Mathews County Special Education Advisory Committee
October 4, 2010
6:00 pm
MATHEWS HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY
PRESENT – Barbara Fleming, Shawna Gunning, Joe Ortiz, Louise LeBron, Valerie Lewis,
Bill Taber
CELEBRATIONS were shared around the table.
MINUTES – were approved as presented.
TREASURER’S REPORT - Michelle Guziewicz reported that nothing had been taken in or spent. She is working on
changing the bank account since it was initially set up as a non-profit.
SPECIAL EDUCATION – Louise LeBron reported that she has been able to utilize the ALERT NOW system for
meeting notices.
91% of MC special education students graduated from the high school in 2010.
She is working on rescheduling the DOE presentation re: new regulations, which was canceled due to the severe
weather on 9/30/10.
October is Celebrate Disabilities Month.
PRC – The 2009-2010 MCPRC Statistics and Achievements Reports was reviewed and received by the Committee.
Tentative presentation schedule was approved as follows:
January 18, 2011 – Financial planning
March 2011 – PEATC (date to be set)
May 2011 – I Am Determined (may be changed to fall to give a full year of review before
presentation)
Distribution of SEAC/PRC materials- Printing of SEAC/PRC literature is up to us. Michelle
volunteered to get materials printed if we will supply the paper. Thank you, Michelle!
OLD BUSINESS –
Parents’ Night Out - was canceled for 10/9/ due to bad weather and inability to get information
out in a timely manner. Barbara will contact Lisa re: Parents’ Night Out following Gloucester
Christmas Main Street parade.
The issues of liability, insurance, and peanut allergies were raised. Barbara will bring these concerns to Lisa.
IT was VOTED to approved the format of the Parents’ Night Out flyer contingent upon the
resolution of the above issues.
NEW BUSINESS –
Child Care at Meetings - Jouette will be available for the November 1st meeting, but will then
be moving. Valerie Lewis contacted her sitter, Lisa Ehrlich, who agreed to be available
beginning in December. Thank you, Valerie!
Basketball Concessions – season will be starting in January. It would be a 6 hour day. Food is obtained through MC
food service. Need a substantial number of volunteers to cover the day. Shawna is interested. Need to find out if
there is enough interest and if there are enough volunteers to do this.
Respectfully submitted
Barbara Fleming
SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
July 8, 2010
6:30 pm
Mathews Highschool Library
ATTENDANCE: Barbara Fleming, Louise LeBron, Valerie Lewis, Joe Ortiz, Lisa McCann, Michelle Guziewicz.
CELEBRATIONS:
Introductory celebrations were shared around the table.
AGENDA ITEMS:
Agenda was presented by Barbara Fleming as Committee Chair.
Lori/Val/Louise/Michelle:
A $100,000 grant has been submitted to the Department of Education in request of funds to support the SEAC/PRC
operating funds. The grant was not funded due to technicalities relating to non profit requirements. DOE advised the
committee to resubmit the grant when the non-profit status is acquired. Grants can be submitted annually. Local grant
opportunities (Owens & White Trust) may be considered more feasible at this time.
The Dream catchers grant was not accepted.
Michelle donated a local grant resource reference book to the PRC.
Louise:
Lori Jackson’s 2010-11 salary will be covered this next year under Federal Funds. Dr. Holleran has allocated some
approx. $800.00 overflow funds from this budget year to the PRC.
Louise reported that Cathy Walker is spearheading identifying a storefront location in the community for her
Transition House thrift shop project.
District transportation partnerships have developed with Gloucester for student transportation to programs such as
PERT.
Therapeutic Day Treatment will begin in all three schools this year. This will serve as an additional service to our
schools from the Community Services Board.
Summer ESY has begun and is running smoothly.
St. Joseph’s Village Day Camp has been resourced for one of our local students in August.
Graduation ceremonies at MHS were very nice. Louise suggested that the SEAC/PRC consider allocating funds to
establish a scholarship fund for a special education student.
Lori:
Financial Report was submitted by Lori Jackson. Grant moneys and conference moneys continue to be available from
this year’s budget.
$88.00 Cash
$581.13 Checking account as of 7/8/10
$288.00 Barnes and Noble card
$30.00 Walmart card
Mathews Market Days:
Booth #10 has been secured for Market Days. Canvas painting project has been chosen for booth activity and
supplies are being purchased. Volunteers will be needed to man the booth.
PRC Feedback:
Local family with several children who have identified needs have utilized the support of PRC to help make the
decision to remain in our community vs. move.
Joe reported that he felt that the PRC signage is not readily apparent in the library.
Library/PRC:
Betty Dillehay submitted a grant application for community inclusion.
Audiobooks have been acquired to resource the high school literature curriculum (Frankenstein).
Library expansion is in the planning stages
Summer program at the library has over 50 kids enrolled.
ESL kids-Title III needs PRC supports.
41% of our disadvantaged population in special education overlaps with ESL (Louise).
Getting the work out about the PRC further was discussed. The Salvation Army and Hands Across Mathews and Dr.
Lumbard’s Circle of Friends were discussed as possible resources that may appreciate information dissemination.
Grants:
A non discrimination policy needs to be added to our applications/grants.
Fundraising:
Market Days
Applebees- Suggested by Barbara as a possibility.
Barnes and Noble – Suggested by Valerie.
White Dog – Fall Oyster/Beer festival request will be carried out by Lisa.
Calendar of Upcoming Events:
TTAC – I’m Determined Project July 27th SPED office
PEATC – 3 Day Conference Training for Parents as Collaborative Partners August 25-27th
Mathews County Public Schools – September Openhouse Welcome Table
Market Days – September
Oyster Festival (pending confirmation)–October for Disability Awareness
4H/SEAC Brainworks (pending scheduling) – October
State SEAC Meeting- October 14-15th
Rotary Club Presentation – January 20th 7:30 am
Speaker Considerations:
Possible quarterly PRC speakers were presented. Topics for consideration included:
Financial Planning
Legal Consultant
Regulation Update
PEATC – Parent Advocacy Training
Next Meeting:
August 12th
6:30
MHS
Meeting adjourned on time at 8:00 pm.
______________________________________________________________________
Respectfully submitted via email for review 7-23-10 by Lisa Peschel McCann