. 

·         Dawn commented on select slides for Friday’s session.  She noted the slide illustration of the Maintenance of Effort (MOE), which may remain at a corporation’s lower level brought about by Stimulus funding.  MOE will be included in future monitoring/auditing actions.  In reply to a question, Dawn clarified that the USDOE is considering the elimination of the state MOE requirement (not the local MOE).   Dawn also suggested that MOE may also be considered at the High Needs Task Force meeting on May 26.  (The separate Cooperative task force is to meet on April 29th.)

Margie Labelle asked about the wide spread concern that ISTART7 will be phased out.  Lee Ann replied that the DOE will continue to pay for and provide some type of electronic IEP.  Dawn offered that there are three components to the system:  (1) screen images, (2) functions and logic, and (3) the gears in the platform, which need to be re-worked to better maintain the assessment system, as well as some former CODA elements, and the electronic IEP.  Lee Ann suggested that any such changes may occur over a 6 to 18 months period.  Members advocated for stability in the system.  Lee Ann acknowledged that DOE has invited different vendors in to demonstrate their products with the intent of having future contractors develop products to augment the system.

·         In reply to a question Dawn commented that she had not heard that emergency permits would be eliminated.  She did note that the HQ HOUSE document was to be eliminated.

·         In response to a question about IMAST and what the audit process will look like, she referred to page 54 of its manual referencing the ISTART7 sampling.  She noted that federal regulatory language requires the IEP to include goals aligned to state standards.  She suggested that IMAST will fit into the growth model through its comparison of children to those who have previously achieved the same score.

III.       EXECUTIVE STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS

A.                Legislative and Research – Joan McCormick, Chairperson 2008-11, referred to her December report that noted the KWK contract has been finalized.  She was optimistic about her recent meetings with the state superintendent and his chief of staff as well as their meeting yesterday, which included both Dawn and Kelli Waggoner, to discuss the status of CODA reports.  The committee members attended the opening session in January and will visit the State House today.

Kelli gave a legislative update noting the short session is to be completed on or before March 14th.  The upcoming elections will decide who controls the House and Senate and which political party will re-draw the district constituency map.   A major ethics bill is moving through the chambers.  The property tax cap bill is likely to pass requiring a constitutional change.  More state budget reductions are expected to be announced next week.

The sign language interpreter bill (SB 57) passed in the last session required the DOE through its Professional Standards Board to promulgate rules formerly under the auspices of the FSSA.  It became apparent last November that the deadline in the new rule would not be met.  Kelli convened DOE and FSSA officials to discuss options and they agreed to approach Senator Kruse to amend his current SB 252 (transfer tuition) to: (1) extend the rule promulgation deadline to July 1, 2011 and (2) remove the involvement of the FSSA.  SB 252 with the amendment will likely be approved by the Governor next week and become effective immediately.  The March 5th agenda of the State Board of Education includes the initiating of the rule promulgation process for sign language interpreters in the school setting.  Public hearings can take place 21 days after publication in the Indiana Register www.in.gov/legislative/register.

Joan reported on the Speech Language Assistant registration issue that has surfaced in the NW roundtable as a result of a DOE complaint.   The investigator has required SLAs to file a notarized application with a $50 fee to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency and be supervised by a Speech Language Pathologist with an ISHA issued certificate of clinical competence (CCC). 

Vendetta asked that the Legislative and Research Committee revive the past practice of drafting an agenda (platform) to be discussed and approved by the Executive Committee.  Joan confirmed that such would be available prior to the long session next year.  If printing costs are a concern, Vendetta suggested an electronic format for the membership.  Lynn Gosser observed that some of the direction for the legislative committee may come from the future strategic planning session.

Lynn asked that the minutes reflect the outstanding job that KWK and the members of the Legislative and Research Committee have done in behalf of the membership.  Vendetta agreed and emphasized the need for input from both the Executive Committee and membership.  Steve Wornhoff commented that we need to continue to examine our communication links and how to continue to improve.  Margie Labelle agreed and said there was confusion about our priorities and their link to the Executive Committee.

B.                 Membership and Fiscal Management Committee Report- Steve Wornhoff, Chairperson 2009-2012,  said the relevant subcommittees will be convened in the near future presented as follows:

1.         Sub Committee Updates -- pending 

2.         Review of Recognition/Awards – Vendetta reminded members to present names of any directors who will be retiring next year so each can be recognized with an Honorary Membership.

3.         Long Term Fiscal Management/Non-profit Status 501(c)(3) – pending

4.         Roundtable Guidelines -- pending

C.        Professional Development Committee Report - Patti Kem, Chairperson 2007-2010, reported approximately 260 attendees and reviewed the schedule of events for both Thursday and Friday.  She commented that Leah Nellis (ISU Blumberg Center) will be hosting the University Forum. The CEC 2010 Convention (April 21–24) will be held in Nashville, TN.

IV.  SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS

A.       Nominating – Lynn Gosser presented Patti Kem as the nominee for the position of President-elect 2010-2011.  The Secretary’s term ends June 30, 2011.  The Treasurer’s term ends June 30, 2012.

B.   President’s Appointments      

1.   Licensing Focus Group – No report.

2.   IASP/ISHA Best Practices Task Force – No report.

V.  SUPPORTING the MEMBERSHIP –

A.     Identifying and Addressing Membership Needs

1.               IAPSS Coalition of Organizations – No new information.

2.               Article 7 – DOE is proposing to remove the Board of Special Education Appeals from Article 7.  Vendetta reminded members that the previous BSEA survey of the membership was inconclusive.  She asked if ICASE should at least advocate for highly qualified Independent Hearing Officers who are formally evaluated if the second tier is eliminated?  Since DOE now underwrites the administrative costs of the second tier appeal, might DOE be expected to offset some of the local hearing expenses in the absence of a second level review?  Members asked what is the training for hearing officers and how often is the training provided and by whom?

Public hearings are scheduled for next week.  Karol Farrell reported that the State Advisory Council meets March 5th.  She offered to bring the board’s concerns about the independent hearing officers to that meeting.

3.               Response-to-INSTRUCTION – Vendetta noted DOE’s new wording for RtI.  She reported on her attendance a couple of weeks ago at a DOE stakeholders meeting with approximately 30 representatives from various associations and entities.  The DOE representatives reviewed the document from the previous State Team and received various proposals from small group reviews.  A consensus from the feedback was the on-going message that RtI is not a special education endeavor.

Schools across the State are at various levels of implementation and do not wish to start over.  DOE officials will be looking at whether the parameters of RtI are in place regardless of the stage of implementation.  The funding piece was also highlighted as a shared concern. 

Members objected to the DOE singular focus on academics to the exclusion of the behavioral component even though the behavioral support system initiative is reportedly to continue as a state initiative.  In its RtI academic framework the DOE expects to address the full spectrum of students including high ability and ESL. 

Vendetta thought Lee Ann Kwaitkowski would continue as the DOE point person.  Lee Ann is receiving support from both the National RtI Center (University of Kansas) and the Regional Resource Center.  Tom Adams noted the IDEA Partnership as a resource which includes input from CEC, CASE, and NASDSE.    

B.                 Improving/Facilitating Communication

1.                  Roundtable Topical Proposals – None

2.                  Support Staff Seminar – Cheryl Corning had previously volunteered her staff to host next year’s seminar.

3.                  Roundtable Reports – No January meetings.  Tom Bell reported on the recent Central RT retreat that focused on ways to establish and/or improve two-way communication with the DOE.  Directors are receiving information usually via e-mail but often not provided with sufficient details to implement the necessary actions.

4.                  Vendetta reported that Greg Cochran confirmed that DOE does not intend to maintain a comprehensive directory as was done through the ISEAS Project.  Vendetta noted that the electronic version of the current directory is maintained on GoDaddy, which is still available should the ICASE board wish to commit resources to update the directory.

5.                  Vendetta said that she is working with a DOE staff member for the collection and reporting of CRUs from this conference in behalf of attendees.  She does not expect this DOE connection to be available for future ICASE conferences.

VI.     PROMOTING/ADVANCING the ORGANIZATION

A.                Examining Organizational Structure

1.     Future Revision of Strategic Plan – No new information.  Lynn Gosser previously suggested a 2 or 3 day retreat in the Summer of 2010.  Vendetta reminded members of her recent e-mail requesting available dates in June or July for the retreat.

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

1.         CASE Membership/Executive Committee Updates –  to be provided at the Business meeting.

C.        Liaison Reports – No reports

VII.     MOTION TO ADJOURN by Jan Dunham/Jada Conner was unanimously approved.

VIII.    NEXT MEETING:    March 18, 2010 (10:00 AM) @ Downtown Embassy Suites – Indianapolis.  NOTE:  New RT members and/or alternates are invited to attend this session.