Florence Unified School District #1

FLORENCE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT #1 MARCH 2010 BOARD REPORT GINNI SHUSS, DIRECTOR OF EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT SERVICES

Conferences/Training/Meetings for Special Needs Staff:  Two teachers and a psychologist attended Improving the Behavior and Academic Success of Students with High Functioning Autism.  A speech therapist attended the Practical Therapy Techniques for Challenging Articulation Cases.  The social worker attended a workshop for play therapies.  The district sponsored an audio conference for educators from Pinal County on Effective Interventions and Appropriate Placements for Aggressive Students.  The district sponsored an all-day training on transitions for high school special needs students - many Pinal County educators attended.  The Director and Coordinator attended the State Directors meeting which included important information from ADE. There will be a State Superintendent’s forum for special education only on April 13.  Pinal County Director’s meeting was held in Maricopa.  Monthly meetings for SLP’s and psychologists were held.

Materials and Equipment:  Materials for the autism program arrived  Speech testing materials arrived  A desktop computer arrived for the Coordinator  Six laptop computers arrived for staff in the field  2 copiers arrived  2 color printers arrived  A Franklin Ace thesaurus arrived for high school students  Two visually impaired students received laptops  A computer program, Intelli-Tools, arrived  A stander for a multiply handicapped student arrived

The Transition Fair  Donna Riffel put on the second annual Transition Fair. Students from throughout the county attended, as well as over 65 vendors. There was food, clowns and entertainment, plus all the wonderful organizations and agencies for students with disabilities.

Medicaid  Our total reimbursement between Medicaid and the MAC program is $91,668.83

SuMMit School:  38 students are in attendance  Two students attended leadership camp

Project Bridge:  We have applied for several grants for Project Bridge for the upcoming year with the hope that we will be able to increase family resource services to our Florence School community.

Challenges:  A parent has requested mediation, which we hope will resolve the issue of her dissatisfaction with the program her son is in.