INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 196
Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools
Educating our students to reach their full potential
Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC)
September 9, 2014
Minutes
Members Present: Cindy Andrus, Jennie Bennett, Bill Donahue, Cindy Ford, Carrie Menne, Kayla
VandeWettering, Jennifer Zaske
Members Absent: Joel Albright, Diane Allen, Derek Appleyard, Lisa Czyz, Barb Drexler-Luzum, Ali
Liddle, Lisha Mathews, Beth Studdiford, Laura Sultan, Colleen Weis
The meeting was opened with introductions and each person sharing a positive from the first week of
school.
Mary Kreger, Director of Special Education, gave an overview of District 196 special education and
shared the “Quick Guide to Special Education in District 196.” One of the goals of the district is to ensure
that students receiving special education services have research-based curriculum and instruction aligned
with general education. A focus at the elementary level is to reduce transitions for students and create
schedules to support learning.
Mary shared the District’s Strategic Planning Facilities and Equipment Task Force PowerPoint. The brief
presentation was a review of facilities and equipment that are currently taking place in the district. The
purpose is to give some basic background on the scope of the review, and why the district is doing it now,
so that people are aware and understand as this topic becomes a bigger focus of conversation in our
district this school year. The district is reviewing facilities and equipment needs now because of the
following:
 It has been more than 10 years since the last comprehensive review
 The 10-year capital projects levy for technology is expiring
 New learning and technology plan begins this year
 Full-day kindergarten for all begins this year
 Growth in school-based early learning opportunities
 Continued vigilance on safety and security issues
Watch for more information about the tasks force in future staff communications, on the district website
and in the local media. If you have questions or comments about the task force or the review process you
can email the three tasks force chairs: Jeff Solomon (Jeff.Solomon@district196.org), Julie Olson
(Julie.Olson@district196.org) or Mark Parr (Mark.Parr@district196.org).
Cindy Ford volunteered to be the SEAC representative on the District’s Legislative Advisory Council.
Jennie Bennett has volunteered to be the SEAC chair for 2014-15. If anyone else is interested in chairing
with her please let Paula Engstrom or Jennie know you are interested.
The group discussed what they want to do for the year. Some of the ideas were:
 Have speakers in to discuss:
o Opportunities for older students with disabilities i.e. invite transition folks, Rich Wagner,
CTIC, Project Explore, and
o Where and how do you find resources that you need for your child with special needs.
 Continue to meet with the other Dakota County SEAC groups.
The group decided that the November 18 meeting will focus on transition.
There was some discussion on how to get information out to special education parents. Mary will send an
email to the principals with the link for the special education email list subscription sign up
(http://www.district196.org/District/Departments/SpecialEducation/EmailList/SignUp.cfm) so they can
include it in their newsletters and at conferences.
Future SEAC meetings are November 18, February 10 and April 14 from 6-8 p.m. in the Dakota Room at
the District Office, 3455 153rd Street West, Rosemount MN 55068. There will be a Dakota County SEAC
meeting on November 13 from 6-8 p.m. at the DCTC.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:30.
Respectfully Submitted,
Paula Engstrom
Secretary to Director of Special Education