INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO.  54

 

POLICY CODE:  IHBA

 

 

TO:                  Superintendents, Special Education Directors, Teachers, and Principals

 

FROM:            Susan A. Gendron, Commissioner, Department of Education

Jean K. Gulliver, Chair, State Board of Education

 

DATE:             December 11, 2003

 

SUBJECT:      Working Group on Special Education Issues

 

 

On December 15, 2003, the State Board of Education will be hosting an informational forum which will be broadcasted via ATM at the Maine State Library ATM Room in Augusta.  The session will begin at 2:00 p.m. and end at 4:00 p.m. 

 

The broadcasted forum will provide information about the ongoing research of the Working Group on Special Education Issues.  This group has examined the provision of special education services to students with disabilities in Maine and has found certain inequities due to differences in identification, practices, and funding.  Recommendations were presented to the State Board of Education during its December 9-10, 2003 Board meeting.  The broadcast is an opportunity to describe the recent progress on the recommendations and plans for continued work, and to solicit input and feedback.

 

You should be aware that this is a broadcast event.  Sites will be able to see and hear the Maine State Library site but will not be able to react on screen.  However, interaction will be possible by calling in questions on the IP phone located on the teacher’s desk.  The IP number to the Library is 21010, and for those of you who prefer to call in your questions using an ISDN number, please call the Maine State Library ATM Room by dialing 287-9962.  These numbers will also be posted on your screen during the broadcast event. 

 

ATM sites may verify their attendance by checking the TC Reliance Online Scheduler – Reservation #19576.

 

In addition, a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation will be displayed which can be viewed by each site with a projector.  In order to see the slide presentation, each site must do the following to set up its projector:

 

1. Activate the touch screen located in the teacher’s desk by touching the screen.
2. Touch the icon labeled “ROUTING MATRIX”.
3. Under “SOURCES”, touch the icon labeled “Remote One” and make sure it turns BLUE.
4. Under “DESTINATION”, touch the icon labeled “LDC” and make sure it turns BLUE.
5. Lastly, touch the “ACCEPT” button and make sure it turns BLUE.
6. If this does not work, please call the help desk at 1-888-for-msln (1-888-367-6756) or call the Maine State Library on the IP phone at 21010. 

 

In addition, you may record the session for those staff who may be not able to attend the session during the time of the broadcast.  To record the session, sites will need to complete the following:

 

1.                  Activate the touch screen located on the teacher’s desk by touching the screen.

2.                  CRITICAL – Make sure your VCR is on L1 or you will only record audio.

3.                  Make sure that the VCR tape is placed in the RECORD VCR.

4.                  Touch the icon labeled “RECORD VCR”.

5.                  Touch the icon labeled “RECORD REMOTE ONE”.

6.                  Make sure that the Button on the screen turns RED, and that the numbers on the VCR RECORD are moving forward.

 

Questions concerning this email should be directed to Rhonda Casey at rhonda.casey@maine.gov or by calling 624-6616.

 

The Board is planning to broadcast another informational session sometime in mid-January, 2004.  More information will be forthcoming.