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: Department Procedural Manuals Continued parental input ( blasts, website, parental survey, SEPAC)

LRE The Least Restrictive Environment is defined in the New Jersey Administrative Code (6A: ): "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." tm

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 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; Mariela Arcentales – Schools 5, 7, 8, BMS, BHS, Luis C; Allison Reiher – Schools 3, 4, BMS; Physical Therapist: Melissa Mendez covering until Rebecca Pacailler covering until January Jackie Foster, anticipated to be back in January of

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 indicating such to:

Upcoming Parent Meetings Information reminders will be sent out via 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????