November 10,  2003 Meeting

Agenda Items
Topics from Members
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           Mission

Membership

Sevier County Special Education Parent Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes

The Sevier County Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SC SpEd PAC) held its seventh meeting on November 10, 2003.  Five members attended.

Sandy Enloe addressed a concern that has surfaced in the past month:  access to vocational programs for Sevier County high school students in Special Education.  He clarified that Sevier County High School is the vo-tech location for this type of training.  Students who are going to one of the other three high schools can enroll at SCHS instead if they want to pursue vocational training (or you as the parent want your child in vocational training).

John asked Jeff Romanczuk to remind all of the mission and purpose of the SpEd PAC.  Jeff referred the group to the written mission, but added that the purpose of the SpEd PAC is threefold:

1. To meet special education students' needs at the lowest level
2. To improve program delivery
3. To act as a school system/community liaison

This is how the organization's mission is fulfilled.

Jeff also reminded all that the training needs survey is due to him by November 26.  Only 23 have been turned in so far, a lot less than the 89 we based the last round of training on. 

Jeff asked again about members becoming points of contact for activities or areas of interest to them.  Some ideas are parent/staff communication, a transportation point of contact (among the parents), someone who keeps up with transition issues, etc.  Also, for those of you who are members  of your child's school's PTO or School Improvement Planning Committee, giving the SpEd PAC regular updates of these activities could be useful. 

Jeff also mentioned that we're moving ahead with plans to open the Trula Lawson Instructional Materials Center (IMC) to parent borrowing.  We could use some parent help to decide how best to clear the space and rearrange the materials to work out this process.  Contact Jeff by e-mail or phone (748-7711) if you are interested in helping.  

Kathy Dufau discussed recent activities of the Better Living Association of East Tennessee.  Her not-for-profit organization tends to socialization needs of higher-functioning teens with disabilities.  Kathy mentioned that the Halloween Party at the Pigeon Forge Community Center when well and that the PF Community Center will host a SpEd parents night out once a month in conjunction with the Better Living Association of East Tennessee.  The group needs parents or Sevier County Schools staff to watch the teens at the Community Center while their parents get some relaxation time.  If you are interested using this night out or working the Community Center so that others can use it, please contact Kathy by e-mail  or at 924-2989.

The next Parent Support Group potluck lunch meeting is December 4, noon to 1 pm at the Trula Lawson Center.  There will be no lunch meeting in January.

The next SpEd PAC meeting will be on Thursday, December 18, 10 am at the Trula Lawson Center. If you have a child in Sevier County Special Education and would like to get involved in the SpEd PAC, please come.

Kathy Dufau and Jane Boling will present the parents' perspective at the March 25, 2004 after school inservice session.   Jeff Romanczuk will present on the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program Alternative at the January 12, 2004 after-school inservice session (3:45 to 5:45 pm).  More info later.