1. Dr. Robbins addressed how the rezoning wouldn’t affect special needs students within those areas whose programs were just moved this year, and assured parents that the special needs students who have been placed this year, will be eligible to remain at their current schools. As well as their siblings may attend with them, regardless if their address is up for rezone. What about Cross Cat?
Mrs. Estep and Dr. Gadsden noted that Resource (Supplemental Support) and Cross Categorical (Primary Support) classes are available in all schools. However, any parent can submit the long-standing In-district Transfer Request form for consideration to remain at the current school. This includes the student with special needs and siblings who may be affected. Those forms are available via the website in late spring and must be submitted by the end of June each year.
He went over the 4 proposed solutions to the council regarding rezoning (rezone areas (quickest solution), learning trailers (9-12 months), additions to existing schools (12-18 months), and new structures (36-48 months). He noted the final vote would be January 8th, 2024 and invited parents to go to https://www.ddtwo.org/families/rezoning for more information.
He also said they would consider “grandfathering” solutions (i.e. Students going into 5th grade), closest drive, nature boundaries (to walk), not separate siblings, not separate subdivisions, try to create true feeder schools, etc.
A Liaison raised the question: “Do we have any in writing statements we can share regarding those special needs students who were moved may stay where they are at regardless of the rezone possibility, as well as siblings may attend with them, and the in-district transfer form they will need next year?”
Per. Dr. Gadsden, this information will be documented in our meeting notes and is often shared by Dr. Robbins in discussions about rezoning, i.e. Board Meetings, Principal’s Meetings, etc.
Also do we know, or can we find out if the special needs child even if currently at the desired school, will need the form filled out also because their address will be rezoned, or just the sibling?
No, the students in self-contained programs who were moved this year will not be required to submit an In-district Transfer Request form as their program and placement will be determined at their Annual IEP meeting. Those programs will not be moved. If there is a sibling who needs to attend the same school, then the form should be completed for each sibling for whom the parent is requesting a transfer.
Note from Dr. Gadsden: Everyone should be aware that in some cases, a change of program may be necessary because a child’s needs may be best met in a different type of program. This decision is made by the IEP Team, which includes the parent and is different from the district’s relocation of programs from one school to another.
Final edit: a lot of updates and progress has been made since this discussion, so please visit https://www.ddtwo.org/families/rezoning as well as view any playbacks of meetings discussing this topic for the most current information.
2. Dr. Robbins shared the modified calendar that is being proposed-offering students an earlier start (Aug. 8th, (with a shorter 6-week Summer Break to ensure they retain all they learned the prior school year (less learning loss). Then a “brain break” week off in October, followed by 3 days off for Thanksgiving, 2 weeks for Holiday Break, 1 week Spring Break, and finishing up right before Memorial Day. Also, the semester would end prior to Holiday Break which would allow for testing/exams prior to the break. Awaiting parent input (District will send out a “Thought Exchange” for community feedback) and a School Board vote on this hopefully at the end of Oct. 72% of the Schools in SC will be on some type of modified balanced calendar this next school year. There are 3 options of Calendars-Traditional, Modified 1 (with Full Week off for Fall Break and 3 days at Thanksgiving) and Modified 2 (3 days off for Fall Break, and Full Week at Thanksgiving).
Final edit: A thought exchange was sent to the community, and the Modified 2 calendar was approved, and will be implemented next school year. We invite you to visit https://www.ddtwo.org/district/calendar for more information.
3. Suggestions were brought up about high-school pep rallies and having corresponding events for special needs students with sensory issues who could not attend the main event. Two Liaisons asked for more inclusion during those school events that may not be conducive to a student with special needs normally participating in, but to have an alternative, not just exclude them. Mr. Nuener (Our Dual Rep-Administration/Parent) suggested offering more electives for Sped students in high school, currently it’s like PE and Dance? Dr. Robbins said that should be fairly easy to implement and they could possibly use some grant money for it?
4. Other areas that were brought up were assistance in training on speech technology devices (AAC’s) and apps (as well as the Chromebooks) for both students and staff, as well as providing more speech communication devices. Dr. Robbins again mentioned we need to address that with technology. It was indicated that some speech therapists are still waiting on approval for the “AAC/communication” software on the iPads. A Liaison asked if there was any way to take away some of the programs their kids might not need for specific classrooms, because the kids are so smart and can figure out how to open other programs when the teacher is trying to teach, and it becomes both a distraction and trigger if they want to open something else. Dr. Gadsden will follow up with the SLP Coordinator and Lead SLP as well as Technology and Special Services Interventionists to determine a response to these concerns.
Final edit: This has been addressed, and is being worked on.
5. Dr. Robbins shared that we may have some other provisions available to our Sped Students for e-learning days…We will circle back with him on this topic to get some more clarification.
6. A comment was made regarding the feasibility of getting a shelter at the ARHS bus pick up, and Mr. Neuner agreed. Dr Robbins mentioned he should be able to get that looked into. Dr. Gadsden sent a request to the Executive Director of School Operations and Director of Facilities to check the feasibility of installation for an awning or shelter. Update: Mr. Tony Soles has already reached out to the Principal and working on getting a quote from contractors.
Final edit: still being worked on
7. After the Liaisons shared their parent feedback, Kendra (SSPL Chair) mentioned that our potential next PES topic might need to be about “IEP/504 meeting info” all agreed that would be a good topic. We didn’t get to come up with any others. Dr. Gadsden met with Kendra and Jaime (SSPL Assistant Chair) in follow-up and agreed to scheduling “Round-Table” discussions on specific topics related to IEPs/504s. We will use our SS Team to facilitate the training/discussion.
Final edit: Based on feedback from the first PES Meeting, we changed the date and meeting format, for our next DD2-SSPL Parent Education Session, with the Topic “IEP/504 Meeting” to Thurs. Nov. 30th @6pm with both General and Breakout sessions. Be on the lookout for more info in the coming weeks.
8. Lastly Kendra was able to share the “District/Community support event” ideas…
- SS Staff appreciation day-Liasion--Everyone including Dr Robbins love it!
Final edit: We are currently working on this behind the scenes with a plan to celebrate our SS Staff on Friday Dec. 1st, 2023. More information will be communicated through us and the schools in Nov. We have lots of fun plans for it!
- Community Resource Fair-Liasion--Again everyone loved it, Dr Robbins’ only concern was having a place large enough to host it!? We suggested even a high school cafeteria or gym?
- Dr. Gadsden notes in follow-up that our Adult Education/Community Education Center hosts an Annual Resource Fair that also hosts guests of agencies that support individuals with special needs.
- The Office of Special Services has scheduled the Transition Meeting for parents for 11/2/23. Dorchester District Two Office of Special Services would like to invite families of students with differing abilities to Parent Information Night on November 2 to learn more about services that are available to assist students as they transition into life after high school. More information about the event can be found in the attached flyer, including a QR Code so that you can RSVP for the event.
Please contact Michelle Jacques, Assistant Director Special Services (mjacques@dorcheser2.k12.sc.us) or Michelle Meier, Special Education Interventionist (bmeier@dorchester2.k12.sc.us) if you have any specific questions about the event. Download the flyer or visit https://www.ddtwo.org/nov-2
File attachments: Fall Transition Parent Night Flyer-web.pdf
Final edit: We are in communications with various community partners in hopes to bring this idea together in the Spring.
- Parent and District Meet and Greet-Kendra…wasn’t able to really be discussed due to shortness of time.
Final edit: We will discuss this more as a group in our next meeting
- Football Team/SS Student Meet and Greet-Kendra…and one of the team’s biggest takeaways, was when Dr Robbins asked if we had “unified sports” here!? It seemed as if none of us had heard about it, but he shared a story (and picture he grabbed from his office) about it when he was in Indiana, and it’s basically when Gen. Ed students and SS Students are teamed up to play in competitive sports! A lot of us left the meeting on the walk down saying how cool that would be to help provide more inclusion with our students! Dr Robbins mentioned that we could talk with I believe it was the coach or athletic director about looking into it more!? We then learned that someone from Oakbrook Elementary had already applied for the program, and was approved THE DAY After our Meeting, and Dr. Robbins was going to talk to the teacher and encourage all schools across the district to implement this program in their schools too!
Dr. Gadsden notes in review and follow-up to meeting minutes that The Office of Special Services and the DSD2 Office of Athletics has partnered with Special Olympics to expand the outreach and involvement of more schools K-12 at the annual Special Olympics event hosted at FDHS. We also began the process of working with our Athletics Director to bring Unified Track to DSD2 this spring as the initial roll-out of our involvement in Unified Sports opportunities.
Final edit: One of our Liasion’s has headed up communications with the above-mentioned teacher that was “approved”, on how we can best get this program going across the district.
