Minutes
Special Education Subcommittee Meeting
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
A meeting of the Special Education Subcommittee was held on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
at 7:00 pm at Quincy High School. Present were Mr. Paul Bregoli, Ms. Barbara Isola, Mr. David
McCarthy, and Mrs. Anne Mahoney, Chair. Also attending were Superintendent DeCristofaro,
Ms. Judy Todd, Mrs. Donna Cunningham, Mrs. Erin Perkins, Mr. Richard Kelly, QPAC Board
member Ms. Linda Perry, interested parents, and Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Mrs. Mahoney.
The first item on the agenda was a Review of Meeting Dates and Goals for 2012-2013. The
goal of the Special Education Subcommittee is to facilitate communication about the
implementation of the Special Education Program Improvement Plan by further developing the
website to include updated information; monitoring and reporting on progress report
distribution; and updating the Special Education Program Booklet. The Special Education
Subcommittee will meet on January 16, 2013; March 27, 2013; and May 15, 2013.
Ms. Todd, in conjunction with her staff, Mrs. Cunningham, Mr. Kelly, and Mrs. Perkins, then
presented the Special Education Program Improvement Plan. Ms. Todd reviewed the Special
Education Department Mission Statement and Message, both revised for this year. DSAC
initiatives the department is participating in include Massachusetts Tiered System of Support
(PBIS) and Collaborative Institute for Special Education and General Education Administrators.
In cooperation with the Quincy Parent Advisory Council to Special Education (QPAC), the
Transition Manual has been updated and is included as part of the Program Improvement Plan.
For last year’s goals, there were varying levels of completion: (1) the Middle School Language
Class monitoring through SRI data and observation was completed but test scores were not
always reflective of the progress observed. The teachers are seeking a new measurement tool
for going forward. (2) Lexia software was used as a reinforcement and progress monitoring tool
to supplement Orton Gillingham instruction. This was a very successful program with students
and teachers; it flags areas for reinforcement for teacher instruction and has a homework
component. (3) Training for Special Education regulations focused on Transition issues and
assessments and age of majority. Training is ongoing and planning begins in the year the
student turns 16.
Ms. Todd reviewed MCAS growth results, noting that the average growth rate is in the 40-60%
range. For 2012 ELA, Grade 5, 7, 8, and 10 SPED students were within that range; for 2012
Math, Grades 7 and 10 were within the range. Ms. Todd noted that for Math, the middle
school grades continue to be a challenge. Ms. Todd then reviewed the comparisons of Quincy
to the rest of the state; by Grade 10, both Math and ELA are almost equal to the state levels.
For Science and Technology, Grades 5 and 10 Science are very close to state levels. Mr. Bregoli
inquired about comparisons to other cities and towns results; Mrs. Fredrickson spoke of the
DART Tool which provides that data. Mr. McCarthy asked about a plan for improving Math
results and Ms. Todd agreed that this would be discussed at a subsequent meeting. Mrs.
Mahoney clarified that we see a dip in Grade 8 Math scores in regular education as well. She
noted that the MCAS tests are going to be changing to match the Common Core and the results
and comparatives impacted going forward.
Mr. Kelly reviewed the Special Education department organization: Team Administrators Mrs.
Connolly at the Della Chiesa Early Childhood Center, and Mrs. Cunningham and Mrs. Perkins,
who work with the Elementary and Middle Schools. Mr. Kelly and Ms. Pattavina are Out of
District liaisons, each managing 70+ cases, including Transportation. At the high schools, the
Special Education department heads are the team administrators. The Circuit Breaker audit by
the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is October 31, 2012. Mrs.
Mahoney inquired about the audit, Ms. Todd clarified that this is a random process of selection
by DESE. Ms. Perry asked about DESE’s Comprehensive Program Review; 2013 is the next
scheduled full review (6-year cycle) and incorporates Title I, ELL, and civil rights.
For 2012-2013, the Special Education department goals are: (1) During the 2012-13 school
year, the elementary Resource Room teachers will progress monitor monthly, using this data to
determine the appropriateness of instruction. (2) The transition team will implement the
Transition Resource Guide by November 2012. (Middle School to High School and High School
to Adulthood) (3) The Special Education Administration will provide a review of all discipline
and ethnicity at the Middle School level and share the findings with the Administration at each
school by June.
In addition, the other Special Education teams have goals and professional development. The
Occupational Therapy team will (1) organize all fine motor equipment and supplies to create a
resource inventory and (2) increase professional awareness of Occupational Therapy by
observing other programs and participating in in-services. The Speech and Language staff will
review appropriate practice in the assessment of ELL students. The speech staff will review and
discuss Assessment of Bilingual Learners: Language Difference or Language Disorder? This
information will be utilized to develop a protocol for Speech Pathologists to determine the
presence of a disability. The Elementary Resource Team will progress monitor using DIBELs and
Lexia. The Middle School Teachers Team will attend and participate in the course “Keys to
Literacy: Comprehension” and develop formative assessments that can be used to progress
monitor reading/content comprehension. The Language Development Team will assess
students in Math to appropriately group students and to provide ongoing monitoring throughout the 2012-13 school year. The GOALS team will communicate the needs of the
students and effectively address all education and social concerns. The CARES team will
promote greater access, use and integration of technology to improve learning and
communication. The Physical Therapy team will create an organization to ensure all testing is
completed within the mandated timeline as well as ensuring that all reports are complete and
in the hands of the chairpersons a minimum of 48 hours in advance and that goals are
completed on EasyIEP one day prior to a reevaluation or initial meeting.
QPAC’s goals are also incorporated into the PIP and are focused on four areas: Resource
Sharing, Home-School Communication, Transition to Adulthood, and Needs Evaluation each
with multiple goals and action steps.
Mr. Bregoli asked whether Orton Gillingham at the middle school would be used in the resource
room as well as the Language Development classes and it was confirmed. Mrs. Mahoney asked
about MCAS results and how poor results may concern a parent of a child who is showing
progress in school and on other types of evaluations. Ms. Todd clarified that per DESE, MCAS
results are not part of the IEP process. Ms. Todd reminded everyone that a student who has
been decertified and then begins to struggle again (even several years later) can begin the
process again.
Ms. Perry relayed a few corrections for the PIP, including updating the QPAC goals. Ms. Todd
will make the final corrections before next week’s School Committee meeting and when the PIP
is approved, it will be posted on the website. A parent noted that the website does not have
information on the Language Development program beyond the elementary level; Mrs. Perkins
will look into this.
Mr. McCarthy thanked Ms. Todd and her team; Orton Gillingham instruction and Transition
plans have been created to address needs that were expressed several years ago; the Special
Education team has made impressive progress.
Mr. Bregoli made a motion to approve the Special Education Program Improvement Plan. Mr.
McCarthy seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
Ms. Todd presented the final Initial Evaluation Brochure for approval; on behalf of QPAC, Ms.
Perry said the brochure was accepted. Mr. McCarthy made a motion to approve the Initial
Evaluation Brochure. Mr. Bregoli seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
Mrs. Mahoney deferred the next item on the agenda Review of Items from 2011-2012 to the
next meeting’s agenda.
Save the date On October 29, 2012 Who Cares About Kelsey? will be screened at 6:00 pm at
Quincy High School. This documentary is about the implementation of a Positive Behavior
Intervention System (PBIS) at a high school that previously had a very high dropout rate.
Mr. Bregoli made a motion to adjourn the Special Education Subcommittee Meeting at 8:15
pm. Mr. McCarthy seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.