March 11th Meeting Notes

Howard County SECAC Agenda

March 11, 2020 General Meeting 7:00pm-9:00pm

Wilde Lake Middle School Cafeteria

ORDER OF BUSINESS

Call to Order - 7:11pm

Welcome and Introductions

Purpose and Vision 

The Howard County Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (SECAC) advises the school system on the needs of students with disabilities. We collaborate with other community disability advocacy groups to improve special education and the lives of our students in Howard County, MD.

Approval of Minutes

Action Required: Motion to approve minutes. See attached minutes - Minutes approved

Approval of SECAC By Laws - approved 9-0.  SECAC By Laws 2020 Revised

Parent Survey Results: Dr. Terri Savage - see attached PDF with slides and notes at the bottom of the page.

Board Reports

Co-Chair- Special Ed Forum, COPAA, 504 Presentation

• Special Ed Forum - Board of Education Candidate Forum.  March 24th 7-9pm at HCC, Duncan Hall room DH100.  At least one candidate from every district has signed up to come.  There are pre-submitted questions. There will be no panel.  It will be “speed” dating style.
• COPAA Seat 1.0 Training starts in August.  SECAC has enough money to send two parents to this training.  The member price is $425.  Interested parents should email secacchair@gmail.com if they are interested.  First come first serve.  Parents will be asked to present about their experience at a 2020-2021 SECAC meeting.
• April meeting will have a presentation about 504 plans.  Sally Dorman from HCPSS.
• Decoding Dyslexia Howard County hosting an IEP workshop on March 25th at 6:30.  Elkridge Library.
• March 26th at the HCPSS Central Office - room ML2 - SECAC Awards Planning.

Vice Chair - Awards Night

• May 6th from 7-9pm at Mt. Hebron.  All nominees will be recognized at the event.  Nominate teachers and staff here: https://forms.gle/DD6phamcmPhGxzU79  Nominations will be closed April 3rd.
  1. Member at Large
  2. Past Chair

Committee Reports

Department of Special Education Reports

Executive Director and staff

• Worked with an HCAS grant to install communication boards at playgrounds.  Will be 8 elementary schools with regional programs or many students with communication devices.  Duckett’s Lane, Rockburn, Centennial, Cedar Lane, Pointer’s Run, Illchester, Bellow Springs.  Installation in the spring.
• There will be training for families with children with communication devices.  The first training will be in April.
  1. Family Support

• Many workshops coming up from HCPSS and community partners.  Puberty & Dating, FAPE Behavior in May.  See https://www.hcpss.org/special-education/calendar/ for more events.
• Email fsrc@hcpss.org if you are not receiving the “Upcoming Events” email.

Board of Education Reports

• March 12th budget hearing canceled due to COVID-19.  Email testimony to calvinball@howardcountymd.gov or cbball@howardcountymd.gov
• The engineering group from Dunloggin MS that presented last meeting also presented to Parks and Rec.  They loved the presentation.  The group will be at the ribbon cutting for Blandair Park with their presentation.  
• County Executive will send the budget to the County Council and then there will be a public hearing on April 22nd.  
• Cedar Lane School Walk for the Stars event is May 2nd.  

Next Meeting Dates

1. April 15, 2020 - 504 Presentation, May 13, 2020, June 10, 2020

Adjournment - 8:15pm

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, all events listed in these notes for March are canceled.  Other events are subject to cancelation and change.  Please check with the organizing group before planning to attend.