MINUTES Friday, March 17, 2017

Transcription

1 ATTENDANCE Welcome JOINT COORDINATING COMMITTEE Carbon Career & Technical Institute Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit #21 Lehigh Carbon Community College Lehigh Career & Technical Institute MINUTES Friday, Carbon Career & Technical Institute Heather Mullen Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit Dr. Elaine Eib, Danielle Argot, Robert Bold, Alfred J. Kise, Natalie Krebs, Lisa Schumacher, Kim Talipan, Diane Carfara Lehigh Carbon Community College Dr. Ann Bieber, Leslie Bartholomew, Bill Dellicker, Samuel DeFrank, William Miracle Lehigh Career & Technical Institute Dr. Thomas Rushton, Kurt Adam, Dr. Lisa Greenawalt, David Kennedy, Grace Loeffler Dr. Elaine Eib, Executive Director of the CLIU #21, welcomed everyone to the fourth meeting of the Joint Coordinating Committee for the school year. These meetings are an opportunity for our entities to work collaboratively and share those collaborations and partnerships with each other. Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit #21 Project MAX AJ Kise, CLIU Special Education Supervisor, shared that Project MAX (Maximizing Access and Learning for Students with Complex Instructional Needs) is a program that was developed to help increase the access to general education curriculum and PA Core Standards for students with complex support needs. CLIU received a 3 year grant from PaTTan for Project MAX, which is currently being implemented in a CLIU MDS B program housed in the Sheckler Elementary School. This program may also be implemented by school district staff within a school district classroom setting. Both Natalie Krebs and Danielle Argot, CLIU Educational Consultants and Project MAX External Coaches, provided an overview of the grant program, its principles and longterm goals. The principles of the grant program are that: Students should be engaged in a school schedule and program similar to peers in the same grade, i.e., what are those general education students doing and how can we utilize this same curriculum with these students w/complex instructional needs; Students should be expected to learn challenging academic content, i.e., making this more rigorous and challenging for them and incorporating these things into their academic goals;

2 Page 2 Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit #21 Project MAX (continued) Students should have the ability to access instructional materials, communication supports, augmentative communication and technology to accomplish this. Danielle Argot shared the long term goals for educators, school leaders, students, parents and institutions of higher education as follows: Educators Have access to and can effectively teach the general curriculum and PA Core Standards; Plan and deliver effective instruction that meets the needs of diverse learners; School Leaders Have the competencies to implement policies, practices and procedures that support the learning of all students. Students Parents Demonstrate growth and achievement in academic content; and Engage in standards aligned instruction using communication supports and assistive technology when needed. Have high expectations of achievement for all students. Institutions of Higher Education Prepare educators and leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the diverse needs of all students. In summary, we must learn to adapt to the idea that our students with disabilities and complex needs can do what other students are doing ; however, we will need to implement and put this in place to help them to succeed. We must provide our students with a grade related curriculum, along with the technology and engagement strategies needed to increase their learning in that area. Project MAX is taking place in all of Pennsylvania s 29 Intermediate Units. At CLIU #21, team members consist of internal/external coach(es), curriculum personnel, special education leaders, facilitators, psychologists, and educators, as well as general educators and students family members.

3 Page 3 Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit #21 Project MAX (continued) CLIU Action Items include: (1) the creating of awareness that these students can succeed; and how we can help them to succeed by sharing this with district personnel; (2) create a Mission Statement we are looking toward the future to increase competence in our students; (3) work with Curriculum Mapping committee lead to bridge the curriculum mapping work; (4) provide professional development on core language and AAC with the MDS B classroom staff and speech therapists; and (5) develop a monthly newsletter on monthly professional development, parent info., classroom happenings and resources. Ms. Krebs shared the future of Project MAX over the course of a 3 year period. Year 1 was the initiation phase; in Year 2, CLIU hopes to scale up by continuing w/the current classroom and adding an additional MDS B classroom at Sheckler; and most importantly looking to secure a commitment from school districts within CLIU; and lastly in Year 3, again continuing w/the current classrooms and adding an MDS B middle school classroom into the program. One of our major focuses will be to continue to garner more school district commitment. Dr. Eib noted that as this program continues to move forward and as success is shown, more will buy into it. We are happy to be a part of the Joint Coordinating Committee which provides all of us, CCTI, LCTI, LCCC, and CLIU, the opportunity to share the good things we are doing, evaluate them, and then engage all of our institutions in what is learned. Carbon Career & Technical Institute Adult Education Update Heather Mullen, Adult Education Coordinator, Carbon Career and Technical Institute, provided an update as follows: CCTI is gearing up to provide many different programs for adults in the community, i.e., short term and personal interest; Offering tutoring to students; Partnerships w/lccc (PATH) which supports an introduction to precision machining 23 students to complete over 2 years; Also partnering w/lccc for GED college career preparation which allows students to participate in free classes career readiness skills, workplace readiness skills, and college entrance skills; Received scholarship funding from Rotary for the GED exam; Advancements/future planning o Recently offered an all female carpentry class o Partnered w/ed2go o Began the application process to accept veteran s funding o Began the application process for Nurse Aide Program, with lesson plans being accepted by the State Participating w/career Link (job training programs, funding, career fairs, etc.)

4 Page 4 Carbon Career & Technical Institute Adult Education Update (continued) Professional Development Opportunities o Hosting a PA Department of Transportation in March Member of the Business Education Partnership with the Chamber in Carbon County Submitted grant proposals for the HVAC program And lastly, CCTI is looking to grow partnerships and provide resources to CLIU, LCTI, and LCCC. Lehigh Carbon Community College Veterans Initiatives Leslie Bartholomew, is the Director of Returning Adults and Veteran Student Services, LCCC, and has been with them in different capacities for 16 years. Ms. Bartholomew noted that it is an honor to work with the veterans in this capacity, sharing many things that this program has to offer to them. Ms. Bartholomew showcased a video sharing the faces with us of the current LCCC veterans group. In 2016, LCCC is one of 1,400 higher education institute to have earned a 2016 Military Friendly School Designation, recognizing them for exhibiting leading practices in recruiting and supporting post military students. To earn this, they needed to abide by the following best practices: Top Down Support whether it be the President, the Board, etc., LCCC is very supportive of the veterans program; Supportive Services & Commitment to Academic Success provide resources that the veterans need to be successful; Data and Tracking take a look at retention rates, success of the veterans to continually strive to be better/improve; Engagement of Faculty faculty needs to be educated on not only how to teach to the veterans, but also so that they can provide support to the veterans; Transition Services; External Connections LCCC has involvement with Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council, Academics for Vets and Veterans Affairs organizations that keep us up to date on local and national affairs; and Communications how are we communicating with our veterans to let them know what is available to them in the LCCC community. In the works are: fiveminute online video modules on what to expect of college life, veterans focus group in April to showcase that LCCC is the point place where any veterans coming to the Lehigh Valley; and also a resource person from the Veterans Affairs is on campus for monthly meetings.

5 Page 5 Lehigh Carbon Community College Veterans Initiatives (continued) The veterans are supplied with many specialized services such as priority registration and counseling or academic advising, just to name a few. The Summer Bridge program aids these students in transitioning from the military to college life. Career development services help the veterans prepare for employment, i.e., writing a resume. Also available to them is a veteran s special emergency reserve fund received from the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, in which veterans are able to receive $1,000 if they find themselves jobless or in emergency situations, etc., that can be provided while they are going to school. Ms. Bartholomew shared the personalized programs provided to the veterans by LCCC. The Veterans Club, aka Cougar Warriors gives the veterans an opportunity to have a purpose, to give back, just as they did when they were the military. The Veterans Forum, made up of LCCC staff members and faculty veterans, give these students the opportunity to communicate with someone who has the same understanding of what it is they are going through outside of the military. And lastly, at the LCCC main, airport, and Tamaqua campuses, a Veterans Lounge has been set up which provides an opportunity for the vets to meet and support each other! Statistically, LCCC has 168 total veteran and military students. In addition to this number, there are 61 students at LCCC that are spouses or dependents of the veterans. Overall, there is a 32% increase of veteran and military students attending LCCC since the Spring of Communication is key to this program. Communication avenues include the LCCC portal, website, veterans club meetings, The College Voice, honor and remembrance ceremonies, s, and conducting various surveys/polls to let them know that LCCC listens. In closing, Leslie noted that the veterans and military students are very happy with the support that they receive from LCCC. To quote LCCC s slogan, the veterans are able to Start Here, Go Anywhere. Lehigh Career & Technical Institute LCTI s Communities in Schools (CIS) Site Coordinator The Director of Academic and Special Programs, Grace Loeffler, provided an overview of the Communities and Schools (CIS) Program at LCTI. She explained that Communities in Schools is the nation s largest dropout prevention organization in which their mission is to help students to stay in school and achieve in life. A three year commitment has been approved between LCTI and CIS. CIS of the Lehigh Valley has 27 schools and community based sites located in the following school districts: Allentown, Bethlehem Area, Easton Area, Whitehall Coplay, and Reading Area; and within the Lehigh Valley Workforce Development Board in partnership with the Allentown School District, CIS operates the Allentown Re engagement Center.

6 Page 6 Lehigh Career & Technical Institute LCTI s Communities in Schools (CIS) Site Coordinator (continued) To aid in the hiring of a site coordinator at LCTI, financial support was received from ATAS International, BBraun Medical, Inc., Talen Energy, and Communities in Schools of the Lehigh Valley. The new site coordinator, Susan Badu began at LCTI on February 23, 2017 and currently has a full and half day student caseload. Ms. Badu works directly with at risk students inside the school and collaborates with the leadership team. Ms. Badu also brings vital community resources into the school where students and families can access them, she helps to strengthen the relationship between school and parent/guardian through communication and events, and conducts school wide assessment, plans school wide group level and individualized supports to address needs, monitors effectiveness of provided supports and adjusts accordingly, and tracks student and school data and reports on outcome. Mrs. Loeffler noted that Susan has a pocketful of resources to help students to stay in school and help with their future plans, including a post secondary career. SUMMARY The JCC meeting today was very informative with Mr. Dellicker noting that four great programs from four great organizations were shared with everyone today. Next Meeting Friday, May 19, 2017 CLIU #21 7:30 a.m. Q:\DC\JOINT COOR COMMITTEE\ JCC_CLIU\JCC Minutes_ \ JCC Minutes.docx