ICASE
Executive Committee Meeting
May 17, 2007
Department of Education
(These minutes are
considered a draft until approved at the next scheduled
meeting.)
MEMBERS PRESENT: Tom
Adams (President), Pam Wright (President-elect), Cindy
Pittman, (Past-President), Vendetta Gutshall
(Treasurer), Gary Collings (Secretary), Larry Bass (SW),
Jim Murray (C), Cheryl Corning (SE), Lynn Gosser (E),
Mary Beth Hamilton (NE), Pat Pierce (NW), Cheryl
Harshman (NC)
OTHERS PRESENT: Bob
Marra (DEL)
I. Approvals
A. Minutes Tom Adams
called the meeting to order and requested a motion to
approve the March 15, 2007 minutes. MOTION: Pam Wright
moved for approval. After a second by Mary Beth
Hamilton, the motion carried. No meeting was held in
April 2007 due to the CEC Convention in Louisville.
B. Treasurer's Report
and Claim Docket Vendetta Gutshall distributed
handouts for the May 2007 Financial Report. The May
Docket was presented in the amount of $31,960.93.
MOTION: Pat Pierce moved to approve the Docket as
presented. After a second by Lynn Gosser, the motion
was approved. The financial report showed $116,424.86 of
the $167,650 budget had been expended to date.
As of May 16, the ICASE Scholarship Fund has a checking
account balance of $6,643.05 plus the $6,600 balance in
the CASE holding account. A handout of roundtable
balances was distributed. Although some expenses are
still pending, the Spring 2007 Conference is expected to
net a profit of approximately $30,000.
Vendetta presented the
first draft of the proposed 2007-08 ICASE budget.
Because of the accumulating cash balance and IRS
status, she recommended a more proactive budget in the
amount of $195,400. Members discussed transferring
additional funds to the scholarship account. Members
agreed Vendetta should add a consultant line in the next
draft for future contracted services.
C. Strategic Plan
(2006-09) Pam Wright distributed a grid which outlined
the goals, benchmarks, accomplishments, timelines, and
lead persons. Members agreed on a dinner meeting the
evening of June 5 prior to the next Executive Committee
meeting.
D. Constitution Review
Lynn Gosser reviewed the highlights of the work
group's proposal. Pam Wright reported on the
suggestions for three standing committees: Membership
and Fiscal Management, Professional Development, and
Legislation and Research. Each committee would have an
appointed chairperson, who would become a standing
member of the Executive Committee for a three-year
term. The draft prepared at the May 1 work session will
be presented at the June 7 afternoon meeting of the
Legislative Committee, which is to provide its
recommendations for the July 31 meeting of the Executive
Committee.
E. Membership
Committee Vendetta Gutshall is working on a meeting of
the Patron Membership Committee for June 26.
F. Committee
Appointments 2007-08 Pam Wright said she will postpone
appointments until the new structure under the Strategic
Plan and revised Constitution is in place.
G. Proposed Calendar
of Meetings 2007-08 MOTION: Jim Murray moved to accept
the 2007-08 Calendar. After a second by Cheryl
Harshman, the motion was approved.
H. Roundtable Topical
Proposals Mary Beth Hamilton presented the Northeast
proposal at an approximate cost of $2,600 for a two-day
skill development seminar for educational interpreters
focusing on performance assessment. MOTION: Pat Pierce
moved to accept the proposal. After a second by Cheryl
Harshman, the motion was approved. The Master Schedule
for topicals is as follows: Fall 2007 (Central), Spring
2008 (Northwest), Fall 2008 (East), Spring 2009
(Southeast).
II. Reports: 2006-2007
A. Conferences/Activities
1. Spring Conference
2007: February 15-16, 2007 Pam Wright provided a
summary of the conference evaluations.
2. Fall Conference
2007: September 27-28, 2007 Pam Wright reminded
members that expenses for the speakers will be
underwritten by the IN-SIG project, which is
collaborating on the program. She suggested a reduced
registration fee for members along with the offset of
overnight room costs. Members discussed diverting some
of the proceeds from the golf outing to the Jeremy
Warriner fund for which Robin Parker alone has raised
$2,000 to date through the cookbook project.
3. CEC/CASE Update
Tom Adams commented on how extensive the CEC Convention
was in Louisville. He noted Indiana was awarded a
plaque in recognition of its outstanding communication
with its members.
4. Spring 2008
Conference: February 27 29, 2008 Pending
5. Fall 2008
Conference: September 24 26, 2008 Lynn Gosser
remarked she has received a proposal from the Fort Wayne
Convention Center. Article 7 will be a likely item.
B. Standing Committee
Reports
1. Porter Scholarship
Cheryl Corning reported she is receiving applications.
2. Recognition/Awards Gary Collings will contact the
two retirees (Horvath/Gruesbeck) to see if they would
prefer a retirement clock or same value donation to the
scholarship fund along with their honorary retirement
status. Members discussed eliminating the option for
either a clock or equivalent donation to the scholarship
fund in lieu of a standing donation made in the name of
the retiree.
3. Past-Presidents'
Council Tom Adams will chair this council after July
1.
4. Nominations Pam
Wright remarked the nomination process is under review
in relation to the Strategic Plan, as well as any future
constitutional revisions.
5. Roundtable
Activities Jim Murray (Central) announced Lucy Witte
has been named the new director of West Central Joint
Services. Lynn Gosser (East) commented that Mary Jo
Germani, a faculty member at BSU and ISHA president,
provided them a list of IHE trainer contacts.
C. Article 7 Work
Group This group composed of Executive Committee
members met on May 7. Lynn Gosser reported that the
group has completed its final review of Rule 26
(eligibility), which she will e-mail. Larry Bass
offered to e-mail his power point on Private Schools
after the State Advisory Council meeting.
D. Report: Division of
Exceptional Learners Bob Marra was pleased to report
the General Assembly increased the foundation amounts
for the Additional Pupil Count formula shown in the
inset on this page.
The Preschool funding
shortfall ($4.4 million) for this year was handled by a
transfer from the Alternative Residential (S-5) fund.
The Preschool foundations were not increased ($2250),
but a permanent transfer of $4 million from the S-5
account (reduced to $26 million total) has been created
and increased the Preschool fund to $32 million.
Funding for High Ability Programs (G & T) was increased
from $5.8 million to $12.6 million.
Bob commented on the
successful emergency permit legislation. He reported on
a DEL work group with both ICASE and ISHA
representatives to address the SLP personnel shortage.
This work group met on May 2 and discussed creating a
bachelor's teacher of communication disorders licensure
with emphasis on a dual major, such as reading or mild
intervention, among several possibilities. A member
asked about Indiana licensing for candidates in the Nova
Southeastern University distance learning SLP program,
which is reportedly not NCATE approved, but not a
problem for the Indiana Professional Standards Board
(IPLA)? Bob commented that since SLP candidates must
first get their IPLA agency license to take to DPS for a
school license, he would assume the NCATE status is a
non-issue for these graduates. [Bob later reported a
subsequent conversation with Shawn Sriver, which
confirmed Bob's earlier comment.]
Bob noted the DOE
Autism Spectrum Disorder Task Force will culminate its
work in December. The task force will host an October
26 Symposium for teacher educators about new ASD
competencies.
Bob remarked the State
Advisory Council (SAC) will hear a Private School
presentation from the Rule 19 work group at its May 18
meeting. Bob noted his reluctance with Discipline
language that goes beyond federal provisions. In lieu
of preschool caseloads, the length, frequency, and
duration of services will likely be the determinants for
case conference consideration. Prior written notice
(not consent) of proposed action will likely be
considered to allow parents ten days to respond. There
was considerable discussion around the possibility of
re-instating the 40 instructional days for completion of
evaluations. In reply to a question about
Response-to-Intervention, Bob considers such an
initiative as an integrated system for supporting
student success. He is inclined to embed such
provisions in Student Services Article 4 (not Article
7).
The final Article 7
session with the SAC is scheduled for June 15. Notice
will be given when the final draft document is available
on the DOE website. Bob anticipates the SAC with
IN*SOURCE and ASK will host 12 open input meetings
across the State.
After these sessions,
Bob plans to forward the draft document to the State
Board of Education by December to start the rule
promulgation process. It is his hope the revised rule
will be operational by the beginning of the 2008-09
school year.
In reply to a question,
Bob briefed members on "2% regulations", which he
described as being silent about diplomas. Under this
provision the students must take an assessment with the
same rigor as the current ISTEP standards. The only
option is to reduce the quantity of choices in the
answers. The assessment must be on grade level, so our
current indicators may need to be reviewed. The Indiana
DOE must submit its pivotal standards to the USDOE by
January 2009 for approval for the 2009-2010 school
year. DOE can only have a 3% total, but individual
corporations may be granted waivers. For the next two
years, former students in special education can be
counted for AYP calculations (not for participation).
Members discussed the current obstacle defining
graduates as four year degree completers with no
allowance for fifth year or certificates.
E. Report: Public
Policy and Legislative Committee Members acknowledged
the extensive work of Kelli Waggoner through KWK with SB
451. MOTION: Pat Pierce moved to recognize KWK in some
fashion up to $200 as gratitude for its work during the
last session of the General Assembly. After a second by
Vendetta Gutshall, the motion was approved. Tom Adams
will discuss an appropriate recognition with the
Legislative Committee at its meeting on June 7.
F. Liaisons No
reports
III. NEXT MEETING:
June 6, 2007 DOE Riley Room
