North Dakota Interagency Coordinating Council ICC & IDEA Joint Meeting Minutes March 6 2003

ND Interagency Coordinating Committee (ICC) & ND IDEA
Advisory committee
Joint Meeting Minutes

March 6, 2003
ND Heritage Center
State Capitol

IDEA Members Present: Mark Hill, Jeanine Brown, Jane Nelson, Stella Hegg, Garry Freier, Bob Kelly, Deb Balsdon, Linda Hartman, Elaine Lindemann, Pat Brenden, Bernie Rodel, Michael O’Brien, Karen Erickson.

IDEA Members Absent: Char Heer, Carlotta McCleary, Kim Shereck, Leroy Shereck, Cathy Haarstad, Brenda Morland, Diann Aberle, Robbin Hendrickson, Tracy Klein, Marj Bock, Jim Jacobson, Yvonne Fox, Roman Weiler.

ICC Members/Staff Present: Shawn Stettner, Peggy Crane, Linda Rorman, Roxane Romanick, Paula Burkhard, Tammy Gallup-Millner, Angel Spotted Horse, ReNae Bearking, Bill Lardy, Jeanette Kolberg, Deb Balsdon, Connie Hagg.

DPI Staff: Bob Rutten, Jeanette Kolberg, Ralph Messmer.

Guests: ND Superintendent of Schools -Wayne Sanstead, Cindy Wilcox, Carolyn Delorme, Cathy Obregon and Marie Barkley.

Peggy Crane, ICC Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. and introduced Bob Kelly, who shared his family story from a grandparent’s perspective. Ben was about six months old when his family started to notice some developmental delays but a diagnosis wasn’t determined for another year and a half. Ben is now ten years old and has a very happy personality and laughs a lot. Looking back, Bob is thankful that the principal at Ben’s school welcomed him into the school and classroom. He attends his neighborhood school and often has friends playing at his home. Bob stated, “when people ask what’s wrong with Ben, the short answer is nothing – that’s Ben. Ben is Ben, just like his younger brother Billy is Billy.”

Minutes from the joint December 5, 2002 meeting were reviewed. Mark Hill moved to approve the minutes with a second by Bill Lardy and approval by all Committee members. Deb Balsdon distributed copies of the booklet “From the Heart: ND Families Tell Their Stories.”

Information: No Child Left Behind/Good Start, Grow Smart – Bob Rutten & Deb Balsdon Bob presented information about No Child Left Behind and potential impacts on the Reauthorization of IDEA. The President’s Commission on Special Education has recommended reforms to improve the special education system and move it from compliance only to accountability and student outcomes. Three major recommendations include a focus on results – not process, models of prevention rather than models of failure, and ensuring that children with disabilities are general education children first. Issues for special education will most likely include accountability and adequate yearly progress, scientifically-based research, teacher quality, paraeducators, and new reporting requirements. Detailed information is available on the following websites.
www.nochildleftbehind.gov
www.nea.org/esea/eseateach.html#highlyqualified
www.dpi.state.nd.us/title1/targeted/general/reauthoriz/index.shtm

Dr. Wayne Sanstead presented Certificates of Appreciation to outgoing IDEA Advisory Committee members Mark Hill, Karen Erickson; and interpreters, Cathy Obregon and Marie Barkley. Char Heer was not able to attend but was also recognized.

Deb presented information about Good Start, Grow Smart: The Bush Administration’s Early Childhood Initiative (Handout 1). Deb asked that Committee members review this document prior to a more detailed discussion at the next Joint Meeting in June. Further discussion is needed to determine how the ND Right Track project will support the Good Start, Grow Smart initiative.

Update: Skills Development – Cindy Wilcox
Under the umbrella of the ND State Improvement Grant (SIG), Cindy continues to facilitate efforts to build a coordinated system of statewide skills development. Cindy has been asked to present recommendations to the DPI Management Council, however, scheduling has been difficult due to the legislative session. Cindy described a regional model used by Montana and coordinated by two staff members at the state department. Further updates will be provided at the next Joint Meeting in June.

Update: Coordinated Monitoring of Part C & Part B – Deb Balsdon
A subcommittee of stakeholders continues planning efforts based on recommendations from the larger group that met in November 2002. Current work includes development of common indicators, and a protocol to be used to monitor transition from age two to age three when children with disabilities move from infant development to special education programs. Joint focus groups, as part of the Morton/Sioux Special Education Unit self-assessment process, are being planned for March.

ND Legislative Updates – Mark Hill, Bob Rutten & Deb Balsdon
Mark reported on HB1336, the interpreter’s bill. An amendment is being proposed that will allow an extension time period of two years for those who have completed the training but not yet gone through the national certification process. Within the two-year process, applicants will work with a mentor as they improve their skills. DPI has been supportive of this proposed amendment. Bob mentioned that a bill was submitted to establish an oversight committee made up of legislators who would monitor how DPI implements the requirements of No Child Left Behind. An attorney general’s opinion has been requested regarding the legality of this proposal. The DPI bill containing clarification in language regarding incarcerated youth, as required by OSEP, has passed the House and Senate and has been signed by Governor Hoeven. Bob reviewed the proposed special education budget (Handout 2).

Tammy Gallup-Millner noted that the bill to establish newborn hearing screenings prior to discharge from a hospital has been defeated. An attempt to expand eligibility for the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) was also defeated. Linda Rorman expressed some concerns for state funding cuts in Family Preservation Services (foster care training) that will result in a loss of matching Federal funds.

Deb reviewed the budget for Children and Family Supports within the Department of Human Services Developmental Disabilities Unit’s budget request (Handout 3). She also mentioned SB2074, which includes a proposal for continuation of the asset disregard slated to sunset in June 2003. If this bill isn’t approved, the asset disregard will no longer be available.

The IDEA Advisory Committee adjourned at noon and the ICC Committee continued to meet after lunch.

Next Meeting in Grand Forks at the Holiday Inn
June 4, 2003 – IDEA Advisory Committee (full day)
June 5, 2003 – Joint ICC/IDEA Advisory Committee (morning only)
June 5, 2003 – ICC Meeting (afternoon only)

Listing of Handouts:
Good Start, Grow Smart: The Bush Administration’s Early Childhood Initiative
North Dakota Special Education Data – Budget Proposal
2003-2005 Budget Information (DHS, DD Unit, Children and Family Supports)