UPPER GRAND DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
The Special Education Advisory Committee of the Upper Grand District School Board met
on Wednesday, January 11, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. in the Boardroom at 500 Victoria Road
North, Guelph.
The following Association Members were present:
Pauline Busby, Community Living Guelph-Wellington, Kim Brenner, Parents for
Children’s Mental Health-Wellington County, Sharon Dills, Learning Disabilities
Association of Wellington County, Jason Offer, Association for Bright Children (ABC),
Don Richardson, Integration Action for Inclusion in Education and Community
(Ontario), Sue Shaw and Carrie Proudfoot, Autism Ontario-Wellington County, Laurie
Whyte, FASworld Canada (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders) and Katie Vanderyt,
VIEWS for Children Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision.
Present from Staff were:
Heather Boswell, Superintendent of Program, Carla Anderson, Naomi Theodor and
Barb Tomkins, Special Education Consultants, Trudy Counter, CoordinatorCommunication, Language and Speech Services, Jacqueline Foster, Special Education
Coordinator/Consultant, Sandra Szpular, Collaborative Projects Lead/Special Education
Coordinator and Bonnie Talbot, Principal of Program.
The following Trustees were present:
Marty Fairbairn and Jennifer Waterston.
The following members sent regrets:
Christine Kay, Elementary Vice-Principal, Beth Haworth, Community Member-at-Large
and Stacey Stevens, VOICE for Hearing Impaired Children.
The following members were absent:
Heather Clemmer, Easter Seals Ontario and Sandra Roberts, Secondary Vice-Principal.
Jennifer Waterston called the meeting to order and welcomed the guests from Kerry’s
Place and Centennial C.V.I.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Moved by Marty Fairbairn
That the agenda of the January 11, 2012 meeting be approved.
The motion carried.
Special Education Advisory Committee Minutes … Page 2
January 11, 2012
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Moved by Don Richardson
That the minutes of the meeting held on December 14, 2011 be approved.
The motion carried.
EQUITY AND INCLUSIVE EDUCATION POLICY
Through a Powerpoint, Donna Gerber, the Equity Officer of the Upper Grand DSB
presented the Equity and Inclusive Education Policy this evening. The slide entitled
Respect – Equity and Inclusive Education read “Just and Fair Inclusion. An equitable
society is one in which all can participate and prosper. The goals of equity must be to
create conditions that allow all to reach their full potential. In short, equity creates a
path from hope to change.” We continue to work towards this throughout our board.
In 2009, the Ministry released Realizing the Promise of Diversity – Equity and Inclusion
in Ontario Schools – Guidelines for Policy Development and Implementation and
Policy/Program Memorandum (PPM) No. 119 Developing Equity and Inclusive Policies
in Ontario Schools which provides boards direction regarding equity and inclusive
education policies.
The eight areas the Board will maintain its working and learning environment free from
oppression reviewed include: board policies, programs, guidelines and practices,
shared and committed leadership, school-community partnership, inclusive curriculum
and assessment practices, religious accommodation, school climate and the prevention
of discrimination and harassment, professional learning, and employment practices.
The Mission Statement and Core Objectives of the above were also reviewed.
Donna Gerber spoke about how this fits with various other initiatives, the different ways
we are evaluating our progress, consultation and how we are reaching the community.
A handout was distributed and members were asked to provide their feedback on the
following: a) what the Upper Grand DSB could do to develop greater equity in our
school communities; b) how you see yourself/child/community represented in our board;
and c) anything that you feel should be added to the Equity and Inclusive Education
Policy.
Don Richardson thanked Donna Gerber for her presentation and inquired about PPM
No. 119 which states boards are to consult with their Special Education Advisory
Committee (SEAC) when developing and reviewing this policy noting this had not
happened. He believes the knowledge of SEAC members and their feedback would be
valuable. He also suggested adding definitions about equity and inclusion and
engaging people to ensure they are aware the policy exists. It was also suggested that
a workshop be scheduled.
Donna Gerber explained they were unable to do a great deal of consultation due to the
scope of work and short amount of time provided to develop the policy. Since the policy
is reviewed annually, she would be happy to provide a workshop for SEAC members
Special Education Advisory Committee Minutes … Page 3
January 11, 2012
which would offer an opportunity to gather feedback. The definitions are forthcoming.
Jennifer Waterston inquired if Donna would be available to present at Association
meetings to which she replied she would.
UPDATES FOR THE SPECIAL EDUCATION REPORT
Sandra Szpular, Collaborative Projects Lead/Special Education Coordinator reviewed
the updates for the Special Education Report. She began by providing updates in the
Special Education Staff section by speaking about the increase in the number of
Itinerant Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teachers and the Itinerant Technology Resource
Teachers as well as, the increase in the number of Educational Assistants in the area of
special education.
The Staff Professional Development has been reworded for clarity and updated to
include the in-services that have been offered or are planned for Special Education
Teachers, Child and Youth Counsellors and Educational Assistants for 2011-2012. A
menu of on-line resources and training for Educational Assistants that can be used on
professional development days was highlighted.
Laurie Whyte inquired about the online resources and whether there was a way to track
what training sites were being accessed. Sandra Szpular explained the various sites
and will check further to see how this could be tracked.
Don Richardson asked
whether the online resources are available to teachers as well. Sandra Szpular
responded that this information is provided to Principals who can then share it with their
staff. Special Education Consultants often post these types of things on the Special
Education Conference. The Staff Web Portal which all staff can access is another
means by which information is shared.
PARENT GUIDE TO SPECIAL EDUCATION
Sandra Szpular spoke about the review that took place last year noting edits were made
for clarity. Further changes will be made following the release of the Ministry Guideline
for Special Education. Tonight, the feedback received to date was reviewed and
recommendations for future changes were made.
The suggested changes included changing the order of the questions, further
clarification about the Individual Education Plan (IEP) process, the Identification,
Placement and Review Committee (IPRC) process and to perhaps include links to
resources for parents.
The importance of a conversation prior to parents receiving the Parent Guide to Special
Education was stressed. This guide will be reviewed and discussed further at a future
SEAC meeting.
Special Education Advisory Committee Minutes … Page 4
January 11, 2012
Heather Boswell dedicated our refreshment break to Bonnie Talbot as this will be
Bonnie’s last SEAC meeting in her role as Principal of Program. She thanked Bonnie
for her work with SEAC and the Special Education Review Committee (SERC) over the
past 2-1/2 years. Bonnie will be the new Superintendent of Education effective
February 1, 2012.
OPEN FORUM
Jason Offer reported on a survey conducted by ABC around disparities in gifted
programs which recommends boards look at the identification procedures and best
practices. He asked whether our board uses identifications from other boards. Sandra
Szpular replied that documentation from other boards are used however, the student
would be identified in our board as placements may differ between boards. Carla
Anderson added in the case of gifted identifications we share the assessment with our
Psychological Services staff to ensure the same requirements for placement are met.
Jason Offer inquired about the Grade 9 EQAO math assessment and whether a
percentage of this mark is included in the student’s final mark. He also inquired if this is
communicated to the student. Bonnie Talbot responded that the percentage used may
differ amongst our secondary schools however she believes students are aware that a
percentage of the summative mark will be taken from the assessment. She will gather
more information regarding this.
Laurie Whyte spoke about the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder/Neurobehavioural
Conditions: A Model of Understanding session taking place on April 26, 2012 in Thorold,
ON, featuring Diane Malbin. The flyer will be distributed to members.
Laurie Whyte also asked for further information regarding the memo from Barry Finlay,
Director of Special Education Policy and Programs Branch entitled Categories of
Exceptionalities. Sandra Szpular explained that this refers to the different categories
(Behaviour, Communication, Intellectual, Physical and Multiple) and for boards to look
at the child’s areas of need which may not necessarily fit into a category. Heather
Boswell added the Ministry will still be using the five categories of exceptionalities
however we will be able to include a certain diagnosis within one of these categories.
This memo will be distributed to administrators at the family of schools meetings next
week and will be attached to the meeting minutes.
Don Richardson spoke about an interesting article in the Guelph Mercury.
forward this to Donna Glodziak for distribution to SEAC members.
He will
UPDATES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PROGRAM
Heather Boswell spoke about the Special Education Class Placement Meeting that took
place on January 10, 2012. Students being considered for a developmental disability
Special Education Advisory Committee Minutes … Page 5
January 11, 2012
class placement will be reviewed on January 13, 2012.
The Gifted Program Parent Information Night took place at Princess Elizabeth P.S. on
January 10th and is taking place at Waverley Drive P.S. on January 12th.
TRUSTEE REPORT
Jennifer Waterston spoke about the exceptional presentations made at the Program
Committee Meeting on January 10, 2012, and suggested perhaps the information
presented could be shared at an upcoming SEAC meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Katie Vanderyt that the meeting be adjourned at 9:22 p.m.
The motion carried.