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June 2006 Executive Committee MinutesMEMBERS PRESENT: Cindy Pittman (President), Tom Adams (President-elect), George Van Horn (Past-President), Vendetta Gutshall (Treasurer), Gary Collings (Secretary), Saundra Lange (SW), Jim Murray (C), Cheryl Corning (SE), Patti Kem (NC), Lynn Gosser (E), Jan Rees (NW). MEMBER ABSENT: Theresa Oberley (NE) OTHERS PRESENT: Bob Marra, Brett Bollinger, John Hill, Nancy Zemaitis, Cindy Lawrence (ISD), David Geeslin (ISD) I. Approvals A. Minutes Cindy Pittman called the meeting to order and requested a motion to approve the May 17, 2006 minutes.
MOTION: Lynn Gosser moved the minutes be approved. After a second by George Van Horn, the motion was approved.
MOTION: Patti Kem moved to approve the Docket as presented. After a second by Jan Rees the motion was approved. Vendetta's report showed that $86,450.79 of the $110,600 budget had been expended to date. This year's budget will be closed June 29, 2006. She confirmed the roundtable proceeds will be divided by formula among those which sponsored a topical conference this year. Vendetta reviewed a second draft of the proposed 2006-07 budget which, she emphasized, can be amended in the future if necessary. She commented the proposed budget amount of $167,650 is offset by $78,000 from carry-over funds leaving a carry-over cash balance of $47,500+ for next year. Members reviewed the line item increases such as the new line items for Membership Services ($20,000) and Membership Committee Projects ($10,000). Cindy Pittman remarked the Strategic Plan may also drive some future changes in the proposed budget. MOTION: Patti Kem moved for approval of the 2006-07 budget as presented. After a second by Saundra Lange, the motion was approved. C. Membership Committee Vendetta Gutshall said she plans to convene its members on July 26-27, if possible; she is seeking a general chair of this Membership Committee, which includes subcommittees for both products and the website. The membership forms for 2006-07 will be included in the August issue of the Cable as well as a mailing. D. Roundtable Topical Proposals Saundra Lange confirmed Southwest has formed a work group to implement a topical this Fall. E. Strategic Plan Cindy Pittman confirmed the retreat with Executive Committee members, invited past-presidents, and liaisons will be held on June 13-14, 2006 at the ISEAS office in the Hamilton-Boone-Madison building. II. Strategic Plan: 2002-2005 A. Report: Conferences 1. Fall Conference 2006: September 27-29, 2006 Tom Adams has signed the contract with the Merrillville Radisson Inn. The program and registration forms will be in the August issue of the Cable. 2. CEC/CASE Board Update Vendetta called attention to the CASE membership drive. Members agreed to send Joan McCormick or Tom Adams to the 4th Annual Educational Leadership Seminar on July 9 - 12 in Washington D.C. As she has done in the past as the President's designee, Vendetta Gutshall will coordinate the compilation of the CASE Annual Report due July 1, 2006. Timely filing of the annual report is needed in order to receive Rebate Checks to State Units for reimbursement for the number of CASE members in each unit. In addition, this information is needed in order for CASE to sponsor a representative from each State Unit to the annual Board of Directors meeting, which will take place this fall in Scottsdale, AZ. Gary Collings distributed a copy of the CASE Research Liaison job description, which allows him to serve on the CASE Board. Tom Adams will contact the Kentucky CASE president to see if ICASE might sponsor a social or other activity at the 2007 CEC convention in Louisville April 18-21. B. Standing Committee Reports 1. Porter Scholarship Cheryl Corning reported having received six completed applications and two partial packets. All packets will be reviewed with recommendations to be made at the August board meeting. 2. Recognition/Awards Pat Pierce noted a recommendation for Irene Rivera is pending her feedback. 3. Past Presidents' Council Completed 4. Nominations Completed 5. Roundtable Activities Lynn Gosser (E) requested approval to use their roundtable funds for members to hold a two day workshop including a DIBELS session with Pam Hilligoss. MOTION: Jim Murray moved to approve the request. After a second by Patti Kem, the motion was approved. Cheryl Corning (SE) said they are hosting an interpreter training seminar at Columbus on June 12th. Jan Rees (NW) said their recent retreat, which included four university representatives from the area, identified issues for their future work. Vendetta Gutshall (NE) said John Hill attended their last meeting to discuss the Medicaid bill, which requires SLPs to have their CCCs if included in the billing process. Saundra Lange (SW) said Larry Bass has set their meeting schedule for next year. She recommended Maria (Bird West) Wheeler from Texas as a presenter on the topic of autism, who was described as particularly good at fielding questions from both family members and parents. Jim Murray (C) asked for permission to use their roundtable funds for a retreat at Culver in October. MOTION: Vendetta Gutshall moved to approve the request. After a second by Lynn Gosser, the motion was approved. Goal II Advance the improvement of education for all students A. Report: Rule 26 Task Force Although no draft proposal was available at this meeting, Karol Farrell transmitted a draft strike-out version for the exceptionality areas of multiple disabilities, TBI, ASD, ED, and OHI to members of the Executive Committee on June 4. She asked for feedback to Pat Pierce from the Executive Committee members by August 25. The Rule 26 Task Force will meet during the summer to continue its work on LD, CD, DD, and mental disability. Goal III Support the development of public policy to address the needs of all students A. Report: Division of Exceptional Learners Bob Marra asked Brett Bollinger to attend the ICASE board meeting to present a rationale in support of keeping the transition age at 14 years, as he had done last week at the State Advisory Council meeting. The on-going discussion is about what language is desirable in Article 7 to address both the federal transition age of 16 years and the summary of performance. Members concluded that age 16 seems too late to begin transition planning. Members discussed reasons to initiate transition at age 14 years, including the tie with employability work skills curriculum, earlier involvement of teachers and family in career planning, and the initiation of the self-advocacy. Bob further noted the 2005 Indiana statute includes a section on career awareness beginning at the first grade for all students. Bob reiterated the recommendation that had been made to the State Advisory Council that a summary of performance be required for all students with disabilities who exit the program for whatever reason and to keep the transition age at 14 years. Members asked whether the important decision point for transition is age or grade level. Members suggested the Article 7 language for transition read "by the Spring of the 8th grade year but before 16 years of age". Members agreed transitioning needs to be linked to the Summary of Performance as will be included in the Article 7 mark-up copy. Bob thanked directors for the 13 districts, which responded to his request at the last meeting for volunteers to complete the interrater reliability study. He noted Jeff Zaring's recent memo about regional ISTEP meetings. Bob remarked the IDEA regulations went to the Office of Management and Budget on May 15 and are expected to be released in August. In regard to the Preschool Funding short fall, Bob was pleased to announce superintendents will be receiving a memo that the deficit has been offset by a budget agency transfer from the alternative residential account. The overall preschool allocation formula needs to be reviewed in the near future. A conference call was held with OSEP officials during last week's State Advisory Council meeting. Accommodations for assessments were a point of discussion. The federal OSEP team will be at the DEL during the week of August 14. No local district visitations will be included, only interviews of both DEL and Part C staff. Bob reported the DOE Student Services staff is working on a Response-to-Intervention model for behaviors through a core team process comparable to GEI and to be coordinated with the RtI initiatives at DEL. B. Report: Public Policy and Legislative Committee Tom Adams commented this committee is to meet later in June. C. Indiana School for the Deaf As an ISD board member, Patti Kem introduced David Geeslin as the new CEO/Superintendent. David is a former teacher, supervisor and outreach coordinator at ISD. David signed that he looks forward to continuing our good relationship noting he can not do it alone. Cindy Lawrence commented she has been to all the roundtables to discuss Outreach and is seeking additional information as they initiate a new strategic plan. She discussed their four major goals of Outreach. She noted their use of a new approach to a parent organization, Indiana Hands & Voices <www.inhandsandvoices.org>. The program was first established in Colorado from newborn screenings as a model that is not promoting an educational methodology. The Third Annual Deaf Educators Conference will be held July 31 - August 1 at Ben Davis High School. III. NEXT MEETING: August 2, 2006 (8:30 AM) Knowledge Services in Castleton
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