ISVI Advisory Council Meeting

January 26, 2024

Via Zoom

The meeting of the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired Advisory Council came to order on January 26, 2024, at approximately 9 a.m. The meeting began by formal introductions. The introductions were as follows:

  1. Aimee Veith, Superintendent here at ISVI.
  2. Barbi Ballard, Assistant Superintendent here at ISVI.
  3. Jasmine Wells, Education Principal here at ISVI.
  4. LT Spears, current student at ISVI. He is the President on Student Council.
  5. Council Person Dan Thompson represents a Not for Profit Fresh Start and JACIL who lives in Jacksonville and is a 1972 graduate of ISVI and former educator.
  6. Tiena Kidd, alumni of ISVI, retired as the residential director. She is also a former RCW, former parent of ISVI.
  7. Mark Peters is our Chair of Advisory Council and alumni of ISVI.
  8. Maryjane Bradbury, former name was Million, married Keith Bradbury in April, retired from Catholic Services as Exec Dir, with 10 group homes in Jacksonville and before spent 25 years in higher education here in Jacksonville. She is representing the community.
  9. Brittni Mason new temporary assigned secretary to the superintendent's office here at ISVI.
  10. Ron Terhark represents Alumni for which he is President and is a 1965 graduate of ISVI.
  11. Sherri Gregson, current parent of a 5th year student here at ISVI. President of the PTO.
  12. Ginger Mullin, audiologist of intervention program.

Next is a motion to approve the minutes. All approved the minutes as well as approving the agenda. There is no conflict of interest.

President of Student Council, LT Spears gave the student report. He shared the goalball team had the goalball conference in November. The boys received 2nd place and the girls received 4th place. In December they had wrestling and cheerleading. LT mentioned the Student Gala was in January. He was able to attend the 175th adult Gala at Hamilton's. He shared we have students here attending Lincoln Land Community College classes. Those students are as young as juniors through the 5th year program students. LT shared we have two swimmers who will be going to sectionals on February 17th. Another event coming up that LT shared with the group is Prom in April. LT told the group the dinner menu will be like food that they ate from 175 years ago to go with the 175th anniversary theme. He shared we would modernize the food menu. Superintendent Veith suggested the theme, "dance through the years." Dan mentioned he has a folder with dances through the ages he could share.

Superintendent Veith gave the Superintendent's Report. She shared photos from the adult 175th Gala at Hamilton's. She mentioned 189 tickets were sold and 165 guests attended the Gala. Superintendent Veith mentioned we were able to donate $1,000 worth of leftover food from the Gala. She told the group the event was recorded and able to view on Facebook. Superintendent Veith shared we did not have enough interest for the Braille Challenge for NIU on March 2nd, so it is cancelled. Our Braille Challenge at ISVI will be on Wednesday, February 14th. Superintendent Veith shared we had a hybrid eLearning day this past Monday due to the weather. She mentioned we only had eight educators on campus. We will be reviewing the eLearning plan to make sure we are prepared for occurrences like this. All educators on campus and residential students had classes in the dorm for the day.

Superintendent Veith shared with the group that Deborah Morris retried, and we hired Kelly Harness from ISD in the HR position. Mr. James Grable has replaced Tiena Kidd in the recreational director position. Superintendent Veith shared we posted to hire five RCW trainees yesterday. She is hoping we can bring them in completely by August to start the school year. She shared this is a non-interview process, and they will be trained for 6-12 months then they will be certified once they complete the training. Superintendent Veith told the group these RCW's will receive cane skill trainings as well as learning grade 1 braille. Their day will consist of half of it will be training and the other half will be working with the students. The RCW's will work different shifts as well as working in different dorms.

Superintendent Veith moved on to share we recently had interviews for educators and we have more coming up. She shared we might possibly have an educator trainee. This would consist of nine weeks of student teaching and be paid like a teacher sub. This would be through ISU student teaching. Superintendent Veith moved on to the new security cameras being installed. She told the group this will be complete in February as well as getting a new PA system.

CTE report given by Assistant Superintendent Barbi Ballard on behalf of Ms. Staats. Assistant Superintendent Ballard shared we have had ten new students start since the beginning of the school year and one new student started this week. She mentioned we have 25 students who are currently employed. Seven of them have multiple jobs and five are working off campus. Dan asked what do the students make per hour? It was shared the students make minimum wage. Mark asked who oversees the student work program, Barbi shared educator Christy Wyman oversees it. Assistant Superintendent Ballard shared the Lighthouse team met this week. We will meet with Coach Courtney again this Spring. She mentioned the Low Vision Clinic is coming up this Spring. Assistant Superintendent Ballard told the group we have selected on the Summer Camp theme, "Spark Your Inner Leader." The dates will be June 11th-15th with half steam and half sports camp.

Mrs. Wells gave her education report next. Jasmine mentioned we have a new paraprofessional starting this week. The students' classes have been adjusted if need to be for the new semester. Some students are taking college courses. PSAT and SAT testing is coming up soon. Strive days have been allowing the students to focus on their independence. Jasmine mentioned the students recently had an activity off campus where some students went to nursery homes, some went grocery shopping and others went caroling. Jasmine shared soon they will be doing lunch with the principals where her or Heather will be able go out to eat with the students for their pick. Jasmine stated the Braille Challenge is coming up soon as well.

Sherri Gregson shared her PTO report next. Sherri shared there will be no online auction this year. She mentioned we focused on the 175th Gala instead. Sherri told the group they plan on bringing it back next year. She shared there has been many fundraisers that have supported the school so far this year. The goal is to get more parents involved. She shared having Zoom now makes it easier for other parents to join. Sherri mentioned they had the walkathon this fall as well as White Cane Day. She shared they also had Readathon like Reading Allay. Another event was the popcorn fundraiser in November. Sherri stated they would do another fundraiser this Spring. She shared the PTO also recognizes all staff for their hard work and that includes all departments at ISVI. February 7th will be the next PTO meeting at 5pm.

Ken Mansell shared the athletic report next. He shared that this weekend we will have nine state schools at our school with the conference at ISD. He stated 150 students will be involved. Our student ambassadors will take charge to help support the event. Recent alumni will be leading the concession stands with $1 or less food and drinks. Ken also stated he has t-shirts for sale small-5x. Ken mentioned all with lodging here at ISVI except two teams will be staying in their own hotel. Ken told the group they will livestream the event. He also told the group whenever a student registers for sports they put down $60 and that covers all the different seasons for the school year.

Lastly, Michelle Clark shared her report for Outreach. She mentioned she has 17 families have signed up for the parent infant camp so far. The bids will go out next week. The camp will be June 6th through June 8th. Michelle mentioned the families can spend the night on Saturday night if they need to, they will just need to be out by Sunday morning at 10am.

OLD Business:

There will be no school on election day 2024-2025. All residential students will be here, but eLearning is not allowed. We will see if we can revise before the date.

NEW Business:

  1. We voted in and welcomed all new members. Those members are Katie Hansen from ISU, Tiena-Kidd who will be an alumni member, Ginger Mullin who supports early intervention and works with individuals who are born with hearing loss/vision loss and the last member is Sherri Gregson who will be representing the PTO.
  2. Mandatory trainings will go out for new members. Those trainings will consist of One Net.
  3. Events coming up are the Braille Challenge, Prom, end of the year celebration, and alumni will be coming the end of June. At this event they will be doing events for aging, providing employment opportunities. Dan will be providing tech opportunities. This hasn't happened since 2008.

Next meeting date. Barbi shared it will be the fourth Friday of April 2024. April 26th at 9:00 am via zoom. The next meeting after that will be Friday, August 2nd, 2024. Jasmine mentioned she would send out reminders.

Meeting adjourned at approximately 11:00 a.m.