Special Education and Student Services Newsletter for March 9

1. Best Wishes for Staff and their Families
We have a number of staff whose family member are experiencing some
health related issues.  I would like to express my best wishes and
prayers for full recoveries and support for the family members at this
time.


2. Child Development Day Numbers
At our annual Child Development Day we screened 142 children between
the ages of 2-4 years of age.  Approximately 5 children will be
referred for special education evaluation by the school district.
Several more will be evaluated by Birth to Three.


3. Pre-Kindergarten Registration
94 children registered for pre-kindergarten for 12-13 at CDD.  This
number does not include any retentions, ECSE students age eligible for
pre-kindergarten, or those who have not signed up yet.


4. Child Development Day Change for 12-13
One change we will be making in 12-13 is the end of Child Development
Day.  We will be waiting to start cleaning up until all children are
done being screened and parents met with.  Staff who are not screening
or meeting with parents will be able to eat some dinner until we can
clean up.


5. Child Development Day Staffing
I would like to thank again all of the staff and volunteers who helped
at our Child Development Day.  It would not be possible without all of
the extra work and time from all of you.  Special recognition to
Luanne Olson for all of her hard work and efforts in organizing this
event.  It is truly Luanne Development Day.


6. Child Development Day Collaboration
Child Development Day is a collaboration between the Taylor County
Human Services, Taylor County Health Department, and Medford Area
Public School District.  We are fortunate to be in a county where
these is such active collaboration between stakeholders.

Thank you to all of our early education providers who had booths at
our CDD like Holy Rosary, Head Start, Health Department, Parent
Resource Center, Immanual Lutheran, Sand Box, UW Extension, Abiding
Care and Pregnancy Resource, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and others.


7. Taylor County Interagency Communications Committee
We will meet on Thursday March 15 from 9:00 to 11:30 at the District
Office. Agenda will include:


I. Wisconsin Act 309 update - Steven Fernan from Department of Public
Instruction

In May 2010, Wisconsin passed Act 309 which mandates that schools take
some action on separate and distinct school safety issues: 1. Anti-
bullying efforts 2. School safety drills 3. School safety plans and 4.
The sharing of information between schools, law enforcement etc. While
certain requirements in the law took effect immediately, schools were
given up to three years to respond to the other sections. Nearly two
years into the law, with only a year or so remaining to complete the
required tasks, many schools find themselves unprepared.


Steve Fernan, who has followed this law from the start, will review
the entire Act,
and explain where schools should be in this process and how to finish
on time.


II Carrying Concealed Weapons Law in Schools - Donald Everhard


III. Cyberbullying/social networking/bullying & girls and legal
implications - Round Table discussion


IV. Child Abuse and Neglect Mandatory Reporting Training Requirements
for School Personnel - Joseph Greget


V. Truancy updates


8. Building Special Education meetings in March
MAES was on March 6th = Teachers should review the students on their
caseload and develop a list of what pullout classes they will need for
12-13. Please forward to me.


MAMS is on March 13 = We will review pullout classes for 12-13. Please
bring with you a list of students and classes they will need.


MASH is on March 20 = We will review scheduling for 12-13 and entrance/
exit testing criteria


9. Taylor County Early Childhood Sub-Committee
We will have a meeting on March 16 at 1:30 at the D.O. The purpose
will be to prepare for Week of the Young Child activities in April.


10. Autism Resource Team
We will meet on Thursday March 22nd in the MAES media room. We will be
reviewing Apps for Students with Autism.


11. Wilson Reading Level II Certification
We are scheduled to meet on March 28 from 3:45 to 5:30 in the MAES
computer lab. We will review the final examination requirements.


12. Wilson Reading Level II Certification Video Taping
Congratulations to each of the Level II staff who have recently
submitted their video tapes to their Level II Practicum Supervisor.
The feedback from the Supervisor has been excellent. We are so
fortunate to have such quality and excellent staff teaching our
reading programs for our students.


13. Private Duty School Nursing
DPI is recommending that school districts contract with parents who
provide private duty school nursing services for their child in a
school.  We have developed a template and will be working with parents
on this agreement.


14. Schoolwide Title I Services
We are discussing implementing a Schoolwide Title I Services model in
our eligible schools (MAES, SES, and MAMS) in 12-13. We learned more
about this model at the Federal Funding Conference. Here is the link:
http://dpi.wi.gov/titleone/schoolwide.html


We would be able to use IDEA special education funds to help provide
RTI supports through a Title I schoolwide model.  This would allow
less staff salaries taken out of our IDEA budget and keeping them in
the general education fund which allows for categorical aid revenue to
increase for subsequent school years. Let's say we take $100,000 of
salaries out of our IDEA budget. If we move that to the general fund,
then we can categorical aid of 28% back from the State. This means an
extra $28,000 in revenue.  We would also have more flexibility to use
RTI programs and services out of IDEA which are already funded through
other budgets.


15. School Psychological Services in 12-13
If the district were to receive a resignation or retirement from an
existing school psychologist at end of 11-12 - the district is
discussing not filling that position. With my school psychologist
licensure, those responsibilities would be added to my position. The
other school psychologist and myself would collaborate to provide the
school psychological services for the district.


16. Section 504 and RTI at MASH
I am considering the potential of having a MASH special education
assistant provide supports for Section 504 students and those students
identified under a Response to Intervention Model for Learning
Disabilities. This would be an existing position to be transferred
which would only be possible if we can meet the needs of our special
education students and their IEPs.


17. Adaptive Physical Education
We will be looking at offering Adaptive Physical Education again at
MAES, MAMS, and MASH for 12-13. I am working in collaboration with the
building principals to schedule this offering again.


18. Medford Adult Diploma Academy
Medford Adult Diploma Academy has run the course of the school year
and not in the summer.  Based on feedback from our adult students - we
will be looking at offering MADA during Summer 2012.  MADA is run
through Northcentral Technical College and our CLC Adult Education
Program.  This is for adult students 18 and older who want to earn a
traditional high school diploma.


Cindy Gibson and I have met with District Attorney Karl Kelz and
Probabation/Parole Department Officials about our Adult Diploma
Academy.  This was to inform them about our program which might help
their clients.


19. Dr. Laura Shank - Behavioral Interventions for Students on the
Autism Spectrum
Dr. Laura Shank is a psychologist at the Achieve Center in Wausau.
She will be our featured speaker on Wednesday May 2nd from 4:00 to
5:30 at MAES in the media room.  The Autism Resource Team is excited
to have Dr. Shank present here in Medford. Everyone is invited to
learn more about behavioral interventions and the Achieve Center.