Welcome: Bruce Schroeder welcomed the group.

UPDATES:

ULRC: Bruce Schroeder went through the folder and called attention to the calendar.

Randy Schelble introduced the February issue of the Utah Special Educator, with the emphasis on Least Restrictive Environment. The perspective of this issue is from all areas of education—administrators, teachers, etc. Educator Ideas Exchange is featured in the back of the publication and Randy called attention to the call for articles for this area.

Bruce gave a follow-up from last consortium. Professional recertification information provided by Ron Stanfield was available and an edited transcript of Tom Burchett’s presentation would be available soon.

Jerry Christensen introduced the copies of Young Exceptional Children magazine donated today by CEC. If interested, subscriptions to this journal are $20. He also awarded prizes for the Edu-Quiz: Tom Burchett won for December and James Payant for January. He urged everyone to enter the Edu-Quiz at www.ulrc.org

Karen Marberger talked about the 10 Annual Mentor Conference. It was an energetic conference with several major keynotes. She thanked those who presented from the state office. She said that the evaluations showed that people were glad to get the information that was presented. She called attention to the proceedings document included in the folders. This pamphlet documented the accomplishments of mentors across the state. Mentor core values were included in the booklet. She said that this year we started a new tradition with a "10 Year Club," with 31 mentors who have attended all 10 conferences. This is a way to encourage mentors to continue to attend. Karen said they kicked off the mentor conference with a video (prepared by Randy her husband Ray Schelble) that pulled together different aspects of mentors and the ULRC. She then showed the video. (Copies are available from the URLC.)

UTAH PARENT CENTER: Jennie Gibson and Helen Post recently traveled to Washington, D.C. for a conference. She said that as they networked with others, they realized how much support they have received from the state office. They were told to improve ways to let parents know that they are available to families. She said that preschools need to partner with Parent Center to get information out to parents. She asked for feedback on information given out at previous consortiums. She said that their Parent Conference will be at Provo Marriott on March 19-20. Some money for stipends is still available. She asked districts to sponsor parents to attend. She also sent an updated work schedule around to show what they do at the Parent Center.

She said they are looking for opportunities to do some Spanish-speaking seminars. She also gave out a schedule for their regular Thursday night workshops. Jennie is working with state PTA on ideas for activities that school PTAs can do to help educate people about special needs children.

USOE: Ken Reavis facilitated the following updates:

Brenda Broadbent announced that there will be a meeting on March 10 (10-3, with all planning committees from the preschool conferences. Next year, the conferences will be regional again. This meeting will set dates and times.

Nan Gray announced two transition conferences that are coming up. The first one on March 9 in St. George and the second one on May 3 in the Driggs portion of Rice Stadium at the U of U campus. At that conference, there will be a climbing wall with adaptive equipment for people with disabilities. Nan also introduced Colleen Riley who is the new director of special education for Tooele District.

Mae Taylor-Sweeten said that the SIG grants are in the congressional offices for announcement so we are waiting to hear. She handed out schedule for SARS week and went through the schedule with consortium. The assistant state superintendent, Jerry Peterson, will speak at the Wednesday luncheon, followed by the legislative update.

Dale Sheld announced that the state office will sponsor 10 people from LEAs to attend Intermountain Special Studies Institute in Pocatello, ID on June 7-11. Stipend pays everything except transportation and meals not covered with conference. Contact him if interested in attending.

Tim McConnell reviewed findings by Loydene Berg. who did a report on demographics of the state inclusion conference. What started out to be a conference for special educators ended up with only 41% special educators attending. Percentages of other attendees are: 29% general educators, 11% administrators, 10% parents, 5% other, 5% students, and 1% U of U staff.

Tim also gave a "Mukluk Technology" update presenting technical information and benefits of wearing mukluks (www.mukluk.com). He presented a fashion show, called "Mukluk’s On Parade" with Karen Marberger, Shelley Kiefer and Brenda Broadbent modeling mukluks.

University of Utah: Jack Mayhew called attention to pamphlet for ACRES conference, March 25-17 in Albuquerque, NM. The is the only national conference that deals with rural special education. He also talked about some of the highlights of that conference. He reminded the consortium that there were still 4 or 5 slots open in the special education Masters Program he announced last month and he gave an update on grant projects—Achieving Change Together (ACT) and Achieving Inclusive Change (AIC). The university is looking for more sights for next year in connection with these grant projects. Contact U if interested.

Brigham Young University: Gordon Gibb presented at 16th Annual International Technology And Media (TAM) Conference in Seattle, WA. From this he learned there are some corrections for CD ROM program on IEPs that they have developed. He also said that they are recruiting for their special ed program, looking for 50 people.

Utah State University: Ronda Menlove thanked the consortium members for the letter they sent, as a request from last month’s consortium meeting. The letter triggered closer examination of the issue of combining law classes at USU. The issue is now in committee for further study. The letter from the consortium moved this issue along. Ronda also called attention to two sheets in the folder: blue sheet describes distance ed classes, which are now accepting applications for mild/moderate program, yellow sheet, which works in partnership with the school districts to have this training and will start this summer.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT: Susan Ord is the CSPD coordinator for Part B. Sue Sue Olsen presented information about Baby Watch Early Intervention program, which functions under IDEA, Part C and enhances development of programs and helps families. System looks similar to Part B: family-centered, enhanced development, IFSP (similar to IEP), natural environment instead LRE. Susan passed out a handout that identified all of their contracts through out the state. She identified competency areas: health, child development, development of children with special needs. Baby Watch has developed competencies for various levels of those who work within their program. Three levels:

Everyone who works with Baby Watch is required to have some kind of credentialing. Credentialling process includes 9 training sessions, portfolio entries, letters of recommendations which all go into portfolio to be presented for credentialing. Sue Olsen talked about transition. She is currently putting together a training program with SKI High Institute.

Randy Shelble announced that the Utah Federation of CEC award applications are in the folders and that nominations are due March 12 and the awards will be given out at spring conference, March 27. She also announced that Pat Beckman is the winner of the Clarissa Hug CEC National Teacher of the Year Award, to be awarded at the national CEC Convention on April 15 in Charlotte, NC. Pat Beckman announced the CEC activities for their conference coming up on March 27 in St. George. She also reminded consortium of the fund raiser on February 9 at Barnes and Nobel, 612 E. 400 S, SLC from 5-9 PM. A share of the sale goes to CEC. Phone orders will be honored, but make sure you specify CEC.

Brenda Broadbent and Shelly Kiefer are involved with the preschool project housed at state office. Supporting the Inclusion of Preschool Children (SIPC) is funded through a grant and looks at how preschool children can be included at all levels. They have completed training in San Juan, Tooele and Box Elder school districts. Access to the project is available through the district coordinators, or through Shelly (Skiefer@usoe.k12.ut.us) or Valerie Scherbinski (vscherbi@usoe.k12.ut.us).

Ronda Menlove presented her work on the IEP Satisfaction Survey. About a year ago the state office talked with Alan Hoffmeister about the satisfaction of IEPs. Ronda was approached with this for a dissertation topic. She approached districts to see if they would allow them to survey and 13 districts accepted. Phase one was to have a pencil survey. Phase two was to talk to people about their satisfaction. Phase three is developing a plan of action regarding this information. Donna Suter has worked with Ronda on this. Questions went to all those who would be a part of IEP team. Survey questions were in last month’s Utah Special Educator. Results can also be seen online at www.ulrc.org/consortium.html. She tried to have questions to cover all aspects of IEP, everything from the number of meetings to the amount of time it took and was student learning enhanced. Randomly selected people throughout the state were asked to participate in the survey. Ronda conducted student survey part with actual interviews to get student response. She had about a 50% rate of survey returns from parents (the lowest percentage). 70% of general educators returned survey and 98% of special educators returned the survey. Survey results: fairly high rates of satisfaction. This tells us that people feel they are getting valuable information at IEP meetings. How did people feel about paperwork? Those who most often have to do the paperwork are the ones who are the most frustrated with it. Do they feel comfortable with the forms? How do they feel overall about their part in the IEP process? Overall people feel good about their role in the process. This is a good base to start working from. The next step for Ronda is to develop IEP meeting intervention with agendas, pre-meetings, orientations and videos, etc.

Bruce concluded the meeting with several announcements and the drawing. He also announced that they still have openings for the March PT training seminars.

Meeting adjourned at 12:00 noon.