[1. Agenda for the September 2, 2020 Special Education Advisory Committee Meeting]
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AND THEN SHIFTING AHEAD TO OCTOBER -- I WOULD PROPOSE WE MEET SEPTEMBER 11, 2001
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23RD.[00:11:00]
THAT GIVES US A SOLID MONTH BEFORE THE OCTOBER MEETING.IF WE CONTINUE TO MEET ON THE THIRD WEDNESDAYS AS WE DID LAST YEAR.
>> DO WE NEED TO VOTE ON THAT?
>> I'M NOT SURE IF WE NEED TO VOTE ON THAT OR IF WE SHOULD -- >> I DON'T BELIEVE YOU HAVE TO VOTE.
I THINK YOU JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE YOUR MEMBERS CAN ATTEND.
WE WOULD HAVE TO DETERMINE THAT OUTSIDE THE MEETING.
>> SO DOES ANYBODY OBJECT TO US SETTING THE 23RD SEPTEMBER AS OUR NEXT MEETING?
>> THEN MAYBE -- >> I'M ALSO NOT AVAILABLE.
>> DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T HAVE IT WITHOUT ME BUT I'M NOT AVAILABLE.
>> THEN I SUGGESTED WE MOVE TO THE 30THTH.
>> DOES ANYBODY OBJECT TO THE 30TH?
>> HEARING NO OBJECTIONS WE WILL SET OUR NEXT MEETING TO BE AT 7:30 ON SEPTEMBER 30TH.
NOW THE PROPOSAL TO ELECT MEMBERS OF THE -- >> CAN I INTERRUPT QUICKLY.
AND THIS WILL BE SHORTER THAN OUR TYPICAL MEETINGS BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO GET THE BALL ROLLING.
BUT TYPICALLY WE'VE MET 7:00 TO 9:00 SO I PROPOSE THAT WE GO BACK TO THE 7:00 TO 9:00 TIME SLOT.
SO EL WE'LL GO FROM 7:00 TO 9:00.
THEN -- CINDY, WHY DON'T YOU GO THROUGH THE PROPOSAL TO EITHER SELF-NOMINATE OR NOMINATE OTHER PEOPLE BY SEPTEMBER 16TH.
>> ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE 30TH.
ONE WEEK PRIOR TO SEPTEMBER 30TH.
SO TO PROVIDE A NOMINATION TO THE SEAC TEAM WE DON'T HAVE A NOMINATING COMMITTEE SO FOR THE NOMINATION TO THE SEAC TEAMINGS THAT ACCEPTABLE.
AND THEN WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WITH SUSAN'S ASSISTANCE HOW WE CAN DO A VOTE.
>> DOES ANYBODY OBJECT TO THAT APPROACH?
NOT HEARING ANY OBJECTIONS THEN THAT WILL BE THE MODEL AND THEN THE QUESTION IS ONCE WE HAVE A SLATE OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN NOMINATED HOW DO WE GO ABOUT VOTING ON IT? SUSAN CAN YOU GIVE US SOME ADVICE.
WHEN YOU DO THESE VIRTUAL MEETINGS YOU DO HAVE TO DO ROLL CALL VOTES.
>> THAT WOULDN'T BE A -- OH, I SEE.
YOU YOU HAVE TO HAVE A FACE TO FACE VOTE EVEN IF IT'S A WRITTEN VOTE?
>> SANDRA IS RAISING YOUR HAND.
IT'S NOT SHOWING UP ON MY BOTTOM THING.
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>> BECAUSE IN ANOTHER MEETING I WAS IN AND ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS THAT WE CAME UP IN A SIMILAR SITUATION AND IN THIS CASE WE EITHER WANTS THE OUTGOING CHAIR OR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER SO IN THIS CASE WHAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO IS WHAT WE DID IS WE -- MESSAGES ON ZOOM WHERE YOU CAN MESSAGE SOMEBODY YOU CAN HAVE IT EXCLUSIVELY TO ONE PERSON SO WE EXCLUSIVELY SENT IN OUR VOTES TO THE PERSON THAT WAS CHAIRING THE MEETING.
IN THE CHAT FUNCTION IF YOU LOOK AT THE CHAT FUNCTION YOU CAN EITHER SEND IT TO EVERYBODY OR SEND IT TO ONE PERSON.
SO WE ALL VOTED IN THE CHAT FUNCTION BUT IT WAS ONLY ONE PERSON COULD SEE IT.
>> WE CANNOT USE CHAT IN SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS OR SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
I KNOW THIS PUTS YOU GUYS IN A BIND IN THAT NORMALLY YOU DON'T VOTE PUBLICLY BUT IN THIS CASE YOU WILL HAVE TO I BELIEVE.
I ALSO DON'T SEE A RAISE YOUR HAND FEATURE.
GO DOWN TO PARTICIPANTS AND CLICK ON THE BOX.
YOU'LL GET A LIST AND AT THE BOTTOM OF THAT LIST OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE MEETING YOU'LL SEE A RAISED HAND AND ONCE YOU RAISE IT YOU WILL ALSO HAVE OF THE OPTION TO LOWER IT.
>> UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES WELL SINCE THERE HAS BEEN NO OBJECTION I THINK WE STICK WITH ACCEPTING NOMINATION UP TO ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
IN THE PAST NOMINATIONS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED FROM THE FLOOR.
BUT AT THIS POINT WE HAVE THREE WEEKS FROM TODAY TO RECEIVE NOMINATIONS IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTION ESPECIALLY FROM THE MEMBERSHIP.
>> WE'RE SUSPENDING NOMINATIONS FROM THE FLOOR BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE THERE IS ADEQUATE TIME FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE A NOMINATION BEFORE THAT.
HEARING NONE WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT AND THEN SUSAN WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE A VOTE THAT WILL HAVE TO GO FIRST ON THE AGENDA I GUESS FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
>> OKAY AND IT WILL BE A ROLL CALL VOTE.
CAN'T BE A SECRET VOTE ALTHOUGH PEOPLE CAN ABSTAIN I GUESS.
>> SO, WHAT WE TYPICALLY DO LIKE WHEN WE DO ELECTIONS FOR SCHOOL BOARD, MEMBERS ARE GIVEN ONE VOTE SO THEY DON'T VOTE FOR MULTIPLE CANDIDATES.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU DO THAT OR NOT.
SO IF YOU HAVE THREE CANDIDATES -- >> YOU GET TO VOTE FOR ONE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS YOUR NORMAL PROCEDURE.
>> THAT IS OUR NORMAL PROCEDURE.
>> HOWEVER, WITH THE EXCEPTION I'M SORRY I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS ONE.
WE HAVE CO-SECRETARIES IN OUR BYLAWS SO I GUESS WE NEED TO SPECIFY THAT WE CAN VOTE FOR TWO IN THAT SITUATION.
>> SO NOT HEARING ANY OBJECTIONS THAT IS THE WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS.
I ALSO FAILED TO ANNOUNCE WHO SOME OF OUR OTHER MEMBERS THAT ARE PRESENT TONIGHT ARE.
THAT SUSAN ASKED ME TO DO SO WE HAVE PRESENT WE HAVE BRIANNE JOHNSON WHO'S OUR PRINCIPALLY A SON.
-- OUR SCHOOL BOARD LIAISON AND TERRY WARNER WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OFFICE OF SPECIALIZED EDUCATION.
AND COURTNEY DAVIS IS COURTNEY HERE? I'M LOOKING AT THE LIST.
>> I DON'T BELIEVE PRC WILL BE HERE TONIGHT.
>> AND IS MARGARET LORBER HERE? NO.
SO JUST THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE.
AND WE WILL MOVE FORWARD AND THEN I'M GOING TO TRY TO FIND THE AGENDA.
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AFTER ALL OF THAT THANK YOU FOR MOVING THAT ALONG.WE'LL MOVE INTO THE OFFICIAL AGENDA AND START OFF WITH OUR REPORTS FROM OUR SEAC
[3. SEAC Bylaws--February 2020 Update]
CHAIR WHO IS FINISHING UP A TERM AND CINDY HART YOU WANT TO GIVE US YOUR REPORT.I WILL -- THIS IS SORT OF ODD.
I PLACED IT UNDER NEW BUSINESS BUT THE DRAFT END OF YEAR REPORT I HAVE TO OFFER MY APOLOGIES NOT GETTING IT IN WRITTEN FORM DUE TO FAMILY ISSUES AND COVID QUARANTINE.
WE'VE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF DRAMA GOING ON AROUND HERE SO MY APOLOGIES BUT I DO WANT TO GIVE A COMMENT ON WHAT SEAC HAS DONE SINCE THE SHUT DOWN.
WE WERE NOT ABLE TO MEET FOR THE MAJORITY OF THAT TIME.
HOWEVER, ONCE WE HIT THE END OF JUNE WE DID DO A FEW THINGS TO GATHER INPUT FROM PARENTS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT TO THE SCHOOL BOARD.
AT THE END OF JUNE WE DID A SURVEY JUST AN INFORMAL SURVEY NOTHING FORMAL BUT SEAC MEMBERSHIP AS WELL AS OTHER PARENTS THAT SEAC MEMBERS KNEW PROVIDED INFORMATION THAT THEN FED INTO A PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD WHICH ALSO OF COURSE WAS PROVIDED TO OUR HEAD OF SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION.
AND THIS WAS A SUMMARY OF THINGS THAT DIDN'T WORK.
ONE THING THAT STOOD OUT IN ADDITION TO THE I WON'T GO THROUGH THE CHALLENGES NOW BUT ONE THING THAT WE SAW COME TO THE FORECAST FRONT IS NEED FOR COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS.
IN JULY THERE WAS ACROSS FUNCTIONAL PLANNING TEAM AND SEAC LEADERSHIP WAS INVITED TO BE PART OF THAT SO MIKE AND I PARTICIPATED IN THE MEETINGS.
THEY WERE TWICE A WEEK THROUGHOUT THE FOUR WEEKS OF JULY AND THEN JANET WAS ABLE TO FILL IN FOR MIKE WHEN HE HAD A FAMILY EMERGENCY.
AND SO SHE CONTINUE THROUGH THE END OF THAT TIME.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE A VOICE FOR THE POPULATION AND THROUGHOUT THOSE MEETINGS.
NOW AS YOU ALL KNOW THEY WERE NOT TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS TO HAPPEN IN THE FALL BUT TO PLAN FOR WHATEVER DID HAPPEN.
ONCE THAT DECISION WAS MADE THAT WE WOULD BE STARTING FULLY VIRTUAL AGAIN I SOLICITED INFORMATION FROM OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND USING THAT INFORMATION SHARED THAT WITH AGAIN WITH TERRY WITH AARON STONE WHO'S HEAD OF OUR CITYWIDE CLASSROOMS AND WE DID HAVE A NUMBER OF PARENTS OF THOSE STUDENTS SPECIFICALLY TO PROVIDE INPUT.
OF COURSE, THOSE ARE OUR HIGHEST NEEDS STUDENTS AND ONES THAT MAYBE STRUGGLE THE MOST WITH THE VIRTUAL SETTING.
AND THAT WAS ALSO PROVIDED TO DR. HUTCHINS.
IN THAT SURVEY AS WELL AND WITH PARENT COMMENTS THAT I'VE CONTINUED TO HEAR ONCE AGAIN THE ISSUE OF COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS HAS COME UP AS SOMETHING THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
THAT IS IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION, SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN THIS FALL BUT THIS WAS ALREADY AN ITEM THAT WAS ON OUR SCOPE OF WORK FOR THE YEAR LAST YEAR.
WE HAD JUST STARTED TO DELVE INTO IT AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE THAT SITUATION HAS HIGHLIGHTED.
WE NEED TO REALLY BRING TO THE FOREFRONT IN OUR SCOPE OF WORK FOR THE COMING YEAR WHOEVER THE LEADERSHIP IS.
THAT SORT OF THE WAYS IN WHICH SEAC HAS BEEN INVOLVED AT THIS TIME AND THEN I'LL COME BACK AFTER TERRY SHARES SOME INFORMATION THAT I'M SURE MEMBERSHIP WILL WANT TO HEAR THE STATUS OF WHERE WE WERE AT SHUT DOWNTIME.
>> I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD TO THAT I THINK IN TERRY'S REPORT WE'LL SEE THE SPECIAL-ED'S POPULATIONS FOR ALEXANDRIA CITY SCHOOLS WERE VERY WELL REPRESENTED IN THE PLANNING IN TERMS OF WHAT THE NEEDS ARE AND HOW TO REALLY REACH THOSE NEEDS IN
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THE FAMILIES AND THE KIDS PRETTY WELL.SO TERRY, YOU WANT TO CARRY ON?
I'D LIKE TO ASK THE COMMITTEE IN THE INTEREST OF RESPECTING YOUR TIME BECAUSE PAYMENTS ALMOST 8:00 AND I'M LOOKING AT ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS ON THE AGENDA.
I HAVE SIX MONTHS WORTH OF THINGS TO TALK ABOUT.
HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE AND WHAT WOULD YOU PREFER I FOCUS MY EFFORTS AROUND.
I WOULD SAY LET'S DO A 10 MINUTE OVERVIEW IF YOU CAN DO THAT.
SO SCHOOL CLOSED MARCH 13TH WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT WE WOULD BE RETURNING TO IN PERSON INSTRUCTION APRIL 12TH.
AS YOU ALL KNOW WE WERE HOME FOR THREE WEEKS AND THEN WITH THE ONE WEEK OF SPRING BREAK.
AFTER THE FIRST WEEK THE GOVERNOR SHUT SCHOOLS FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.
FOR THE FIRST THREE WEEKS OF SCHOOL THE FIRST THREE WEEKS OF SHUT DOWN HOWEVER THE UP TENT WAS TO KEEP STUDENTS ENGAGED IN LEARNING ACTIVITIES.
SO WE DID A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WORK TO GET MATERIALS AND ACTIVITIES AND LEARNING PACKETS HOME TO STUDENTS BEFORE THAT FRIDAY SHUT DOWN.
AND WE HAD THREE WEEKS OF ACTIVITIES.
AFTER THE FIRST WEEK WE KNEW THAT WE WERE NOT GOING TO BE COMING BACK SO WE SPENT THAT NEXT THREE WEEKS WORKING DISTRICT WIDE AND EVERYBODY I THINK HAS HEARD OUR PLANS TALKED ABOUT 2.0.
1.0 WAS THE FIRST THREE WEEKS.
THE INSTRUCTION THAT WE UNDER TOOK TO FINISH OUT THE SCHOOL YEAR.
THAT WAS NOT TO BE NEW INSTRUCTION BUT WE WERE TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND ALLOW STUDENTS TO FINISH OUT THE SCHOOL YEAR AND COMPLETE AS MUCH AS WE COULD UP TO THAT POINT.
WE THEN HAD 3.0 WHICH WAS SUMMER SCHOOL AND THAT SUMMER SCHOOL WAS AN OPT OUT SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM AND WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN THE SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM.
SO WE REALLY DIDN'T DO -- WIDE BECAUSE WE WERE NOT EXTENDED -- UP TO THAT POINT WE IN TERMS OF THE COMPLIANCE SIDE OF THINGS WE HAVE CONDUCTED IEP MEETINGS.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THESE MEETINGS VIRTUALLY.
WE'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CARRY OUT UNTIL NOW MANY OUR EVALUATIONS BECAUSE MANY COMPONENTS REQUIRE FACE TO FACE INTERACTION AND WE'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THAT.
>> SO WE HAVE EXTENDED TIME LINES.
WE HAVE EXTENDED THE 65 DAYTIME LINES IN ALL OF THOSE CASES AND WE ARE WORKING WITH STUDENT SERVICES TO AGAIN AN IN PERSON TRIAL PHASE IN OF FACE TO FACES VALUATION WHICH STARTED THIS WEEK.
>> COULD YOU REPEAT WHAT YOU SAID.
AS I'M TRYING TO TAKE NOTES QUICKLY.
BUT YOU WERE NOT ABLE TO DO EVALUATIONS AND THEN WHAT DID YOU SAY AFTER THAT PLEASE.
>> EVALUATIONS REQUIRE FACE TO FACE INTERACTION WITH STUDENTS AND WITH THE CLOSE DOWN AND THE GOVERNOR'S RESTRICTIONSES WE WERE NOT ABLE TO CARRY OUT THOSE FACE TO FACES VALUATIONS.
THIS WEEK WE HAVE STARTED A PHASED IN TRIAL PROCESS AND WE ARE STARTING FACE TO FACES VALUATIONS THIS WEEK.
WE HAVE STARTED WITH FIVE STUDENTS AND ARE WORKING WITH THEM.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT OVER 150 EVALUATIONS PENDING SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK IN THAT REGARD.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THIS SUMMER WE HAVE FINISHED THE FIRST PHASE OF THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ED EVALUATION CORRECTIVE ACTION.
WE'VE CLOSED OUT THE COMPLIANCE SECTION THAT WAS CLOSED OUT AT THE END OF JULY.
AS CINDY NOTED WE SPENT A GOOD BIT OF THE SUMMER WHEN WE WERE NOT WORKING WITH
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STUDENTS INSTRUCTION ALLEY AS PART OF THE CROSS FUNCTIONAL PLANNING TEAM.WE HAD EXTENSIVE REPRESENTATION FROM SPECIAL EDUCATION BOTH IN THE AREAS OF SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL ACADEMIC LEARNING, OPERATIONS, ALL KINDS OF AREAS.
WE WERE WORKING WITH SCHOOL NUTRITION, TRANSPORTATION, HEALTH.
WE HAD REPRESENTATION ON CURRICULUM ON BOTH THE CITYWIDE HAD SIDE AND THE GENERAL ED SIDE SO WE HAD PROBABLY 12 PEOPLE ON THE TEAM COMPLETELY.
SO WE SPENT THE TIME REALLY WORKING EXTENSIVELY TO IDENTIFY THE FEASIBILITY OF RETURNING TO SCHOOL AND I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS AT THIS POINT -- WE HAVE DETERMINED THAT WE ARE STARTING VIRTUALLY.
THE GUIDANCE THAT ALL TEACHERS HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE OFFICE OF SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION THAT WE'RE FULLY IMPLEMENTING -- AS A VIRTUAL -- THAT THEY HAVE WORKED WITH GENERAL EDUCATION TEACHERS AND WITH OUR INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT TO ASCERTAIN BEST INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION IN THE VIRTUAL SETTING TO INCLUDE BREAK OUT ROOMS AND SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION.
CITYWIDE TEACHERS HAVE RECEIVED SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION FOR SERVICES FOR STUDENTS.
IN ADDITION WE ARE WORKING WITH A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM TO AS CERTIFY TAKEN THE FEASIBILITY OF RETURNING OUR CITYWIDE STUDENTS TO FACE TO FACE INSTRUCTION.
PRIMARY AREAS FOR PHASE I WHICH HAVE TO DO WITH SAFETY AND SECURITY AND CLEANING PROTOCOLS.
THE THIRD IS STUDENT NUTRITION.
A SURVEY WENT OUT TODAY TO TEACHERS TO ASCERTAIN THEIR ABILITY TO RETURN TO SCHOOL.
>> YOU'RE BREAKING UP A BIT AT LEAST ON MY END BUT YOU SAID YOUR FOUR AREAS ARE SAFETY AND TRANSPORTATION.
>> FOOD AND NUTRITION AND STAFFING.
>> JUST SO YOU KNOW THIS IS RECORDED AND YOU CAN GO BACK AND LISTEN TO IT AS WELL.
>> CINDY DO YOU HAVE YOUR HAND RAISED?
BUT I'M GOING TO WAIT UNTIL THE END.
>> SO WE ARE -- THOSE ARE THE FOUR PRIMARY AREAS SO IF WE CAN GET A GREEN LIGHT THERE WE CAN MOVE TO THE SECOND PHASE OF PLANNING WITH THE PRINCIPALS AND STAFF.
WE ARE LOOKING AT TWO OPTIONS ONE IS FOUR DAYS HALF DAY RETURN.
THAT HAS SOME SIGNIFICANT IMPLICATIONS AROUND CLEANLINESS AND THE HYGIENE PROCESS ESPECIALLY AS WE NEED TO TURN OVER CLASSROOMS IN A VERY SHORT NOTICE SHORT TIME FRAME BETWEEN MORNING AND AFTERNOON SESSIONS.
WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO CLEAN THE EQUIPMENT, CLEAN THE CLASSROOM.
THE OTHER ASPECT THAT IS BECOMING INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING IS BATHROOMS. AND HOW WE CAN KEEP BATHROOMS CLEAN.
WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT STARTING WITH THE PRE-K-2 POPULATIONS THOSE STUDENTS ARE TOILET ON DEMAND AND WE ARE REALLY LOOKING CLOSELY AT PROTOCOLS AS TO HOW OFTEN THOSE BATHROOMS NEED TO BE CLEANED.
SO, THAT IS A VERY BIG QUESTION.
PPE -- BECAUSE WE HAVE LITTLE ONES THAT ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO WEAR MASK.
AND MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING.
WE HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS THAT -- THE CLEANING HAS BEEN THE BIG ISSUE.
TRANSPORTATION WHEN YOU LOOK AT HALF DAY SCHEDULE.
WE HAVE TO DO A MORNING RUN AND MID-DAY RUN AND THEN AN AFTERNOON RUN.
WE CAN ONLY FIT 6-8 STUDENTS ON A BUS.
THEY USED TO HOLD 77 STUDENTS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT BRINGING MULTIPLE BUSES IN.
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IN ADDITION FOOD AND SCHOOL NUTRITION.WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT AND THEN THE NEXT ASPECT IS STAFF.
DO WE HAVE ENOUGH STAFF WHO CAN RETURN TO THE BUILDING AND TEACH THE CLASSES AND THAT INCLUDES OUR PARA-PROFESSIONALS.
THOSE ARE THE FOUR AREAS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW.
LOOKING AT BRINGING BACK OUR PRE-K-2 STUDENTS MOVING TO THE THIRD THROUGH FIFTH GRADERS AND MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN THOSE STUDENTS WHO ACCESS THE GENERAL ED CURE RICK LUMP FOR SELF-CONTAINED MATH AND -- LOOK TO BRING THOSE STUDENTS BACK.
SO, THAT IS THE SCHEDULE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS POINT.
THE SUPERINTENDENT IS VERY CLEAR ABOUT FEASIBILITY.
WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS IS -- AS A HIGH PRIORITY BUT VERY SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES BUT HOW WE CAN.
STUDENTS -- CLASSROOM TEACHERS MANAGERS FINISHED THEIR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TODAY.
SCHEDULES WENT OUT ON GENERAL ED STUDENTS TODAY AND TOMORROW.
SO THE SPECIAL-ED TEACHERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COME PRETTY CLOSE TO FINALIZING THE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES SCHEDULES.
THESE WILL COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR PARENTS BY FRIDAY.
STUDENTS WHO ACCESS THE GENERAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM THEY WILL START TOMORROW BUZZ WE'VE GIVEN THEM UNTIL NEXT WEEK.
THE HIGH SCHOOL SCHEDULES WE HAD TO WAIT ON THE HIGH SCHOOL SCHEDULES SO ALL OF THOSE STUDENTS WILL HAVE AN ACADEMIC SCHEDULE.
THEY WILL KNOW WHERE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE FROM THE GENERAL ED SCHEDULES.
SO I THINK I MADE IT IN NINE MINUTES.
JUST FIRST OF ALL THAT LAST PART TERRY THAT IS REALLY OF GREAT INTEREST TO A LOT OF PARENTS.
I ACTUALLY READ ABOUT THAT IN THE WASHINGTON POST.
THERE WAS A PRIORITY TO GET SOME STUDENTS BACK BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER.
I MAY HAVE MISSED IT BUT I DON'T THINK I'VE SEEN THAT AT ACPS.
I'M JUST WONDERING ABOUT THAT AND THAT IS PARTLY A MICROCOSM.
>> I RECORDED A VIDEO AND THERE WAS ALSO A NARRATIVE.
>> SO I DIDN'T READ THAT OBVIOUSLY.
>> YOU'VE HAD A LOT GOING ON BUT THERE WAS A SPECIAL EDITION LAST WEDNESDAY.
>> OUT THE DAY BEFORE WE HAD THE -- PANARA GROUP MEETING.
>> A SECOND QUESTION I'M WONDERING ABOUT SUMMER SCHOOL AND COMPENSATORY SERVICES.
IF THERE WERE PARENTS THAT FELT THEY NEEDED COMPENSATORY SERVICES DOES THAT SUMMERTIME ASSIST THEM IN THAT PROCESS? I DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY OF ANY PARENTS THAT, WELL I MIGHT KNOW OF ONE OR TWO THAT HOPE TO RECEIVE SOME COMPENSATORY SERVICES.
HOW DOES THAT TIE IN THE SUMMER COOL PART.
>> SUMMER SCHOOL WAS A STAND ALONE SEPARATE PROGRAM.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS RAISE YOUR HAND AND I'LL CALL ON YOU.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TERRY.
THE NEXT THING ON THE AGENDA IS THE STATUS OF THE SEAC WORK SHUT DOWN AND THAT IS
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BACK TO CINDY AGAIN.>> AND I WON'T SPEND A LONG TIME DOING THIS.
RATHER I WILL SEND OUT TO THE TEAM A REVIEW.
I DO HAVE A SCOPE OF WORK TRACKER.
AND LET ME FLIP THROUGH QUICKLY AND SEE IF THERE IS NOTHING THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT.
>> WE HAD HELEN LLOYD COME AND SPEAK TO US AND I STARTED WORKING WITH THE PARENTS RESOURCE CENTER ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA.
HOW WE COULD COORDINATE WITH THEM IN TERMS OF GETTING INFORMATION FROM SEAC OUT AND RECEIVING INFORMATION FROM PARENTS.
WE ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING THE WEB PAGE RIGHT BEFORE SHUT DOWN.
HAD GOTTEN INFORMATION TO SUSAN NEILSON FOR UPDATING THE SEAC WEB PAGE AND IN FACT SHE HAS LET US KNOW THAT THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WEB PAGE WILL BE UPDATED AND SEAC WILL BE GIVEN THE FIRST SLOT SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
WE HAD MADE A STATEMENT ABOUT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
SOME OF THESE THINGS SEEMED LIKE THEY HAPPENED 10,000 YEARS AGO SO I'M GOING TO STOP HERE AND WAIT UNTIL I HAVE THIS SUMMARIZED IN A DOCUMENT FOR THE TEAM.
EXCEPT TO SAY THAT TOPIC THAT'S CAME UP LAST YEAR THAT I THINK CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN A PRIORITY WOULD BE PARENT COMMUNICATION AND VISIBILITY OF SEAC.
WE MIGHT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY THIS YEAR WITH PTA MEETINGS BEING VIRTUAL TO SEND OUR MEMBERSHIP TO OTHER SCHOOLS AND HELP OTHER PARENTS BECOME MORE AWARE OF SEAC NOW THAT WE CAN GET EVERYWHERE EASILY.
SO I'M GOING TO STOP THERE AND WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE OTHER TOPICS AND THEN I'LL CONTACT THE TEAM AND WE'LL HAVE TO I THINK VOTE ON AN END OF YEAR REPORT AT THE NEXT MEETING TO CONCLUDE AND SEND THAT TO THE SCHOOL BOARD.
>> ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY OTHER BUSINESS? SANDRA.
>> MINE WAS JUST A QUESTION FOR YOU AND CINDY.
YOU TALKED ABOUT THE MEETINGS OVER THE SUMMER WITH THE PLANNING COMMITTEE.
CAN YOU JUST SORT OF SUMMARIZE WHAT YOU GUYS TALKED ABOUT.
WHAT SUGGESTIONS YOU MADE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> WELL ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD SAY IS THEY HAD CONSULTANTS COME IN -- AND RUN OF THE MEETINGS.
IT WAS FOUR WEEKS OF MEETINGS TWICE A WEEK AND THEN THEY HAD TEAMS FROM THE SCHOOL DIVISION THAT SYNTHESIZED THAT INFORMATION AND BROUGHT BACK NEW QUESTIONS.
I'M NOT A BIG PERSON FOR FACILITATED MEETINGS BUT THIS GROUP DID A WONDERFUL JOB.
THEY TOOK IT FROM THE BIG PICTURE ITEMS DOWN TO DETAIL AND I REALLY FELT LIKE IT WAS REALLY WELL DONE.
WHEN IT STARTED I THOUGHT WELL WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO AN ABAB KIND OF SITUATION WHERE KIDS GO TO SCHOOL TWO DAYS A WEEK AND OFF TWO DAYS A WEEK BUT WHEN YOU GOT DOWN TO IT THE WHOLE PROCESS BROUGHT US TO THE CONSTRUCT THAT REALLY WE NEEDED TO START SCHOOL OUT A REMOTE ELEMENT.
AND WHAT I'M SITTING THERE MY SON IS A TEACHER IN LITTLETON, COLORADO AND THEY STARTED THIS ABAB APPROACH LAST WEEK.
HE IS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND TEACHES CHEMISTRY.
IN THE TWO OF WEEKS THAT THEY'VE BEEN BACK TO SCHOOL THEY NOW HAVE 100 KIDS WITH COVID AND 27 TEACHERS WITH COVID AND THEY JUST SHUT THE SCHOOL DOWN TODAY.
SO THAT IS SURE AN INDICATOR THAT MOVING IN A REMOTE KIND OF SITUATION FIRST TO ME IS REALLY A GOOD ONE.
ON THE OTHER HAND I ALSO FELT LIKE THERE WAS SUCH REPRESENTATION ABOUT SPECIAL EDUCATION AND CONCERNS ABOUT SPECIAL EDUCATION BOTH FOR KIDS IN THE GENERAL CURRICULUM AND KIDS THAT ARE IN THE CITYWIDE PROGRAMS THAT THAT WAS REALLY WELL COVERED IN TERMS OF MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION POPULATION IN ALL OF THE PLANNING.
I THINK IT WAS A VERY HIGH AWARENESS OF HIGH NEEDS GROUPS.
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THE SPECIAL EDUCATION AS WELL AS THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS AND THE PARTICULAR GROUP THAT I EARNEDDED UP WORKING ON AS WE WENT FURTHER INTO THE PROCESS WAS THE SYNCHRONOUS ASYNCHRONOUS LEARNING.WE FOCUSED ON FIRST OF ALL IN CLASS WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND GOING THROUGH THINGS LIKE A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A STUDENT AND WE WERE GIVEN SPECIFIC STUDENTS.
WE WERE ASKED TO KEEP IN MIND ONE PARTICULAR STUDENT SO I KEPT IN MIND A STUDENT IN A CITYWIDE CLASSROOM.
SO EACH PERSON ON THE COMMITTEE WAS ENVISIONING HOW DIFFERENT SCENARIOS WOULD WORK FOREIGN A STUDENT THAT THEY WERE THINKING ABOUT.
SO THESE WERE THE THINGS THAT I BROUGHT TO THESE MEETINGS WERE THINGS LIKE INCLUSION.
HOW DOES THAT WORK? HOW DO THE ACCOMMODATIONS THAT STUDENTS GET AND THEIR IAPS.
HOW DOES THAT WORK IN A VIRTUAL SETTING.
WE TALKED ABOUT SYNCHRONOUS VERSUS A SYNCHRONOUS SETTINGS.
WHAT COUNTS AS SYNCHRONOUS LEARNING.
IT'S NOT JUST WATCHING A VIDEO.
LOTS AND LOTS OF INPUT ABOUT WHAT OUR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS WILL NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
HAVING CURRICULUM REPRESENTED IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.
>> SANDRA HAVING WORKED WITH YOU FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS I KNOW HOW WHERE YOUR INTEREST I THINK I KNOW WHERE SOME OF YOUR INTEREST LIE.
AS MIKE SAID THERE WAS A CONSULTING GROUP EDUCATION ELEMENTS AND THEIR ROLE WAS TO FACILITATE THE PROCESS.
AND WE BROKE IT UP INTO A SERIES OF CHUNKS AND FOCUSED ON CERTAIN THINGS AND IT WAS OVER FIVE WEEKS.
WE DID A WEEK THE END OF JUNE AND THEN DID SOME FOLLOW-UP PLANNING BEFORE IT WENT TO THE SCHOOL BOARD IN EARLY AUGUST.
BUT THERE WERE FIVE BROAD COMMITTEES.
THERE WAS THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL ACADEMIC LEARNING WHICH HAD STUDENT SERVICES.
IT HAD CURRICULUM INSTRUCTION.
ANOTHER ONE THAT WAS OPERATIONS -- WHAT ELSE?
>> BUDGET FINANCE WAS ONE OF THE COMMITTEES.
>> SO THOSE ALL HAD SUBGROUPS.
AND SUBGROUPS WITHIN THEM AND REPRESENTATION FROM THOSE SUBGROUPS WAS ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
WE HAD I THINK AT ONE POINT 140 SOMETHING PEOPLE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE PROCESS AND THERE WAS FEEDBACK FROM PEOPLE IN THE CITY AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
BUT WE HAD REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEES WERE ON.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS WHAT THE BIG ISSUES WERE.
CINDY TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THAT.
>> I CAN TELL YOU SOME OF THE BIG ISSUES.
>> COULD WE GET PEOPLE BACK TO SCHOOL? AND SO WE LITERALLY STARTED WITH EVERY INDIVIDUAL NEEDS 65 SQUARE FEET BECAUSE YOU YOURSELF TAKE UP TWO SQUARE FEET AND THEN THE SIX SQUARE FEET AFTER ROUND YOU AND SPACE.
SO LITERALLY PLOTTED THE NUMBER OF BODIES THAT COULD FIT IN THE CLASSROOM.
BECAUSE EVERY CLASSROOM HAS A DIFFERENT SET OF SQUARE FOOTAGE.
EVERY CLASSROOM HAS DIFFERENT EQUIPMENT AND FURNITURE AND ALL OF THAT.
SO OUR FACILITY PLANNING WENT IN AND MEASURED EVERY SINGLE SOLITARY OF CLASSROOM AND THEN CALCULATED HOW MANY PEOPLE COULD FIT IN EACH ONE OF THOSE CLASSROOMS AT ANY ONE TIME AND WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO IT WE COULD NOT PHYSICALLY GET HALF OF THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS BACK IN A GOOD NUMBER OF THE BUILDINGS.
[00:50:01]
HALF OF THE BUILDINGS COULD NOT ACCOMMODATE HALF.WE COULD NOT DO -- AABB: AND THEN IT BECAME A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE AROUND TRANSPORTATION AND THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT WE COULD TRANSPORT ON BUSES AND GET STUDENTS TO SCHOOL.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY QUICKLY AND WE HAVE WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY.
>> WE HAVE PROBABLY AN ABBREVIATED SUMMARY.
WE STARTED FIRST WITH IDENTIFYING EVERY ORGANIZATION EVERY GROUP WITHIN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WHETHER IT'S ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPORTATION, FACILITIES, CHILD NUTRITION SERVICES.
WE LOOKED AT ALL OF THOSE AREAS.
THEN WE CREATED SUBCOMMITTEES THAT THOSE CORE AREAS WOULD SERVE ON.
THAT WAS THE INITIAL -- ABOUT 155-60 INDIVIDUALS.
AND THEN EDUCATIONAL ELEMENTS THE DEFINING POINT WAS A FEASIBILITY MATRIX.
A DECISION MATRIX THAT ALL OF THE TEAMS USED TO MAKE A DECISION AND ALSO GUIDED BY SOME GUIDANCE FROM THE -- ALSO GUIDANCE FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THEN FEASIBILITY AND CONSTRAINTS.
BUT WE WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SHARE SOME OF THAT.
THAT GOVERNED THE WORK OF ALL OF THE COMMITTEES AND THEN ERICA DID AN ANALYSIS OF ALL OF OUR CLASSROOMS. THE SIZE OF THE CLASSROOMS AND WHAT IT WOULD TAKE FOR THE KIDS TO GO BACK IN SO IT WAS VERY I THINK METHODICAL AND EXTENSIVE BUT THE MAIN CONCERN WAS THE FEASIBILITY, THE SAFETY, THE LIABILITY IN HOW WE CAN MANAGE ALL OF THIS AND ALL, THEY ALL STARTED OUT LOOKING AT HYBRID.
THEN WITH THE DECISION -- GUIDANCE THEY ALL DID RECOMMEND THE VIRTUAL AND THEN VERY SOON WE WILL BE PUTTING COMMITTEES TOGETHER TO BEGIN TO LOOK AT WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP.
DR. HUTCHINS DID MAKE A COMMITMENTS TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE TO THE PUBLIC BEFORE THE NEXT QUARTER THE DECISION AS TO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.
WHETHER WE CONTINUE WITH THE VIRTUAL OR MOVE WITH A HYBRID MODEL BUT STILL ADDRESSING THE FEASIBILITY OF SAFETY AND HEALTH AND THE VARIOUS CONSTRAINTS THAT GOVERN THE FIRST GROUPS.
>> AND THE OTHER THING THAT WE ALSO DID THAT WE HAVE NOT REFERENCED AS PARTED OF THE PROCESS WE HAD BUILDING PRINCIPALS WHO CAME IN AND WE RAN SAMPLE SCHEDULES.
WE TRIED TO PUT TOGETHER ACADEMIC SCHEDULES THAT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED AT THE ELEMENTARY, SECONDARY AS PARTED OF THE SAME STUDY AND COULDN'T GET -- THAT IS WHY WE'RE VIRTUAL.
>> I SOLVED A COMMUNICATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF IT WAS THE HOT LINE AND TRYING TO -- WHAT PHONE NUMBERS CAN PEOPLE CALL.
I JUST WANTED TO REFERENCE THAT CONSTANT TENSE THAT ALWAYS EXIST IN ORGANIZATIONS BETWEEN BEING ABLE TO OFFER PERFECT, LET COMPREHENSIVE ANSWERS AND THE TIMELINESS OF GETTING INFORMATION OUT.
AND THERE WAS DEFINITELY THERE ARE TWO SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT ON THAT AND A LOT OF PRESSURE TO ONLY PUT OUT INFORMATION THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT AND ACCURATE.
AND SO AND THEN THE OTHER FOLKS THAT WANT TO PUSH SOMETHING OUT SO THAT PARENTS HAVE REASSURE ANC AND THE SECOND PIECE -- PARENT ENGAGEMENT.
YOU KNOW THE NUMBERS ARE DIFFICULT.
AND THEN ONE OF THE STRATEGIES IN THIS ENVIRONMENT THAT WE CAN DO TO INCREASE PARENT ENGAGEMENT OR HELP FAMILIES THROUGH THIS AND WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE TRY TO CENTRALIZE COMMUNICATION OR DRIVE PEOPLE TO THEIR HOME SCHOOLS AND A LOT OF STRATEGIES ABOUT WHAT MIGHT WORK.
AND I WOULD JUST ECHO THAT IT WAS VERY THOUGHTFUL AND I THINK SOMEBODY SAID 100 PEOPLE.
AND I THINK WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT COMMUNICATION I'M LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
I'M TRYING TO FIGURE IT ALL OUT AND THE ANSWERS WERE NOT CLEAR.
[00:55:02]
NOT SEEING ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR HANDS RAISED WHY DON'T WE MOVE ON TO NEW BUSINESS.>> SINCE I DIDN'T DO THE DRAFT END OF YEAR REPORT THAT WILL BE NEXT MEETING.
AND WE HAVE DISCUSSED OUR OFFICER NOMINATIONS SO WE'RE UP TO PARENT CONCERNS ABOUT COMMUNICATIONS.
AND I'LL ADDRESS THAT AND THE NEXT ONE BECAUSE I THINK THEY TIE IN NICELY.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT TOPICS BUT THERE ARE PARTS THAT TIE TOGETHER AND ONE THING THAT WE HEARD FROM PARENTS WHEN WE SOUGHT INPUT FROM SEAC MEMBERS I REACHED OUT TO SOME PTA MEMBERS OR LEADERS AT SOME SCHOOLS AND ASKED THEM DO YOU KNOW A SPECIAL-ED PARENT THAT I CAN CHECK IN WITH AND EVEN AT THE END OF THE REGULAR SCHOOL YEAR AT THE END OF JUNE ONE THING THAT WE WERE HEARING IS PARENTS BEING PRETTY SATISFIED OVER-ALL WITH THEIR SPECIFIC SPECIAL-ED TEACHER AND THEIR EFFORTS TO HELP.
THERE WERE EXCEPTIONS TO THAT BUT THERE WAS A FRUSTRATION AND IT'S NOT WORTH OUR TIME TO TALK ABOUT LAST SPRING BECAUSE WE'RE ON TO THE FALL BUT JUST GETTING GENERAL INFORMATION AND WHAT WERE THE NORMS FOR SERVING THE STUDENTS.
HOWEVER WE'RE JUMPING TO THE FALL AND LOOKING AHEAD WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT PARENTS, ALL GROUPS HAVE INFORMATION AND THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION AT TIMES THAT COMES FROM ACPS SO FINDING WAYS TO CHANNEL SPECIFIC INFORMATION FROM TERRI WARNER AND OTHERS THAT HAVE MESSAGES TO SHARE WITH THE SPECIAL NEEDS POPULATION WAYS TO GET THAT TO THEM EFFICIENTLY AND JANET I THINK YOU RAISED AND IMPORTANT POINT.
SOMETIMES THAT INFORMATION IS NOT FINALIZED.
I UNDERSTAND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM'S DESIRE TO WAIT UNTIL THINGS ARE REALLY PUT IN PLACE BUT I ALSO THINK THERE IS GREAT VALUE AND JUST LETTING PARENTS KNOW.
WE HAVE THESE OBSTACLES AHEAD OF US.
SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW THAT TERRY MET WITH THERE IS AN ACPS SPECIAL-ED PARENTS GROUP THAT MEETS AT PANERA AND TERRY HAS COME ONCE A MONTH.
TERRY JOINED THE GROUP AND DID A Q&A AND ANSWERED A LOT OF PARENT'S QUESTIONS AND THAT AND GENDERY YOU POINTED OUT THAT THAT INFORMATION HAD BEEN SHARED THE PREVIOUS DAY.
I MISSED IT BUT HEARING THAT INFORMATION EVEN WHERE ANSWERS WERE NOT COMPLETE REALLY HELPED PARENTS FEEL A SENSE -- MUCH CALMER ABOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON, ADVISE THE SCHOOL BOARD IN WAYS THAT MIGHT MAKE THAT WORK MORE SMOOTHLY.
WORK WITH TERRY ABOUT WHAT SHE THINKS ABOUT THAT.
THAT IS A CONCERN I'VE HEARD RAISED IN VARIOUS SETTINGS.
AND THEN ANOTHER ISSUE ABOUT EQUITY.
THIS IS CERTAINLY A FOCUS IN ACPS NOW AND TO BRING THAT FOCUS TO SEAC AS WELL.
-- IF STUDENTS OF COLOR FEEL THAT THEY NEED A BIGGER VOICE I THINK SEAC IS A GREAT PLACE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN BUT WE NEED TO CONNECT WITH THOSE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES FIRST SO THIS TIES IN WITH THE VISIBILITY GOAL AND OUR SCOPE OF WORK LAST YEAR THAT WE DIDN'T GET THAT MUCH WORK ACCOMPLISHED ON.
BUT IN ORDER FOR FAMILIES OF COLOR STUDENTS OF COLOR TO FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE A VOICE I THINK THEY FIRST NEED TO KNOW THAT THEIR ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT THEM AND THAT THEIR VOICES CAN BE POOLED AND THAT WE CAN WORK AS A COLLECTIVE GROUP OF PARENTS AND IF THERE ARE PARTICULAR ISSUES TO HELP PARENTS UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE AVENUES THAT CAN BE TAKEN TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR STUDENTS ARE GETTING THE SERVICES THAT THEY FEEL THEY NEED.
ALSO HEAR COMMITTEE INPUT ON OTHER PRIORITIES AND I COULD THROW IN THERE MYSELF BUT I'LL WAIT UNTIL OTHERS HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK.
AS WE MOVE INTO THE NEW YEAR OR SAVE THAT FOR THE LATER SEPTEMBER MEETING.
[01:00:01]
DEBBIE AND JANET HAVE THEIR HANDS RAISE.
DEBBIE, YOU WANT TO START OFF?
I DEFINED TERRY'S Q&A WITH US AT THAT SUPPORT GROUP TO BE IMMENSELY HELPFUL.
I WENT FROM ON THE VERGE OF HOME SCHOOLING TO OKAY.
AND WHILE THERE WAS INFORMATION PUT OUT AND THERE WAS THE Q&A SESSION EARLY ON -- I DO THINK IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL IN THE FUTURE TO HOLD AN ACPS WIDE Q&A LIKE THAT MAYBE A LITTLE MORE OFTEN WHEN IT COMES TO SPECIAL EDUCATION.
BECAUSE CLEARLY BASED ON A LOT OF THE PARENTS FEEDBACK THERE WASN'T ENOUGH INFORMATION AND THERE WAS SO MANY QUESTIONS EVEN ONCE WE GOT THE INFORMATION THERE WERE SO MANY QUESTIONS THAT WE ALL STILL HAD.
THAT TERRY WAS ABLE TO REALLY NICELY ANSWER AND I WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT THAT WAS DONE IN SUCH A SMALL GROUP OF PARENTS -- AND NOT PUT OUT TO THE WIDER ACPS POPULATION WITH THE SAME TYPE OF FORMAT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ATTEND.
>> JANET YOU TOOK YOUR HAND BACK DOWN.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? OKAY.
I THINK TERRY'S THAT FORMAT WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED.
AND EVEN JUST LIKE IN THE LITTLE COMMUNICATIONS THAT I'VE GOTTEN THAT MEETING SETTLED A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THEY FELT THEY WALKED AWAY FEELING LIKE A LOT MORE EMPOWERED.
SO TO ME THAT IS SOMETHING LIKE THAT IF WE CAN MIMIC IT, DO IT MORE FREQUENTLY AND DO IT FOR MORE THINGS I THINK WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL AND ALSO WE -- STATISTICALLY AS AN ORGANIZATION WE ARE EMBARKING ON SOME COMMUNICATIONS CHANGES AND WORK AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THAT CAME OUT OF AN AUDIT WAS THIS CONCEPT OF A BITE SNACK MEAL.
AN AUDITOR SHARED WITH US THAT I THINK DEBBIE WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS PEOPLE WANT DIFFERENT THINGS.
PEOPLE CONSUME COMMUNICATION DIFFERENTLY SO SOME PEOPLE WANT TO SIT DOWN WITH TERRY AND GET THE WHOLE MEAL AND TALK ABOUT IT.
SOME PEOPLE JUST -- THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE PROBABLY FINE WITH HOW IT WAS PRESENTED.
SO I THINK JUST MAYBE CONCENTRATING AND WE TALKED ABOUT USING SOCIAL MEDIA MORE SPECIFICALLY FOR SPECIAL ED.
IF WE CAN FIND THREE DIFFERENT CONSISTENT AVENUES THAT AGAIN IF SOMEBODY WANTS THE MEAL THEY CAN DIVE IN WITH TERRY AND IF THEY JUST WANT THE BULLETS THEY CAN FIND THEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
JUST I'M SORT OF THINKING OUTLOUD BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME CONCEPT AND IT'S ACTUALLY -- IT'S AN ISSUE THAT I THINK IS HIGHLIGHTED IN SPECIAL-ED BECAUSE SPECIAL-ED IS ALWAYS SO MUCH MORE INTENSE EXPERIENCE FOR PARENTS BUT IT'S DIVISION WIDE FOCUS.
I'VE GOT THREE MORE HANDS UP HERE.
DEBBIE AND THEN JANET AND THEN JALEN.
>> I FORGOT TO PUT MY HAND DOWN.
>> AND ALL I REALLY WANTED TO ADD TO WHAT DEBBIE WAS SAYING I FIND THE COMMUNICATION PIECE REALLY FASCINATING BECAUSE I'M STILL IN A TIZZY OVER SCHEDULING AND ALL OF THAT.
BUT I DID GET IPHONE CALL AND AN PHONE CALL AND AN E-MAIL FROM MY SON'S CASEWORKER BUT I NOTICED THERE IS A MEETING TOMORROW AT TC WILLIAMS FOR SPECIAL-ED BROADLY LIKE A MEET AND GREET AND THAT E-MAIL CAME FROM MR. BALLIS
[01:05:01]
AND MY POINT IS I ALMOST MISSED THE E-MAIL FROM THE PRINCIPAL BECAUSE I DON'T ASSOCIATE THE PRINCIPAL ABOUT COMMUNICATING WITH ME ABOUT SPECIAL-ED.THAT IS ONE OF THOSE CHALLENGES YOU HAVE AS TO HOW DO YOU GET YOUR INFORMATION? WHERE DO THEY LOOK FOR INFORMATION? AND AFTER SO MANY YEARS IN SPECIAL-ED I THINK THE PRINCIPALS ARE COMMUNICATING WITH THE GENERIC ED STUDENTS AND NOT MY VERY SPECIAL SPECIAL-ED SUBSTITUTE SO WE HAVE A BIG CHALLENGE.
>> I'M GLAD THAT SOME PEOPLE GOT CLARIFICATION.
I WAS NOT AT THE PARENT SUPPORT MEETING AND I STILL FEEL ISOLATED AND UNINFORMED.
I HAD ANOTHER BOARD MEETING BUT I'M ON THE SEAC BOARD AND I'M FEELING STRESSED AND UNCLEAR HOW MY THREE CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND PROGRAMS ARE GOING TO BE SERVED THIS YEAR AND THAT BRINGS MY POINT BACK TO COMMUNICATIONS.
I THINK THESE GENERAL -- ARE COOL BUT I THINK THERE SHOULD BE SMALLER GROUP Q&AS OF PARENTS IN THE CITYWIDE PROGRAM BECAUSE OUR KIDS' NEEDS ARE VERY DIFFERENT THAN MAINSTREAM SPECIAL-ED STUDENT IN TC WILLIAMS. THERE ARE SUCH VAST NEEDS WITHIN THE SPECIAL-ED WORLD THAT WHILE I MIGHT GET INFORMATION ABOUT MY SON WHO'S MAINSTREAMED AND HOW HIS SERVICES WILL BE RENDERED AT A GENERAL Q & A THAT DOES NOT APPLY TO THE STUDENTS THAT ARE MORE IMPACTED.
SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COMMUNICATING WITH ALL OF OUR SPECIAL-ED PARENT GROUPS AND I DON'T THINK WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
BECAUSE IF I'M FEELING MISS INFORMED AND I'M SUPPOSED TO BE A PARENT LEADER IN THE COMMUNITY THERE IS A LARGER PROBLEM.
>> I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT AND MEAGAN'S POINT ABOUT DIFFERENT TYPES OF COMMUNICATION.
DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION NEEDS PROBABLY MAY BE ONE OF THE WAYS WE AS A GROUP TO ADDRESS THAT AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET PEOPLE WHAT THEY NEED RATHER THAN JUST ONE SIZE FITS ALL.
>> YOU CAN COMMUNICATE IN DIFFERENT WAYS AND IN DIFFERENT SNIPPETS AND THE MEAL, BITE, SNACK WHATEVER AND STILL NOT COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY TO THE PARENTS IN THE CITYWIDE PROGRAM AND STILL NOT COMMUNICATE TO THE PARENTS WHO HAVE RELATED SERVICES.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE REACHING ALL OF THE POPULATIONS EFFECTIVELY.
SO IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS ALTER COMMUNICATIONS, COOL LET'S MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING SPECIFIC COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE GROUP OF SUB PARENTS AS WELL.
>> I THINK THAT I JUST WANTED TO SAY I THINK J-LYNN MADE AN AWESOME POINT WITH THAT.
BECAUSE SOMETHING PERSONALLY MORE THAT MY KID IS IN THE GEN-ED SETTING I DON'T KNOW HOW TO ASK OR WHAT -- OR WHAT ALL OF THE INFORMATION IS AND FEELING LIKE THE KIDS IN THE CITYWIDE REALLY THEIR NEEDS ARE SO MUCH BIGGER AND THEY SHOULD GET THE INFORMATION SO I THINK THAT HAVING WAYS TO I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA JUST HAVING SMALLER -- FOCUSED WAYS TO COMMUNICATE BECAUSE THE NEEDS ARE SO DIFFERENT.
DEPENDING ON THE SPECIAL NEEDS.
>> SO I HAVE A QUESTION ACTUALLY AND I GUESS THIS WOULD GO FOR TERRY.
BECAUSE SO WHAT COMES TO MIND IS SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN A CASE MANAGER, RIGHT.
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR YOU REACH OUT TO FAMILIES, YOU GO THROUGH SORT OF THE I-P OR PLAN FOR EACH CHILD AND THIS SITUATION SORT OF MAKES ME FEEL LIKE WE'RE ALMOST IN A SITUATION WHERE THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME SORT OF MINIATURE I DON'T THINK IT HAS TO BE A FULL I-P TEAM BUT LIKE A 30 DAY REVIEW PROCESS WHERE THE CASE
[01:10:05]
MANAGER CONNECTS WITH THE FAMILY.THE KID IF APPROPRIATE AND CAN GO THROUGH THE DETAILS BECAUSE THE THINGS THAT EVERYBODY IS SO INDIVIDUALIZED.
THAT IT MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE APPROPRIATE IN A GROUP OF LIKE FIVE PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT EVERY CHILD'S SORT OF NEEDS.
IT'S HARD TO FIGURE OUT THE BALANCE.
MY QUESTION IS I'M ASSUMING THAT CASE MANAGERS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE REACHING OUT AND HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS WITH FAMILIES ABOUT THEIR INDIVIDUAL KIDS AND WHAT THAT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE FOR THEIR CHILD.
ACTUALLY ADMINISTRATIVE -- >> WE HAVE A LIST OF RESPONSES IN PRECOVID YEARS THAT HAVE HAD A SPECIFIC LIST OF ITEMS AND THINGS THAT THEY COVER.
THIS YEAR WE HAVE TAKEN THAT MUCH FURTHER.
WE HAVE ACTUALLY REQUIRED EACH CASE MANAGER TO MAKE CONTACT AS I MADE REFERENCE EARLIER.
THE CITYWIDE PARENTS WILL HAVE PHONE CALLS FROM THE CASE MANAGERS BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
WE DEVELOPED SPECIFIC AND DETAILED SCRIPT OF ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WERE TO BE COVERED AND WE SENT A VERY DETAILED SPREADSHEET TO EACH ONE OF THE TEACHERS SO THAT THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT INFORMATION NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED AND WHAT NEEDED TO BE COVERED WITH EACH ONE OF THE PARENTS HEADING INTO THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
AS I SAID TO THE PANERA GROUP I'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH SO MANY FAMILIES OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND WORKED WITH SEAC.
I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM -- FROM COMMUNICATION.
AND I AM VERY EMPATHETIC TO THE CONCERNS THAT ARE BEING RAISED.
WHAT I DO THINK IS IMPORTANT TO REALIZE AND JANET HAS ELUDED TO THIS AS HAD MEAGAN IS THERE IS A NEW CHIEF OF COMMUNICATIONS AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND THERE IS A NEW COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL THAT IS BEING DEVELOPED IN THE DISTRICT.
SO WHEN COMMUNICATIONS CAME OUT ABOUT 4.0 AND THE RETURN TO SCHOOL UNDERSTAND THEY STARTED WITH THE MACRO -- THE BIG -- I NOW UNDERSTAND HOW THEY DID HARRY POTTER AND THE VISIBILITY CLOAK.
WE HAVE THESE VIRTUAL BACKGROUNDS.
I FEEL LIKE I KEEP DISAPPEARING.
SO THEY STARTED WITH THE BROADEST LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION AND WORKED DOWN TO THE MORE FINITE AND UNFORTUNATELY IT TOOK A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN I WOULD HAVE HOPED BUT WE WERE ON A SHORT TIME FRAME.
REMEMBER THIS DIDN'T GET THROUGH THE SCHOOL BOARD UNTIL AUGUST 7TH.
SO THERE WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION TO COVER IN TWO WEEKS.
TO GET THINGS OUTS AND THAT IS NOT AN EXCUSE.
IT'S JUST A STATEMENT OF WHAT WENT ON.
I DO WANT TO YOU KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE WORKING THEIR TAILS OFF AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO SAY IT ANY MORE.
WE ARE WORKING LIKE NOBODY HAS EVER, EVER, EVER IMAGINED WE WOULD BE WORKING.
THERE IS NO BOUNDARIES ANY MORE.
PEOPLE ARE WORKING JUST TO THE BONE TO GET THIS DONE.
AND I CANNOT REITERATE ENOUGH THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO BE A TEAM AND WE ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON GETTING THROUGH THIS TOGETHER.
WE HAVE CONSTRAINTS THAT NOBODY EVER IMAGINED OR EVER EXPECTED BUT I CONTINUE TO SAY THIS IS A MARATHON AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP RUNNING IT TOGETHER.
AND WE ARE ALWAYS MORE THAN WELCOMING TO HEAR WHAT WE NEED TO DO BETTER.
AND ALSO TO TELL YOU THAT STAY UP WITH YOUR E-MAIL.
[01:15:05]
WE'RE USING E-MAIL A LOT.AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE LITERALLY I CAN'T WHAT IT IS TRYING TO MANAGE YOUR LIVES AND HAVE STUDENTS HOME.
BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT WE ARE VERY FOCUSED OFF COMMUNICATION AND VERY FOCUSED ON OUTREACH TO PARENTS RIGHT NOW AS PART OF THE PROCESS.
A LOT IS HAPPENING IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
SANDRA, DR. MOZINGO -- >> THANK YOU.
COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN SOMETHING ON SEAC'S PLATE FOR A LONG TIME AND LISTENING TO SOME OF THE COMMENTS TONIGHT.
MY THOUGHT IS AND I KNOW WE'VE DONE THIS COMMUNICATION AUDIT.
THERE IS A LOT OF TOP DOWN COMMUNICATION STRATEGY AND SINCE THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING AROUND AND AROUND I MIGHT WANT TO SUGGEST THAT MAYBE WE OUGHT TO DO OR EXCUSE ME NOT US BUT ACPS DO A SURVEY AND FIND OUT HOW THEY WANT TO BE COMMUNICATED W AT START OF EACH YEAR TO GATHER THE DATA FROM EACH FAMILY HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE COMMUNICATED WITH? AND COMPILE THAT AND GO FROM THERE.
FROM THAT BOTTOM UP APPROACH MIGHT END UP WITH BETTER WAYS OR DIFFERENT IDEAS OR STRATEGIES ON HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE PARENTS.
>> THAT IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE BULLETS ON THE LIST THAT CASE MANAGERS ARE ASKING PARENTS.
>> THAT IS NEWS BUT I APPRECIATE THAT.
SO IT'S PUT TOGETHER IN A FORMAT THAT IS COHESIVE SO YOU KNOW WHO WANTS E-MAILS AND WHO WANTS -- GROUPS OR AS MEAGAN SAID FROM THE COMMUNICATION AUDIT -- THE BITE, SNACK, MEAL.
>> THERE IS A LOT GOING ON NOT THIS MONTH BUT MAYBE NEXT MONTH TO TRY AND FIGURE IT OUT.
A LOT OF THINGS THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT SHE HAS BEEN MEETING WITH DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND ASKING US NUMBER ONE SHE HAS MET WITH OUR DEPARTMENT WHICH IS A FORUM FOR TERRY TO IDENTIFY GROUPS AND WAYS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO COMMUNICATE INFORMATION.
SHE IS TRYING TO BECOME MORE ORGANIZED AND PREPARE A TIME LINE.
IT WAS ALSO HER IDEA TO CREATE THE HELP LINE WHICH WE HAVE STAFF MEMBERS THAT WILL BE OPERATING THAT OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
SHE ALSO HAD THE IDEA YOU MAY REMEMBER THROUGH THE 4.0 WE HELD FOCUS GROUPS WITH STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AND IT WAS PHENOMENAL.
SO I KNOW IS THAT WAS A BOTTOM UP REFORM STRATEGY AND LASTLY I WANT TO SAY THE CASE MANAGER INFORMATION I WANTED TO CHECK WITH SOME PRINCIPALS TODAY AND TOMORROW AND I WAS GLAD TO FIND OUT THAT MANY OF THE PRINCIPALS INDICATED THAT THEIR TEACHERS HAD ALREADY STARTED CONTACTING FAMILIES ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN'S ASSIGNMENT.
MANY SAID DR. MOZINGO WE STARTED CONTACTING AS EARLY AS LAST WEEK.
BUT WE WILL TAKE SOME MORE OF THESE IDEAS BACK TO JULIA BECAUSE SHE IS A MASTER AT LOOKING AT DIFFERENT WAYS TO COMMUNICATION.
>> I JUST WANT TO ECHO THAT JUST LETTING PARENTS KNOW THAT THE INFORMATION IS COMING.
7 PARTICULARLY THE SPECIAL EDUCATION.
WE DID HEAR A LOT FROM DR. HUTCHINGS THAT THERE IS INFORMATION COMING ABOUT WHAT FEASIBLE PLAN THERE WAS GOING TO BE.
INFORMATION COMING ABOUT THE DETAILS FOR THAT.
BUT I HEARD FROM A LOT OF PARENTS OF KIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND MYSELF THAT WE'RE JUST LIKE ARE WE COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN ABOUT? AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE JUST TO HEAR WE KNOW YOU'RE WAITING.
[01:20:01]
WE KNOW YOU'RE X.>> -- >> EVERYONE SAID WHAT I NEEDED TO SAY.
J-LYNN WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY SO I'M GOOD.
>> NOT SEEING ANY MORE HANDS WE NEED TO GET INPUT ON PRIORITIES FOR THE COMING YEAR.
OBVIOUSLY COMMUNICATION IS ONE.
WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON EQUITY BUT I IMAGINE THAT IS ONE.
ARE THERE OTHER AREAS FOR PRIORITIES FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR PARTICULARLY NOT KNOWING WHAT THE HECK WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING.
>> I'LL CHIME IN ON THE EQUITY PIECE.
ONE OF THE VERY SPECIFIC PRIORITIES IS GOING TO BE THE OVER IDENTIFICATION OF BLACK MALES AS HAVING EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES.
THANK YOU, TERRY AS HAVING EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES.
KNOW THAT THAT IS A DIVISION WIDE PRIORITY AND SO -- SEAC SHOULD HAVE A ROLE IN ADVISING IN THAT AREA AS WELL.
>> MAY I ASK YOU MEAGAN COULD YOU ELABORATE.
HOW DO YOU THINK -- WHAT WOULD BE SOME WAYS YOU CECE ASK PLAYING A ROLE AND WOULD THAT BE IN COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS?
I'M THROWING IT OUT THERE FOR THE COMMITTEE TO THINK ABOUT.
AND JUST I THINK KNOWING THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE A FOCUS FOR US.
I THINK YOU GUYS WOULD BE AN AVENUE FOR SHARING VOICES, COLLECTING VOICES AS WE SET OUR BUDGET PRIORITIES IN THAT AREA LIKE WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO.
TO ASSIST IN MEETING THAT GOAL.
SO I DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC IDEAS BUT HEARING FROM YOU GUYS WOULD BE GOOD.
>> ONE QUESTION AND ONE SUGGESTION.
HAVE ELIGIBILITY STARTED UP AGAIN? I KNOW THERE WAS -- WE WERE GETTING PARENTS TO SIGN WAIVERS TO WAIVE THE 60 DAYS.
>> WE TALKED ABOUT THAT IN MY REPORT AT THE BEGINNING.
OF THE LONGER ANSWERS IT'S GOING TO BE A PROCESS.
WE HAVE STARTED BACK WITH TRIALS FACE TO FACES VALUATIONS THAT MANY OF THEM ARE ON HOLD BECAUSE WE HAD TO EXTEND THE 65 DAYS.
SO WE'RE HAVING A PROTOCOL IN PLACE WITH THE SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST AND THEY STARTED THIS WEEK UNDER A STRICT PROTOCOL IN BRINGING STUDENTS BACK IN AND WE'RE GOING TO START TO SCALE THAT.
>> UP I APOLOGIZE FOR THE REPEAT OF THE INFORMATION BUT THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST FEEDBACKS FROM THE PARENTS IN FRUSTRATION FROM JOHN ADAMS SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO REPRESENT MY SCHOOL.
SEAC IS AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE SCHOOL BOARD BUT I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD ALSO BE AN AVENUE FOR PARENTS.
PARENTS OF SPECIAL-ED STUDENTS ARE HURTING RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE LOST A TON OF IN PERSON SUPPORT.
MY DAUGHTER ALONE HAD THREE AIDS AND TWO TEACHERS PLUS HER GEN-ED TEACHER AND NOW IT'S JUST ME.
I FEEL LIKE SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT DID COME OUT WAS VERY CLINICAL.
-- -- OUR SUPPORT GROUPS ARE GONE.
[01:25:33]
WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO BE A PART OF HELPING THAT SITUATION.>> THEY TALKED ABOUT THIS -- SOMETHING I FEEL LIKE LAST YEAR -- BUT IN ARLINGTON IN ADDITION TO SEAC THEY HAVE A PTA FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION FOR ALL OF ARLINGTON.
I THINK NOT JUST SCHOOL SPECIFIC.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WOULD BE GOES ALONG WITH WHAT J LYNN IS SAYING AND THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL PARTICULARLY NOW ALTHOUGH THIS MIGHT NOT BE THE EASIEST TIME FOR SOMEBODY TO BE STARTING SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
>> I AGREE WITH THAT DEBBIE BUT MAYBE -- I'M SORRY.
I SHOULD HAVE WAITED TO BE CALLED ON BUT I THINK THE FIRST STEP THAT WE HAVE NOT ACCOMPLISHEDS TO HAVE SEAC HAVE A VOICE AT PTAC.
BECAUSE REALLY THE PTAC GROUP IS REALLY STRONG AT ALEXANDRIA.
AND I WOULD SAY THAT -- JUST GETTING A BODY THERE FROM SEAC MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
AND I JUST SOMETIMES WORRY IF WE HAVE ENOUGH BAND WIDTH TO PULL OFF A STAND ALONE PTA FOR SPECIAL-ED.
BUT REALLY WE'RE NOT REPRESENTED ON PTAC THE WAY WE OUGHT TO BE.
A POWERFUL VOICE AND WE COULD HAVE A MUCH BIGGER IMPACT THERE.
>> THAT IS A GREAT SUGGESTION.
DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT? -- THE WAY THAT THEY WANT TO WORK ON -- WHEN YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT YOU PUT OUT A SURVEY TO FAMILIES.
IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN DO THAT WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION? 7 SENDING SOMETHING OUT AS A DIVISION TO SAY I'M JUST TRYING TO -- THINKING WHAT CAN WE DO WHERE WE CAN REACH PARENTS AND MAYBE ASK THEM QUESTIONS TO HELP WITH THIS WHOLE PROCESS.
>> SO I'M SORRY DO YOU WANT MEAGAN TO ANSWER THIS OR WERE YOU TALKING TO ME ABENA.
I FEEL LIKE I'M SAYING THIS CONSTANTLY.
THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES AND THE LONGER ANSWER IS MORE COMPLICATED.
CAN WE DO A SURVEY? ABSOLUTELY.
HAVING SAID THAT OUR OFFICE OF ACCOUNTABILITY HAS REALLY PRETTY STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT SURVEYS AND SURVEY FATIGUE AND THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF SURVEYS THAT HAVE HAD TO GO OUT AROUND THIS VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION SO WE MIGHT GET A LITTLE PUSH BACK.
WE WOULD WORK THROUGH THE ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE TO HELP WITH THE SURVEY SO IT WOULD REQUIRE SOME STRATEGIC PLANNING AS TO WHEN THE BEST TIME AND HOW TO DISSEMINATE IT.
PART OF IT IS SANDRA EVERY CASE MANAGER'S PART OF THE CONTACT WITH THE PARENT IS TO ASK WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU.
YOU WOULD THINK WE HAVE AN E-MAIL ADDRESS FOR EVERY PARENT.
[01:30:02]
WE DON'T.AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT WITH ALL OF THE COMMUNICATIONS THAT WE HAVE HAD TO SEND OUT VIRTUALLY THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PARENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE E-MAILS AND SO TRYING TO SEND E-MAILS ONE WAY.
TEXT MESSAGING IS ANOTHER BUT THE PARENTS WHO DON'T HAVE E-MAILS ALSO DON'T HAVE MAILING ADDRESSES.
WE FOUND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO REACH MANY FAMILIES BY MAIL AS WELL.
WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW THE SURVEYS ARE DISSEMINATED AND THE OTHER ASPECTS WE NEED TO REALLY MAKE SURE WE GET REPRESENTATIVE VOICES.
WHEN WE'RE TALKING EQUITY WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET TO THE FAMILIES THAT MAY BE DISENFRANCHISED IN MULTIPLE WAYS.
IT'S EASY TO SAY YES BUT IT BECOMES MORE COMPLICATED IN THE EXECUTION BUT I WOULD SUPPORT THAT AND BE MORE THAN WILLING TO HELP.
>> JUST TO ADD TO WHAT TERRY SAID.
ONE OF THE OTHER INTERESTING THINGS THAT WE FOUND IS AS WE TALK ABOUT EQUITY IS THAT OUR -- WE'VE GOT A VERY LARGE POPULATION OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING FAMILIES.
AND THEIR PREFERRED METHOD OF COMMUNICATIONS -- IS ACTUALLY FACE TO FACE SO WHEN YOU THROW THAT IN THE MIX AND THEN THINKING ABOUT HOW WE COMMUNICATE RIGHT NOW THAT IS A WHOLE OTHER LAYER TO FIGURE OUT BECAUSE WE COULD SURVEY A LOT OF PEOPLE TO DEATH AND IF WE CANNOT GET TO CERTAIN PEOPLE FACE TO FACE THEY ARE NOT GOING TO RESPOND.
SO I THINK ONE OF OUR BIGGEST BLESSINGS IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES.
WE HAVE, I ALWAYS GET THESE NUMBERS FLIP FLOPPED.
100 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND 120 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.
WHAT A BLESSING BUT SO DIFFICULT WHEN IT COMES TO COMMUNICATIONS.
WE'VE JUST GOT TO TRY AND MAYBE WHAT THE COMMITTEE CAN DO IS DECIDE ON THREE METHODS THAT WE REALLY WANT TO PUSH AND FOCUS ON TO SEE IF IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
>> SO I WANT TO FIND OUT IF WE HAVE OTHER AREAS OF PRIORITIES BESIDES WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HERE.
DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY OTHER PRIORITY AREAS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THIS YEAR? SANDRA.
>> I THINK I'LL DO MY ANNUAL PITCH FOR READING AND MATH SCORES.
AND IT'S GOING TO BE VERY HARD WITH WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST YEAR.
BUT YOU CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON READING, MATH AND NOW IN THIS VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT LOOKING AT HOW SOME OF THE READING AND MATH CURRICULUM IS BEING DELIVERED WHETHER IT'S EFFECTIVE OR WILL IT BE EFFECTIVE? I DON'T KNOW.
TO SORT OF CENTER AROUND WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THAT NOW.
BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN TRADITIONALLY A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH READING AND MATH WITH THE ACPS STUDENTS AND THERE HAS BEEN SOME PROGRESS WITH SOME SCHOOLS.
IT'S TRYING THE GET A HANDLE ON NOW THAT WE'RE IN THIS VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT WHETHER OR NOT WE END UP BACK IN SCHOOL IS TO TRY TO GET A HANDLE ON CURRICULUM AND WHAT WAS WORKING AND WHAT IS NOT.
THERE -- THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON.
OUR INDICATOR DATA THIS YEAR OUR SCORES WERE UP.
OUR READING AND MATH SCORES WERE UP.
>> AND WE DEFINITELY STILL NEED TO WORK BUT WE WERE UP.
WE WERE UP LIKE 10 PERCENTAGE POINTS.
UP IN THE HIGH 30S AT THIS POINT.
SYSTEMATICALLY FOR READING AND MATH.
WE HAVE NOT BEEN THAT HIGH FOR A LONG TIME.
>> SO WE HAVE MEAGAN, DR. MOZINGO AND J LYNN.
>> A BIG WIN AND WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT.
WE'RE UNIVERSALLY SCREENING ALL KIDS NOW.
THIS IS FOR ME THIS IS HUGE BECAUSE THIS TO ME IS THE LINK TO SO MANY THINGS.
AND SO FOR THE FIRST TIME WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS PROCESS WHICH IS AN MTS PART OF THE PROCESS WHICH IS UNIVERSALLY SCREENING ALL OF THE KIDS USING THE MAP ASSESSMENT AND EVEN THOUGH WE'RE GOING TO BE VIRTUAL AND TERRY CAN PROBABLY SPEAK TO THIS BUT THERE IS A MAP SCREENER THAT WAS DEVELOPED.
SO I THINK THAT SORT OF LIKE ACTUALLY HAVING A BASELINE FOR EVERY SINGLE KID IS TO ME GOING TO BE A HUGE WIN.
BECAUSE NOW WE CAN LIKE I JUST FEEL LIKE IT'S THE STEP TO STARTING TO MAKE REALLY INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT WHO REALLY NEEDS WITH WHAT WHICH LEADS TO THAT READING AND
[01:35:01]
MATH.>> IS THAT SECOND GRADE TO 5TH GRADE OR ALL GRADES.
2 THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL IN ALL SUBJECT AREAS.
THEREOF WILL BE A SCREENER THAT WILL BE A BASELINE AND I WANTED TO ALSO JUST ADD WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A K2 LITERACY GOAL.
WE STARTED WORKING ON IT LAST YEAR.
WE FORMED A TASK FORCE AND WE'RE GOING FOR CONTINUES TO WORK ON K2 LITERACY.
ONE OF MY QUESTIONS IS DOES THE WORK OF THIS GROUP HOW DOES IT ALIGN WITH THE BORDER STRATEGIC PLAN BECAUSE IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN THERE ARE A NUMBER OF AREAS AND I DID NOT KNOW IF THAT WAS SOMETHING FOR CONSIDERATION.
BUT K2 LITERACY IS ONE OF THE AREAS WITHIN THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
>> I MEAN IT'S NEVER BEEN DONE AT THIS LEVEL BEFORE.
IT SHOULDN'T JUST ON TERRANT TEAM.
AS AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE WE SHOULD OFFER SUGGESTIONS AS WELL.
THAT COULD WORK BETTER FOR PARENTS.
THIS YEAR THAT SHOULD BE THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARD.
ONE OF MY BIG QUESTIONS HOW IS THIS VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT THE REMOTE, THE MIXED HYBRID SYSTEMS HOW ARE THEY ACTUALLY WORKING? WHAT IS WORKING WELL? WHAT IS NOT WORKING? WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON READING SCORES OR MATH SCORES? WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON SOCIALIZATION? IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A REALLY GOOD ANALYSIS OF WHAT IS HAPPENING AS WE HAVE BEEN MOVING INTO A VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION WORLD AND WE NEED TO BE PRETTY SPECIFIC ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO -- HOW MUCH SYNCHRONOUS HELP DO OUR ALL CITY KIDS NEED TO HAVE SO THEY CAN HAVE FEEDBACK FROM THEIR TEACHER EVEN THOUGH IT'S THROUGH ZOOM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
HOW EFFECTIVE IS THAT? SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE WHOLE IMPACT OF REMOTE LEARNING IS.
>> CAN WE TAKE IT ONE STEP BACK THOUGH? I AGREE WITH ALL OF THAT AND I THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE A LONG IMPACT.
AS AN EDUCATOR THERE ARE LONG LASTING IMPACTS.
I'M TALKING LIKE EVEN THREE STEPS BACK.
HOW ARE ALL OF THE RELATED SERVICES HAPPENING.
ARE STUDENTS EVEN BEING ABLE TO GET ON TO ZOOM? HOW ARE WE SUPPORTING STUDENTS.
HOW ARE WE SUPPORTING BEHAVIOR IN THE HOME WHEN TEACHERS ARE VIRTUAL AND NEVER SEE THE STUDENT IN PERSON.
I'M TALKING ABOUT BASIC BEST PRACTICES AND OPERATION AND THEN GET INTO LIKE THE BIG IMPACT STUFF BUT I THINK THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO THAT WE COULD HELP INFORM JUST TO GETTING IT WORKING.
>> JUST TO AGREE WITH THAT -- I THINK ONE THING THAT WE CAN DO IS PERHAPS -- I'VE
[01:40:03]
ADVOCATED FOR THIS IN THE SUMMER MEETINGS AS WELL TO -- TO BRING AS MANY ACCOMMODATIONS AS WE CAN TO ALL INSTRUCTION SO THAT TEACHERS DON'T HAVE TO THINK OF IT ALL ON THEIR OWN.ONE THING IS THAT PACING IS GOING TO BE THE SAME THROUGHOUT ALL SCHOOLS IN THE DIVISION BECAUSE IT'S TOO DIFFICULT TO FIND SUBSTITUTES.
TO GET THEM TRAINED IN TIME SO IF THE TEACHER IS SICK THEIR STUDENTS WOULD HAVE TO ALIGN WITH ANOTHER TEACHER.
SO THIS MAKES IT EASIER TO DO THINGS LIKE IF PARENTS WANT LESSON OUTLINES BEFORE THE LESSON TO HELP GUIDE THEIR STUDENT THAT COULD BE DONE IN A SYSTEM WIDE WAY.
OR ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR CLASS PARTICIPATION FOR KIDS THAT CANNOT TYPE AND ALL OF THESE THINGS WOULD BE THINGS THAT WE COULD PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON.
I AGREE WITH YOU J-LYNN THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT COULD IMPACT STUDENT'S LEARNING.
HELP TO ASSIST STUDENTS IN ATTENDING TO ZOOM AND THINGS LIKE THAT AS WELL.
YOU KNOW I JUST GOT A TEXT AND WE WERE SUPPOSED TO END THIS AT 9:00.
SO I GUESS THAT WE -- DO WE NEED TO DO A VOTE ON THE DRAFT MINUTES, CINDY?
>> CINDY, DO WE NEED TO VOTE ON THE DRAFT MINUTES.
THEY WERE FROM BACK IN FEBRUARY AND THEY WERE SENT OUT.
>> DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE DRAFT MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 19TH?
>> SORRY MY MUTE BUTTON WAS ACTING UP.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? SANDRA.
I GUESS WE'VE GOT TO DO A ROLL CALL VOTE.
>> SO LET'S SEE IF I CAN FIND THE -- ALL RIGHT.
>> I WASN'T THERE SO I CAN'T VOTE ON THEM.
>> I THINK I WASN'T THERE EITHER NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT.
BUT HEARING NO NEGATIVE VOTES WE'LL CALL IT APPROVED THEN.
WE REALLY DON'T HAVE TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND I DON'T THINK WE HAVE PUBLIC IN HERE.
I THINK THAT IS IT UNLESS THERE ARE SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS.
I THOUGHT WE WERE ON UNTIL 9:30.
>> I HAD JUST FORGOTTEN BEFORE -- THAT WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT FOCUS AREAS.
THE OTHER THING I WAS GOING TO DITTO YOUR COMMENTS AND J-LYNN AND ADD THE FACT THAT CAREER AND TRANSITION? GETTING THE EXPERIENCE.
>> DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ADJOURN?
THERE IS SOMEBODY WHO HAD A PUBLIC COMMENT.
[01:45:01]
I JUST -- >> PL/SQL RECEIVED A TEXT.
>> R MS. RILEY IF YOU UNMUTE YOU CAN SPEAK.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE PART OF THE DISCUSSION AND THANK DEBBIE SPECIFICALLY FOR MAKING ME AWARE.
IT'S BEEN A VERY INTERESTING DISCUSSION AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THE COMMENTS THAT I DON'T KNOW J-LYNN BUT THE J-LYNN COMMUNICATED TONIGHT REALLY RESONATED WITH ME AND MY FAMILY ABOUT FEELING REALLY ISOLATED.
I HEARD ABOUT THE COFFEE THE MONTHLY COFFEE THAT MS. WARNER HAS AND THEN DR. IS SEAC AND I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF THE SPECIAL-ED COMMUNICATION THE FACS CENTERS ALWAYS SEND SOMETHING BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S FRAGMENTED AND NOT NUANCED ENOUGH FOR THE VARIOUS SPECIAL-ED SUBPOPULATIONS WITHIN OUR SPECIAL POPULATION.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO ECHO THAT AND I'M GOING TO WORK WITH DEBBIE TO SEE HOW I CAN GET MORE INVOLVED IN SEAC AND THEN TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY I GOT A LETTER HAD TO SAYING MY DAUGHTER'S TEACHER IS TO BE DETERMINED AND I WAS FLUMMOXED BY THAT.
I REACHED OUT TO HER TEACHER FROM LAST YEAR AND HE HAS NOT ANSWERED AND COMPLETELY FEELING AT THE END OF MY ROPE WITH IT.
SO JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
>> IF YOU WANT TO STAY ON THE CALL I CAN ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS.
ONCE WE ADJOURN THE MEETING I CAN ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS.
I HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.
I SEE THAT WE HAVE TWO OTHER ATTENDEES.
DO EITHER ONE OF YOU WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT? SUSAN, I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING.
ERICA, DID YOU WISH TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS? YOU'LL HAVE TO UNMUTE YOUR MIC IF YOU DO.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND THANK YOU TO THE STAFF WHO CAME TO THE MEETING AND PUT IN THE WORK.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG SIX MONTHS AND I DO APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING AND FINGERS CROSSED FOR A GREAT SCHOOL YEAR.
I ASSUME ERICA DOESN'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS.
THEN DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ADJOURN?
ROLL CALL I GUESS WE HAVE TO DO.
THANK YOU FOR PUTTING UP WITH ME.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.