January 21,  2004 Meeting

Agenda Items
Topics from Members
Other Items

      
Mission

Membership

Sevier County Special Education Parent Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes

The Sevier County Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SC SpEd PAC) held its ninth meeting on January 21, 2004.  Five members attended.

Ongoing Stuff

Jeff Romanczuk mentioned that we're moving ahead with plans to open space at the Trula Lawson Center for 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.  In addition to parents and teachers loaning or donating materials they already have, parents can make suggestions for future purchases.  

New Stuff

On January 21--prior to them doing so for State Department of Education, Sevier County School Board, and SpEd Consultants--Sandy Enloe and Jeff presented the current status of Continuous Improvement Monitoring Process (CIMP) actions begun during the 2001-2002 school year to the SpEd PAC.  In addition to the parent, teacher, and administrator surveys, IEP folder checking, and program improvement plan tracking for areas of concern, the CIMP focuses on indicators in these six areas:

1. General Supervision
2. Parent Involvement
3. Free, Appropriate Education in the Least Restrictive Environment
4. Early Childhood Transition
5. Secondary Transition
6. Other Requirements (such as minorities-in-SpEd tracking)

Jeff gave all handouts detailing how the school system is doing with SpEd graduation vs. dropout rates, SpEd diploma vs. regular diploma graduation numbers, and training needs identified vs. training delivered.  Contact Jeff by e-mail or phone (748-7711) if you would like a copy of the handouts.

Jeff mentioned that the Eagleton Little League, in Maryville (Blount County), has a Challenger Division that would like Sevier County SpEd students to join.  The softball season runs mid April to mid June, with sign ups starting in March.  In both leagues, anyone can play and everyone plays the whole game every game.  Contact Jeff at 748-7711 for more information.

The next SpEd PAC meeting will be on Thursday, February 26, 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.  Transition seems to be emerging as a priority, so we'll spend some time on this topic.  This is our first anniversary meeting, believe it, or not!

The next Parent Support Group potluck lunch meeting is March 4, noon to 1 pm at the Trula Lawson Center.

Remember:  Kathy Dufau and Jane Boling will present the parents' perspective at the March 25, 2004 after school inservice session (3:45 to 4:45 pm).