September 21, 2009
Mrs. Pettitt moved that the School Board enter into a
closed session in accordance with Section 2.2-3711 (A)(1), Code of Virginia,
for discussion and consideration regarding the promotion of a specific
employee– 1 item. Mrs. Carpenter
seconded the motion, and the Board entered closed meeting at 4:06 P.M.
Mrs. Carpenter moved that the Board end the closed
meeting; Mrs. Pettitt seconded the motion and the Board entered regular session
at 4:52 P.M.
On motion of Mrs. Pettitt, seconded by Mrs. Carpenter,
now, therefore, be it resolved that the School Board hereby certifies that, to
the best of each member's knowledge, (i) only public business matters lawfully
exempted from open meeting requirements by Virginia law were discussed in the
closed meeting to which this certification resolution applies, and (ii) only
such public business matters as were identified in the motion convening the
closed meeting were heard, discussed, or considered by the School Board.
ABSENT DURING MEETING: Mr. Rajah
ABSENT DURING CLOSED MEETING: Mr. Rajah
AYES: Mr. Trammell, Mrs. Pettitt, Mrs. Carpenter, Mr.
Wyman
__________________________
Clerk
to the Board
_________________________
Chairman
School Board Special Called Meeting
The September 21, 2009, special
called meeting of the Chesterfield County School Board was held at the School
Board Administration Building,
Present:
Marshall W. Trammell, Jr., Bermuda; David S. Wyman, Dale; Dianne E.
Pettitt, Clover Hill; Patricia M. Carpenter, Midlothian; U. Omarh Rajah,
Matoaca; Dr. Marcus J. Newsome, Superintendent; Dr. Sharon Thomas, Chief Executive
to the Superintendent; Michael R. Packer, School Board Attorney; Dr. Dale
Kalkofen, Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Support; Dr. Ed Pruden,
Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Administration; David Myers,
Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance; Dr. Lyle Evans, Assistant
Superintendent for Human Resources/Administrative Services; Tim Bullis,
Director of Community Relations; Shawn Smith, Assistant Director of Community
Relations; Carol Timpano, School Board Clerk; and Carolyn Wright, School Board
Deputy Clerk.
Mike Asip, Director of
Exceptional Education
Nancy Robbins, Vice Chair of
Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)
Mr.
Asip and Ms. Robbins shared with the School Board information about activities
completed by SEAC and highlighted topics presented to the committee by school
personnel, and emphasized the role of SEAC mandated by the Regulations of
Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in
Ms.
Robbins stated the requirements of the Special Education Advisory Committee
(SEAC), mandated by Virginia Regulations Governing Special Education Program for
Children with Disabilities:
·
Provide advice to
CCPS concerning unmet educational needs;
·
Assist CCPS in
formulating and developing long-range plans to provide services;
·
Participate in
the development of priorities and strategies for meeting the identified needs;
·
Submit an annual
report to the School Board via the Superintendent with SEAC recommendations
regarding the educational needs of students;
·
Assist with
interpretation of the plans for the community and plans for meeting the needs
of students with disabilities for educational services;
·
Review annually 30-days
prior to submission to the School Board the updated Annual Special Education Plan
and application for the federal Flow-Through Funds.
Ms.
Robbins pointed out the SEAC was an advisory board, not an advocacy board, and
members must put aside their personal needs and interests in order to serve all
special needs children and to advise the School Board and the Superintendent
for all issues.
Mr.
Asip added the State provided training for SEAC members with regard to their
neutral role as members of the committee because some parents would come to
SEAC expecting assistance with individual student needs. SEAC may hear parents' issues to determine
any patterns that may point to unmet needs of students with
disabilities.
Mr. Asip stated the SEAC had full membership with
the exception of one vacancy still in the process of being filled in the
Bermuda District. He added a new seat
was added for a student representative, currently held by Kristen Follo, a
senior at
Ms. Robbins stated the SEAC first recommendation,
to enhance the School Board's awareness of issues related to the education of
students with disabilities. She welcomed
the School Board member representing the Matoaca District, Mr. Omar Rajah as
the Board liaison representative to the SEAC and extended a welcoming
invitation to all School Board members to attend at least one meeting during
the school year so they may become acquainted with members. Board members were provided with a schedule
of SEAC meetings for school year.
Ms. Robbins shared the second recommendation,
to support participation of general education teachers and administrators in
professional development opportunities that address special education topics. She explained that the Special Education
office provided intensive training for teachers all year; more participation by
general education teachers in special education training was encouraged. Ms. Robbins stated it was a great benefit to
have regular education and special education teachers receive the same training
for successful collaborative instruction in the (inclusive) classroom.
Ms. Robbins stated the third recommendation,
to expand opportunities to support students with disabilities in the general
education classroom. The SEAC requested the
School Board to continue, and to expand, funding so schools could provide
individual student supports, including assistive technology and a Personal
Digital Assistant (PDA); nano keyboard; scribes for note taking; and sometimes
one-to-one aide support. Student
mentoring between a general education student and a student with disabilities
was suggested.
The fourth
recommendation of the SEAC was to support inclusive after-school activities
for all students so they could be full members in their school community. Ms. Robbins explained this would encourage
participation in teams and activities with supportive accessibility for
students with disabilities. She
acknowledged that school transportation for some special education students,
due to their disability, was their only access to school and the SEAC requested
the School Board to consider transportation as a support to allow those students
greater access to after-school activities.
Ms. Robbins stated the fifth recommendation. The SEAC requested the School Board support
efforts to publicize the availability of the
Recommendation
six, to
expand innovative practices, i.e., "I'm Determined" and the Child
Study Intervention Team that helped students become self-directed learners and
provide students with earlier instructional interventions. Ms. Robbins requested that CCPS continue this
effort to empower self-directed students with disabilities and expand to all
middle schools. She pointed out this
would foster future independence and participation as responsible citizens.
And finally, recommendation seven, ensure
division Action Plans are implemented to address targeted areas in the June
2009 State Special Education Performance Report. Mr. Asip informed the School Board the
State Performance Plan outlined targets for division expected performance. The SEAC supported the continued efforts of
CCPS to systematically address the areas needing improvement: achievement outcomes; reduce the drop-out
rate for students with disabilities; reduce the disproportionate suspension of
students with disabilities; increase time spent in general education classes;
improve parental awareness and involvement; reduce the disproportionate
representation of minority students in specific disability categories; improve
transition planning for students; improve the required on-time completion of
evaluations and eligibility determinations.
The School Board's continued interest in accountability measures and
their support of concerted, systematic efforts to address them was requested by
SEAC.
Adjournment
There being no further business, Mr. Wyman moved the
meeting adjourn at 6:00 p.m.; Mrs. Carpenter seconded and the meeting was
adjourned.
Following the Special Called School Board meeting,
School Board members attended the County Council of PTA/PTSAs annual reception
and September meeting, held at the
__________________________
Chairman
__________________________
Clerk