Special Education Parent Informational Session October 6, 2015 Belleville Public Schools Special Services Department.

Special Education Parent Informational Session

October 6, 2015

Belleville Public Schools

Special Services Department

Agenda

• Introductions

• Department Initiatives

• SEPAC

• Staff and Program Overview

• SEPPO

• Upcoming Meetings

• Other business

Department Initiatives

• New IEP Program-IEPDirect

• LRE-in district and out of district

• Paraprofessionals-procedural manuals, new hiring criteria and trainings

• Website-Updated department information on website: www.bellevilleschools.org

• Department Procedural Manuals

• Continued parental input (email blasts, website, parental survey, SEPAC)

LRE

• The Least Restrictive Environment is defined in the New Jersey Administrative Code (6A:14- 2.10): "each public agency shall ensure that: to the maximum extent appropriate, a pupil with an educationally disability shall be educated with children who are not educationally disabled; special classes, separate schooling or other removal of a pupil with an educational disability from the pupil's regular class occurs only when the nature or severity of the educational disability is such that education in the pupil's regular class with the use of appropriate supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily."

http://www.spannj.org/BasicRights/least_restrictive_environment.htm

Trainings/Staff Development

• Paraprofessional Trainings-ABA/Regular

• Teacher Trainings• IEPDirect

• Working with atypical learners-general education

• Handle With Care

• Sensitivity training

• Preschool curriculum trainings

Special Services Staff

2015-16 CST Responsibilities

BHS

• LDTC: Brookes Wagner (CM and Evaluations)

• SW: Gina Hyams (CM and Evaluations)

• School Psychologist: Melanie Presha (CM and Evaluations at BHS and School 3)

• Therapeutic Counselor: Francis Petrillo (Therapeutic Counseling and CM)

BMS

• LDTC: Melissa Quiceno(CM, Evaluations)

• SW: Maryann Harnett (CM, Evaluations)

• School Psychologist: Kai Williams (CM, Evaluations)

• Therapeutic Counselor: Kathy Caruso (Therapeutic Counseling and CM)

Special Services Staff-Continued

Elementary Assignments

• Linda Damora-(CM: School 5 and CP Center-Belleville, Evals: Schools 3 and 5, Orton Training)

• Elizabeth Spirito-(CM: School 3 and select cases at 7, Evals: Schools 3, 5, 7, 8, Counseling: School 3)

• Pamela Stoffers (CM: BD programs at 5, Evaluations: School 5, counseling-School 5)

• Robert Elliott (CM: School 8, Evaluations: School 8, District HWC Trainer)

• Yailin Ramirez (CM: School 4, Evaluations: School 4 and 8, Counseling: School 4 and 8)

• Elizabeth Marcinek (CM: School 7 and Phoenix Center, Evaluations: School 4 and 7)

Special Services Staff-Continued

Preschool/Autism Team-Team will also cover Schools 9 and 10 evaluations

• LDTC: Jaclyn Groninger (CM and Learning Evaluations for all students in Autism Programs and PSD)

• SW: Leticia Hernandez (CM and Evals for all students in Autism Programs, PSD and School 4)

• SP: Andrea Forese (CM and Psychological Evaluations for all students in Autism Programs and PSD)

Out of District

• Melissa Quiceno(CM and evaluations for 16 cases)

• Sylvia Pastor (CM: Remaining Out of District, Evaluations: School 7 and OOD, Counseling: School 7)

Related Service Providers

Speech and Language:

• Jessica Peralta-School 4 + PSD initials

• Arvie Flores-School 8 and BHS

• Janis Ferraro-Schools 5, 9, 10

• Suzanne DiGiacomo-School 3

• Theresa Lyons-BMS

• Shira Hirsch-School 7

• Ali Soto-School 7

Related Service Providers-cont

Occupational Therapist:

• Jeannine Sierchio School 7; [email protected]

• Mariela Arcentales – Schools 5, 7, 8, BMS, BHS, Luis C; [email protected]

• Allison Reiher – Schools 3, 4, BMS; allison.desposito@gmail

Physical Therapist:

• Melissa Mendez [email protected], covering until January

• Rebecca Pacailler [email protected], covering until January

• Jackie Foster, [email protected], anticipated to be back in January of 2016

Programs

School 3

LLD-Intermediate

MD-Primary

PSD-Integrated

Resource Room (2)

School 4

LLD-Primary

LLD-Intermediate

PSD-Full Day

PSD-Integrated

Resource Room (3)*

Programs-Continued

School Number 5

MD-Primary

MD-Intermediate

BD-Primary

BD-Intermediate

Resource Room (2)

School Number 7

PSD-ABA

PSD-Integrated

LLD-Mild-Intermediate

LLD-Mild-Primary

Autism Programs Intermediate/Primary (3)*

Resource Room (2)

School Number 8

LLD-Mild-Primary

LLD-Mild-Intermediate

Resource Room (3)

Programs-Continued

BMS

Autism Program

BD Program*

LLD-mild

LLD-mild (APA)

Resource Room-In class support and pullout replacement

BHS

Resource Room-severe

Resource Room-In class support and pullout replacement

Transition Program (vocational skills)

*New programs

SEPAC

• Special Education Parent Advisory Groups are required for all school districts in New Jersey. The purpose of these groups is to provide opportunities for parents and community members to offer input to their districts on critical issues. New Jersey Administrative Code 6A:14-1.2(h) states that:

• Each board of education shall ensure that a special education parent advisory group is in place in the district to provide input to the district on issues concerning students with disabilities.

Goals: Transparency and information session (both ways)

What it is not-vehicle for public complaints-agenda driven

Meeting dates have been tentatively scheduled and SEPAC members will receive information regarding dates and times. Any parent wishing to serve on the committee can send an email indicating such to: [email protected]

Upcoming Parent Meetings

Information reminders will be sent out via email blasts as well as they will be posted on the department page:

January 20-Legal information session with our district attorney to provide a legal overview as well as answer any legal questions

**Additional parent workshops will be scheduled in Nutley and Bloomfield and parents will be invited to attend.

Other Business

Questions????