SPECIAL BOARD MEETING MINUTES
August 21, 2020
1:00 P.M. Meeting in Taylorville High School Cafeteria
CALL SPECIAL BOARD MEETING TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL at 1:00pm
Mr. Bauer called the special board meeting to order and roll call was taken with two board members and one board member’s proxy present. Board members present were Jason Bauer, Scott Doerr, and Eric Bruder as proxy for Chris Dougherty. Also present were NPT Director, Kelly Suey; NPT Business Manager, Deanna Tarter.
Others in attendance include: Sabrina Jones, Anita Brown, Micahel Edwards, Reggie Hohenstein, Karen Kuntzman, Lakin Puzey, Jessica Miller, Matt Hutchinson, Michelle Rexroad, Gina and Aaron Brown, Gretchen Bland, Amber Daniels, Lauren Assalley, Katie Hilgert, Casey Matheson, Bri Bullard, Tina Martin, Mara Atkins, Lindsey Massey, Jennifer and Monte Evans, Jenny Moats, Lindsay Fox, Abby Huff , Andrew Matthews, Heather Owens, Erica Matthews, Sara Rodden, Lori, Luke, and Matt Wemple, and Diane Wilham.
RECOGNITION OF VISITORS, PUBLIC COMMENT, AND CORRESPONDENCE.
Gina and Aaron Brown stated that they have a daughter in the FACeS program. Their daughter is from Nokomis school district and they believe that FACeS was the best fit for their child. They stated that no child is supposed to be left behind, but they feel Taylorville is turning their back on them. In this program it gives their child the opportunity to have hands-on learning opportunities and care, physical, occupational, and speech therapies. The meaning of an IEP is to make special accommodations and they asked how this will be met in a remote learning/virtual platform. Their child cannot attend school remotely because she will have meltdowns. They feel that the district has overlooked their child.
Abby Huff stated that she has a daughter in the FACeS program, but will currently be receiving homebound instruction as ordered by three of her daughter’s physicians due to a major procedure coming up. She asked how Taylorville school district expects these kids to complete the work independently and how remote paperwork will not work. She discussed how two out of three districts are going to school full time 5 days a week and ISBE even has that in person instruction is preferred, specifically for the students who have more significant needs. She also discussed how the state is in phase 4 not phase 3, so the school should be able to offer face to face instruction for these children. She has sent emails to the school asking what is going on with the program and she has not had any responses. She also stated that per state guidelines a child with a doctor's note can be allowed to attend school without a face mask. She will be advocating for in-person learning for students in the FACeS classrooms as well as her daughter, who will be receiving homebound instruction.
Lauren Assalley, NPT Psychologist, is very upset because she works with these families. These students see their peers going to school and they are not given a choice. We need to have collaboration to help these families and be here for the students.
Jennifer Evans has a student in the FACeS program, is a single mother and works full time. She has received no communication, except some information from a teacher when they find things out. Remote learning will not work for her child because they need a structured environment. She specifically moved to Taylorville so that her child could attend this program. Her child will wear a mask.
Erica Matthews, owner of AAMP Autism and Movement Project in Pana, discussed how people are here because these children do not have a voice. She understands that there is a health pandemic, but her business is open and both Nokomis and Pana school districts are open for students to attend. These students cannot complete their educational goals on zoom or other virtual platforms. Most of these parents cannot do remote because they work. She is very disappointed that there has not been any planning completed and it has failed these children.
Lori, Luke and Matt Wemple discussed that Luke does not do technology except for listening to music so doing remote learning on technology is not an option for him. They do not understand that with the proper safety precautions why their child attending school cannot be done. Luke does go to AAMP and started horseback riding. Normalcy is needed for these kids.
Debbie Holthaus wrote a letter on behalf of her daughter that attends FACeS. Her child is non-verbal and has lost so much by not having the services or opportunities that this program has to offer. Her child needs to thrive and needs back into a routine. Her child loves her teachers and the learning environment. Going to remote learning gives her child absolutely no ability to thrive.
NEW BUSINESS – REVIEW AND APPROVE FACeS/CBI PROGRAM LEARNING PLAN
This meeting had been called to approve the learning plan of the FACeS/CBI program. Mr. Bauer asked Mrs. Suey to start the discussion about the plan. Mrs. Suey then asked Mr. Bruder to discuss the plan as this is the first time she has heard of the plan herself and did not feel comfortable reporting on said plan. Mr. Bruder thanked everyone for coming and discussed that Taylorville school district is fully remote and has a remote learning plan. He then referred to page 14 of the Return to School Plan. He stated that the plan will optimize facility, safety and security for students and staff. He stated that the plan will optimize student services and will support IEP goals. He also stated that we need to collaborate and improve communication.
Kelly Suey, state appointed Director of NPT Special Education Coop, explained that NPT employs the psychologists, social workers, speech pathologists, occupational and physical therapies and Taylorville school district employs the FACeS teachers and aides. It is her responsibility to make sure that we are meeting all state and federal guidelines within these plans. She explained that communication does need to improve, but wanted it noted that decisions presented today have not been in collaboration with her. She understands that we are in the middle of a pandemic, however she has not been consulted or been a part of discussions regarding the education of the students in the FACeS Program. She stated that it has been brought to her attention that she is not to communicate with the staff that Taylorville employes, and they are not to communicate with her, unless they move through proper channels of chains of commands and have permission. She asked how they are supposed to create a program that is conducive to an education, follows the guidelines and furthermore follows mandated laws if they are not quickly, effectively and collaboratively communicating, by no fault of their own. She compared this plan to the game telephone. She also pointed out that one of the main reasons for withdrawing from MSSE was to alleviate the levels and layers of administration and streamline the process for our special education staff, students and families.
Mrs. Suey referenced the Comprehensive Plan, Joint Agreement and her job description when discussing the FACES and CBI classrooms. She stated that it is her responsibility as an administrator, to coordinate and supervise the NPT Special Education Programs and has been repeatedly shut out of the discussions at the table.
She pointed out that as the state appointed director of special education, it is her responsibility to ensure that students with disabilities are being provided an equal education, however as walls continue to build regards to communication and division continues to be promoted by Taylorville administration, that she has not been granted the opportunity to complete her duties as assigned, and follow the agreed upon plan. She stated that she does not wish to promote further division amongst NPT and TCUSD because there is nothing she wants more than to be an equal member of the team, partner with her colleagues and be allowed to complete her job without unnecessary layers, hoops, and chains of commands to navigate through. She stated that her goal has been, and always will be to do what is ethically, morally and educational right for all students. Mrs. Suey opposes this plan.
Dr. Doerr, Superintendent of Nokomis CUSD #22, thanked everyone that spoke and wanted them all to know that he agrees with them. He also thanked all the NPT staff for all of their hard work and FACeS staff that put their heart and soul in these kids. These children deserve an education period. It took two years to create NPT coop. They had to go through all the legal channels to withdraw from the previous coop, and built a program second to none. We really do have the best employees. In section 4 Program Options of NPT’s 600 page document it states FACeS/CBI is a program owned and shared service. He was informed last Friday that these children would only be allowed to attend in person Tuesday/Thursday and it then changed to then start receiving services after Labor Day. Dr. Doerr called a special board meeting on Wednesday and received little to no answers to the board’s questions. From the board meeting a planning meeting was scheduled for that afternoon again- with no answers. Then at 2:30pm on Thursday an email was received that Taylorville will be going full remote, which means the FACeS students will not be allowed to attend on campus. FACeS is owned by NPT and no NPT employee has been included in the planning process. It took a year to create the 600 page document, meet all federal and state guidelines and regulations to create this coop for children with special needs. There is a lack of communication with NPT and the board, from the Taylorville school district. Dr. Doerr received this plan presented today, an hour and a half before the meeting which calls for FACeS/CBI to be completely remote and all related services be remote, but these children are unable to learn in this fashion. He strongly opposes this plan and if we were included in the meetings we could have put together a plan that works for all three school districts.
Dr. Doerr stated that he will personally meet all 6 parents of the students from Nokomis to make sure these students get their services. He inquired whether the MOU was signed by the board of education and Mr. Bruder could not answer. Dr. Doerr believes that the teachers want to see the students educated and in the classroom. He also inquired how the NPT Board requested a meeting with TEA and was refused by either the TEA or Taylorville administration. Mr. Bruder was unable to answer that question. When Mrs. Suey originally found out that Taylorville school district was going remote, she put together a plan to meet these children’s needs, had 4 days of in person instruction, and met the guidelines of the MOU, as he understood it. She presented the plan to Mr. Edwards and it was dismissed. Dr. Doerr apologizes to Mrs. Suey for how she has been treated and to the parents that this has occurred and will do what he can to help. Dr. Doerr has requested to have the agenda item of transferring the FACeS program to a different site and the transfer of employees from Taylorville employees to NPT employees beginning July 1 for the board meeting scheduled on Wednesday, August 26th.
Mr. Bauer is not going to downplay the pandemic. We need to get the key people together to be productive and solve issues by working together. There has been no collaboration with this process. We, as adults, are entrusted to provide education to all students including the most vulnerable. The plan from Taylorville was received within two hours prior to the meeting and this was not enough time. NPT should have been more involved in creating a plan. Mr. Bauer has asked questions and is still waiting for them to be answered. This has been very frustrating to say the least.Mr. Bauer states that the FACeS program is at the mercy of Taylorville school district, however with collaboration and answers to questions, these students should be able to meet with teachers and have in-person instruction. For Pana school district, the stakeholders wanted students to return to in person instruction and he found a way for this to happen. He will fight for his students until we come to a solution to meet their needs. Mr. Bauer opposes this plan.
At this time, Mr. Bauer asked if there was a motion to approve the Remote Learning Plan, as presented by Taylorville CUSD #3 school district. Motion by Bruder, seconded by Doerr to approve the FACeS/CBI Learning (Reopening) Plan as presented. Dr. Doerr-NEA, Mr. Bauer- NEA, Mr. Bruder- YEA. Motion not passed.
CLOSED SESSION
The meeting did not move into a closed session.
MOVE TO ADJOURN AT 1:54 p.m.
Motion by Bauer and seconded by Bruder. Motion passed by voice vote.
______________________________________ ______________________________________
Dr. Chris Dougherty, President Dr. Scott Doerr, Secretary
(Mr. Bruder Proxy)