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Plan for coping with special needs in sehools By DENNIS SMITH Special tes The Champion The math hasn't been good lately for special education funding, but geography may be used to improve the service at public schools. Focusing staff teams and resourees within specific geographical areas bas been recommended in the Halton District School Board's special education review draft pion. Working by areas would meon shorter trips, more consistent service delivery ond good use of resources, a recent committee of Use whole meeting was told. "We're flot tliking about adding dollars," said superintendent Brenda Kearney. "We're talking about reorganizing existing resources so people con be gathered together to meet Use needs of existing students." Three districts proposed The draft pion proposes dividing the Halton district into three areas - west (Burlington), east (Oakville) and north (Milton ond Halton HMils). Each area would be divided into two associated ochool groupingo covering various eiementary and secondary schools. The three geographicai areas wouid each have a consùltant, senior psychologist Iearng centre, diagnostic area ond satellite progrant. Ms Kearney feels a key proposai is to have behaviour action teamo in each area. These wouid each include a psychoiogist, instructional assistant and speech pathologisi helping in caseo where students exhibit behavioural difficulties. "One of Use primary problemu in Haiton is behaviour. We need to work on behaviour management," said Ms Kearney. "The hehaviour support teamo wouid neyer leave their areas. They couid stay with the kidu overtime, if necessary." The board currently han just two senior psychologists, but the superiastendent said anoUner couid be added by redirectissg existing funds. "This is flot heyond our carrent board revenues, because we oflen contruet out for help," noted Ms Kearney. "With one in euch ares, parents con acceso asseosments earlier and get to know the senior psychoiogist in Usear ares." She said a few instructionai assistants could be redeployed for behaviour action teamos. "Some of our instructional assistants have very speciaiized traiing in hehaviourai progrannu. And we could have some Usat move widsin Use area as the needo present themseives wiUoin Use year."1 But there was concemn about reduced provincial funding, which led to layoffo of mony lAs Iast year. "We've had so many cuis ... and suddenly everyone's meeting Uhe needs of students," noted Burlington Trustee Sheila Flook. "How con we do ail these wonderful tbings when we've been stroggling for tlve years?" Director sees down side Education director Dusty Papke agreed Usere has been a down side 10 Use planning. "We have taken one major hit in special education and we're trying to make Use beot use of existing resources Usat are there," he said. Information meetings on the draft review plan are being held this week for ail board staff, administrators, school advisory coun- cil representatives and fedieration presidents. A final plan must he submitted to Use Miistry of Education by May 15. Here are oUser highlights from the 44 recomunendations mode in the draft plan: - Organizing anger management programus for any students sus- pended for aggressive or violent behaviour; - Creating centres for legaliy blind and deaf students in each ares, depending on the need and numbers involved; - Considering establishment of on autism education centre in Haiton; - Continuing support of community programos involving stu- dents, such as Youth Aiding Youth, YouUs Employmenl Services and the Friends program; - Discontinuing the Halton Alternative Education Prograuns and offering self-contained programs to appropriate students currenly in HAEP; " Continuing support of Use Tragic Events Response Team; " Assisting development and continuing support of the peer sup- port program. More details about the special education plan are avaiîshie by cailing 335-3663. Dinner Saturday Halton Women's Place hosts Useir Field of Dreamns Dinner and Auction fundraiser ibis Saturday (Feb. 27) at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlîngton. Tickets are $60 each and include complimentary wine and champagne. The reception begins at 6 pro. and dinner will be served at 7:30 p.m. Milton 'Blue Jay prospect Pot Lynch is to attend. Call (905) 332-1200, extl. 222 to reserve seats. Sap run starts soon ait the local sites The sap io fiowing at local conservation sites. Mountsberg and Crawford Lake visitors con enjoy the tradition- ai appeal of maple oynup production on weekeado and bolidayn froro Febntory 28 10 April il and daily during the March Break (15-19). Houra of operation are between 10 am. and 4 p.m. Also avaiable at Mountsherg are horse drawn rides to the sugar bush and a pavilion where pancakes and sausages can be pur- chased. At Crawford Lake, demonsirations on bow native people lirsi discovered sweet water and tumned il into maple sugar wili he con- ducted ait Use prehistoric Iroquoian Village. DATELINE DRURT Y C anges E.C. !!UET RION SCUSOL Consignmant Shoppe lot. Datolns Drury - Fsbruary 26,1999 NO A C PTN ' = h fcs f ae4n by Jessica Wellstead and Katie Murzin N O W A C EPTI G Thefocusof DaelineDrury tis week es sacceos n t he pont, the present, and the future. We wooid lke ta begin by congrututat- S Spinga flamber of dfieront otudent groaps on thir rmeent accompt nhments. For starters, we wnatd t ike ta thonr tfte Student t couac i p i g and Surnr er -as el as the teacher ciruperon:s for a great semi-forma ths peur. The dedicationand bord surr of tire Stuttent Council member ueo Ne w nd entl Us d oranie th evnt elpe tomaketheevenng otha succeonfu and memorabeoane foaut wbo aatended. Ne~v an G nty se f~.'~OSodlyp we soutd i ke to entend nu cogatuatist ot those member onf C. Drary's occlimed wranti ng teum siro cnmpet- d pte u the provincil level n OFSSA. For tht firnt time anar, Drary han extended its record t 5 coonecutive Huiton ciampionsiipo. 5Arts and Crafts EWayto go Drury resiernt jjQjJj~;,On o nimitur note, a big cngratulions goesoeut tn aur Senior Girto' Vulieyhal Toem siro ban made tl ta tire nemi-finals in their Tu s H o 1 :0 - :0 eogue. Tht girls mode a nutiont efforn ugainot tireir opponenta on Tnooday, February 23rd, bat onfnntanufely sere defeoted by a more eTprisc. te- frnm G1eg:t0n Ti-k foa5:t0un0grnudw ih n iabn t nkno onn Tv nig byerene appointmentn hns o retsaongrsan ewshyute eto lc et es Eveing byappintentOur finut put n tht baci l fnr uit 300 ut tirnue utudenin shoa uOended tire Hnnnorr Rnll breakrfast nn Tirurnday, February 25tfî. Tire Cal fo pikupbreakfast, iroid for niadenen who uciivod un average of 75% or aven in a fuit prngrum tant nomeoter, ws iroid in tire student cafete- Cciii forpickupin on Tiruroday. Many parents uneonded tire ceromony to irannur tiroir irardworking kidu. Keep ap tire gond work Drutyt - 8375 M acArthur Drive I ~%n other Drury newo, E.C.. ns geuring np fnr n ochoot-side fundraisor in be heid in tire firoi isu weeks ni Murcir. Stadenin sutl Carnpb IIvill ~ ~ ie netiing "Great Cuvudian" bagoin by tire dnzen tu ruine money for npeciui ocirotl prnjecto siricr encumpano ui ureun oi Drary liie. Camp ellill Tire iugetu iut ire sod for u lasser cot tirun in paid in tire ntore, und tire nciroo wiii profit trom every dozen snid. Ainu, eoontos ira 854-119rotd uround tira scirnut duning tire fundroroor tu encouruge ntudentu touaitl, soit, nat, o uidnts souid suicr ouf fnr tire Buge Boy and nihor nreut uctivitien in cnme! 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