APPROVED Minutes and Proceedings Wednesday, October 1, 2008

APPROVED Minutes and Proceedings
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Allegheny Intermediate Unit
Local Task Force
475 East Waterfront Drive
Homestead, PA 15120-1144

Members Present

Ms. Linda Amity
Ms. Astrid Arroyo
Mrs. Cindy Duch, Chairperson
Mr. Ryan Dunbar
Ms. Sherry Eanes
Mrs. Debra Efkeman
Dr. Cheryl Fogarty
Ms. Tania Grubbs
Mr. Jeff Kane
Mrs. Pam Kane
Ms. Natalie Krall, Recording Secretary
Ms. JoAnn McCray
Dr. Michael Panza
Mrs. LiLi Rosenthal
Ms. Anna Marie Scott
Mrs. Tamara Siegert
Mr. Donovan Thorne

Guests Present

Ms. Cassie Budzilek
Ms. Christina Chikum
Ms. Samantha Folmer

On Wednesday, October 1, 2008, the Local Task Force on the Right to Education (LTF) was called to order at 7:05 PM by Cindy Duch, Chairperson.

I. Welcome, Introductions, Excused Members

Members and guests introduced themselves and their affiliations. The following members have been excused from this meeting: Alan Friedman, Penny Gardner, Mary Ann McGuirk, and Debra Stranko.


II. Review/Acceptance of the Minutes of September 3, 2008

The minutes from the September meeting were reviewed. Debra Efkeman made a motion to accept the minutes with changes. Astrid Arroyo seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

III. Treasurer’s Report – Mrs. Cindy Duch

Mrs. Duch reviewed the October treasurer’s report with the membership. The membership would like to receive this report via e-mail before each LTF meeting.

IV. Speaker – Ms. Cassie Buzilek - PATTAN

Ms. Buzilek discussed “Social Skills in the Classroom” with the membership. She covered the following information during her presentation:

• IDEA on Lease Restrictive Environment.
• IDEA on Supplementary Aids and Services.
• Gaskin Settlement Agreement – 2005
• Framework for Considering the Full Range of Supplementary Aids and Services.
• What are Social Skills?
• Why Relationships Matter for Students with Disabilities.
• Examples of Social Skills
• When Does Social Development Begin?
• Aspects of Social and Communication Difficulties.
• Scope and Sequence
• Assessment
• IEP Goals
• Scheduling/Programming
• Peer Support Arrangements

V. Consumer Concerns

A parent brought up a concern with a number of school districts in our county. The parent informed the membership that special education students at the secondary level are not allowed to take general education classes in science and history. The reason the district does not want special education students to take these classes is because they do not want to make the modifications to their college preparatory curriculum. The special education students are instead being taught these classes in the resource room in their schools.

VI Information Items

A. MH – Members of the Children’s Team – Mr. Ryan Dunbar

Mr. Dunbar informed the membership that Kristen Hughes is no longer working for the
MH Team. Rob Fontaine has taken her place as a new education consultant.
He told the membership that the MH Children’s Team office has moved from Wood
Street to 104 Smithfield Street.

He informed the membership that RESOLVE is the new crisis prevention hotline and
their number is 1-888-796-8226.

B. MR – Ms. Tamara Siegert

Ms. Siegert informed the membership of the following events:

• For Your Better Friendships Programs
• Sorting out Supports and Services Program
• Pathways to Possibilities Program
• Woodlands Family Fun Day on October 4, 2008

C. AIU – Dr. Cheryl Fogarty

Dr. Fogarty did not have any new information to report to the membership this month.

D. Right to Education – Mrs. Tania Grubbs

Mrs. Grubbs informed the membership that LTF # 2 will be hosting an information fair at Carrick High School on October 14, 2008 from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM.

E. LTF Update – Mrs. Cindy Duch

Mrs. Duch informed the membership that the State Task Force Meeting will be held in Harrisburg, PA on November 5, 2008 and November 6, 2008.

Mrs. Duch also informed the membership that Tyann Neal is our Intermediate Unit’s Compliance Specialist.


F. Scott E. Folmer Awards Banquet – Mrs. Debra Efkeman

Mrs. Efkeman informed the membership that Carlynton High School will host the Scott E. Folmer Awards Banquet again next year.

Mrs. Efkeman also informed the membership that she needs volunteers for the banquet for data entry, purchasing awards, and publicity. Please contact her by phone if you are interested in volunteering.

G. Education Mentors of Pennsylvania – Mrs. Cindy Duch

Mrs. Duch informed the membership that McKeesport and Keystone Oaks are very interested in starting parent mentoring programs.

VII. Committee Update

A. Parent Assistance Line – Mrs. Cindy Duch

Mrs. Duch informed the membership that there were two calls for the month of
September. Mary Ann McGuirk will report them at the November LTF meeting.

B. LTF Monitoring – Mrs. Debra Efkeman

Mrs. Efkeman informed the membership that LTF monitoring will be held at Baldwin-Whitehall School District this fall. She is going to call the next week to schedule a date. If anyone is interested in being on the LTF Monitoring Team, please contact Debra Efkeman by phone.

C. Cyclical Monitoring – Mrs. Debra Efkeman

Mrs. Efkeman informed the membership that the LTF is looking for a member to take over cyclical monitoring. If you are interested, please contact Debra Efkeman by phone. The following districts will be having cyclical monitoring very shortly:

Bethel Park October 15, 2008
Carlynton November 10, 2008
Sto-Rox November 10, 2008

VII. Old Business

There was no old business discussed at this meeting.

VIII. New Business

There was no new business discussed at this meeting.


X. Membership Rounder

Cindy Duch thanked all of the guests for attending tonight’s meeting.

Donovan Thorne said he is happy to be at the meeting tonight.

Jeff Kane is still waiting on a speech therapist for his daughter. He also informed the
membership that his daughter got a green stripe for tae kwon do.

Cheryl Fogarty informed the membership that she will not be attending LTF meetings
Regularly because she received a new position.

XI. Motion for Adjournment

Motion was made by Astrid Arroyo and seconded by Donovan Thorne. Meeting was
adjourned at 9:30 PM.