1. Special Education Parent Informational Session
October 19, 2016
Belleville Public Schools
Special Services Department

2. Agenda Introductions 2016-17 Department Goals Department Initiatives
SEPAC
Staff and Program Overview
SPECIAL OLYMPICS
SEPPO
Upcoming Meetings
Other business

3. Department Goals
Belleville Public Schools Special Services Department will assist our parents in becoming better acquainted with information pertaining to the learning of all students with special needs.
s from IEPDirect (wider audience)
Website, Oncourse, ClassroomDojo
Communication sheets related service providers
Introductory case manager letters
Involvement in all school and district events
Continue with parental surveys

4. Department Initiatives
IEP Program-IEPDirect-continued
LRE-in district and out of district-continued
Compliance
Paraprofessionals-updated procedural manuals and continued PD
Website-Updated department information on website:
Continued parental input ( blasts, website, parental survey, SEPAC)

5. 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."
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6. Trainings/Staff Development
Paraprofessional Trainings-ABA/Regular
Teacher Trainings
IEPDirect
Envision
Wonders/Wondersworks
Handle With Care
IEP Writing/Accommodating atypical learnings
Section 504
DLM and APA

7. 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 scheduled and posted on the department website. Any parent wishing to serve on the committee can send an indicating such to:
Suzanne Biondi
Adriane Dohmen
Kari Comas
Towanda Underdue-Thomas
Johnathan Wiener
Maritza Allgeier

8. 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)
School Social Worker: Francis Petrillo (Therapeutic Counseling and CM)
School Psychologist: Pamela Stoffers (BD Program, counseling and evaluations)
BMS
LDTC: Erica Pellegrino(CM, Evaluations-school and OOD)
SW: Maryann Harnett (CM, Evaluations)
School Psychologist: Kai Williams (CM, Evaluations)
Therapeutic Counselor: Kathy Caruso (Therapeutic Counseling and CM)

9. 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 OOD cases, Evals: Schools 3, 5, 7, 8, Counseling: School 3)
Stacey Cohenson (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)
Rachel Porcaro (CM: School, Evaluations: School 4 and 7)

10. 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
Sylvia Pastor (Out of District, Evaluations: School 7 and OOD, Counseling: School 7)

11. Related Service Providers
Speech and Language:
Jessica Peralta-School 4 + PSD initials
Arvie Flores-School 8 and BHS
Janis Ferraro-Schools 5, 9, 10
Allison Joyce-School 3 + some PSD evals at 4
Theresa Lyons-BMS
Shira Hirsch-School 7
Rachel Konik-School 7

12. Related Service Providers-continued
Occupational Therapist:
Aliza Hillman- School 7
Raquel Bondar-School 7 (part time)
Carly Erman – Schools 5, 8, BMS, BHS,
Allison Reiher-D’Esposito – Schools 3, 4, 5,10, BMS, BHS
Physical Therapist:
 Jackie Foster-District
Behaviorist:
Lisa Berkowitz-ABA programs

13. Programs School 3 LLD-Intermediate PSD-Full Day* PSD-Integrated
Resource Room (3)*
School 4
LLD-Primary
PSD-Full Day
Resource Room (3)

14. Programs-Continued School Number 8 LLD-Mild-Primary
MD-Primary
MD-Intermediate
BD-Primary
BD-Intermediate
Resource Room (3)*
School Number 7
PSD-ABA
PSD-Integrated
LLD-Mild-Intermediate
LLD-Mild-Primary
Autism Programs Intermediate/Primary (4)*
Resource Room (2)
School Number 8
LLD-Mild-Primary
LLD-Mild-Intermediate
Resource Room (3)
School Number 10

15. Programs-Continued BMS BD Program LLD-mild (2)* LLD-mild (APA)
Resource Room-In class support and pullout replacement
BHS
Resource Room-severe
Autism Program*
BD Program*
Transition Program (vocational skills)
*New program

16. Special Olympics
The Belleville Public Schools Department of Special Services is pleased to announce the intention of creating a Track and Field team to participate in the New Jersey Special Olympics for this academic year. Standard qualifications for eligibility involve students with cognitive and adaptive functioning below the 2nd percentile. Information pertaining to the Special Olympics can be found at

17. SEPPO
SEPPO has had a long standing commitment to helping serve our students with special needs. The organization is in need of committee and membership volunteers. Anyone interested in participating in this organization can reach out to Christine Lamparello at

18. Upcoming Parent and SEPAC Meetings
October 19 at 6:00-7:15pm-We will be meeting in the Senior Cafeteria of the High School.  This will be an open meeting to all of our parents to discuss program, staffing, and department goals.  
December 15 at 5:30pm.  This meeting will be at John Walker Middle School in Nutley, located on Franklin Avenue.  We will meet as a group from 5:30-6:00pm to discuss any SEPAC issues.  At 6:00pm, all parents are invited to a workshop provided by SPAN involving Health Advocacy.  Further information will be forthcoming regarding this workshop.  
February 1-SEPAC members will be meeting from 6:30-7:00pm in the Senior Cafeteria at BHS.  At 7pm we will be hosting a workshop by SPAN titled, "Interventions & Supports for Struggling students".  This will be open to all parents.  
April 12-6:00pm-7:15 in the conference room at Special Services-SEPAC meeting- only SEPAC members will be invited
June 14-6:00-7:15 in the conference room at Special Services-SEPAC meeting- only SEPAC members will be invited.

19. Other Business