Advisory Council Notes 7-27-2018

07/27/2018

A meeting of the ISVI Advisory Council was called to order on Friday July 27, 2017, at approximately 10:04 a.m. by Vice-Chair Mark Peters. Those present in person were ISVI Superintendent Serena Preston, Vice Chair Mark Peters, council persons John Thien and Sue Brosmith and new Vocational Principal Barbi Ballard. Present by phone conference were DHS/DRS Director Quinetta Wade and councilman Jessy Rogers.

Vice Chair Mark Peters opened the meeting with a roll call. Those present are listed above.

Superintendent Preston told the group that Chairwoman Olaya Landa-Vialand was not going to be able to attend the meeting due to her prior commitment to the National AER conference. Superintendent Preston was unsure if Chairwoman was able to make the conference due to an unexpected death in her immediate family. The meeting moved back to Vice Chair Mark Peters.

Vice Chair Peters called for approval of the minutes. That was tabled due to members not receiving a copy of those minutes.

Vice Chair Peters asked for approval of the agenda, whether anyone wanted to make any changes or additions at this time. Superintendent Preston explained to the group that because of the last minute change of location of the meeting she has been advised that the group should not vote on anything at this meeting but we can schedule the next meeting date.

Introductions were made.

Vice Chair Peters asked for any conflicts of interests. There were none.

Director Wade was given the opportunity to give her report first.

  • Director Wade gave a report on the Division's work on joining forces with businesses to develop work programs to better engage clients, much like the CTE programs in our schools.
  • A new initiative to make Division of Rehabilitation Services known to the public stating that a lot of people are not aware of the services DRS has available. She said we need to be sure as many people are aware of us as possible.
  • Director Wade stated the VR employment outcomes for FY17 was 4990, FY18 had a goal of 5600 but ended short of that goal at 5169 but still an increase over FY17. Hoping to increase those outcomes in FY19.
  • Continuing to do career counseling in sub-minimum wage setting, something that's receiving national attention.
  • Director Wade told the group the Work Force Advisory Unit is working to bring businesses together with employees to model CTE programs.

Superintendent Preston took a moment to introduce our new Vocational Principal Barbi Ballard to the Council. She told the group current Vocational Principal David Miller is retiring next school year and she was grateful we were able to hire Ms Ballard on board so she could shadow David Miller. Moving on to the Personnel Report Superintendent Preston gave the following:

  • ISVI recently hired a new SPSA8T as our new Assistant Superintendent. Sheila Stephens came to ISVI from ISD. Former Director of Support Services was Jane Breen. This position has been vacant since 2014 and was transitioned to an assistant superintendent position.
  • Social Worker position still vacant. There was one person interested but they waived it. The former Social Worker, Dessa Surratt, transferred to another facility. ISVI continues their search for a social worker.
  • In the Education Department ISVI hired one TVI, leaving five vacancies to be filled. Will continue to utilize our subs until these positions are filled. Most of our subs are retired ISVI educators.
  • Kathy Frank is our full time O&M Specialist, still looking to fill the O&M Trainee position. It will post again soon. Currently ISVI has a staff member on an educational leave, going to college, for an O&M Certificate who is interested in filling that vacancy. He will still have to go through the entire process like other candidates.
  • Dietary Manager is still vacant. Currently being filled by Jessica VanRee who has been temporarily assigned to that position. That position posted but there were no qualified candidates. ISVI will continue to try to fill this position.
  • RSS (Residential Services Supervisor) position has is currently posted.

Councilperson Sue Brosmith asked if the Braille teacher was coming back. Superintendent Preston said she was scheduled to be back. She said ISVI has another teacher that does have the TVI endorsement but not in Illinois, it is in Missouri. They are working to get that endorsement recognized in Illinois. Superintendent Preston said that was important because many of our TVI's are retiring.

Superintendent Preston gave an update on Opening Doors which was held June 4-7.

  • Opening Doors hosted 27 families. Although ISVI has a cap of 25 families, some of the families stayed in hotels so they could come. ISVI could not provide financial support for that so they did it on their own.
  • Opening Doors provided O&M Instruction.
  • Opening Doors provided access to a Pediatric Ophthalmologist

Superintendent Preston told the group that the Outreach position had been filled by Michelle Clark who assisted with Opening Doors this year and next year she will take over that project as well as the North and South Parent Conferences. Aimee Veith will co-chair these events.

Superintendent Preston told the group school starts August 20th, with teacher institutes August 16 and 17. Registration is August 19th.

Councilperson Sue Brosmith asked if enrollment was up or down. Superintendent Preston said it was about the same. Several tours are scheduled before the start of school with students wanting in and we continue to get inquiries. There are two more children from Jacksonville inquiring about the process. We do have several new students this year. Cindy Daugherty, who replaced Marsha Schoth, reports she currently has 16 potential new students on her tracking list.

Superintendent reported on the Business Office. As a result of a budget ISVI has been able to obtain

  • New chairs
  • Small appliances for residential
  • New utensils for residential

Superintendent Preston told the group that each department supervisor is required to provide five year plans. Department heads are required to project five years out big ticket items they will need to replace or purchase, placing the most needed items in the first years and not so urgent items in the latter part of the five year plan. The five year plans can also serve as a wish list for items departments would like to have as well. At the end of the year if money is left over in the budget we look at the items on the five year plan and purchase necessities first with what is left. ISVI was able to purchase two AED and some storage boxes you see hanging on the walls. If you need an AED you don't have to ask staff where it is, you can readily see where it is.

Superintendent Preston told the group in the Health Center they were looking for a new RNII. Ms Chumley resigned. She said the job has posted and they are waiting for interviews. She said the Health Center as part of their 5 Year Plan received new recliners this year which are used when students who are not feeling well

Superintendent Preston reported that Michelle Clark, Outreach, had already started working on the 2019 North and South Children's Conferences. They meet and plan year round with their first meeting in August, and every month after that, saying they really do have that very well organized.

In Records Reuel Wright completed many required reports which go out to every school. We are doing online registration this year again. It was opened, closed then opened again and now it's closed. For families that don't have computers or good internet connections or other resources we set up a computer on registration day and they can do it then.

Superintendent Preston said in the Residential Department:

  • We are short one RSS (Residential Services Supervisor).
  • Bid day was June 18th
  • Recreational Director Joe Lewey retired at the end of school year, we will be looking to fill that
  • RCW shift bid is August 13th
  • Bus trip bids are August 15th.

Superintendent Preston told the group that there are several department that bid shifts annually: Housekeeping, Dietary, Residential, IFPEM (Guards) so every year we set bid dates.

Superintendent Preston reported there are lot of things going on in IT and ISVI and she reported as follows:

  • Generator project is ongoing. It is making progress with regular monthly team meetings
  • The steps project is moving along as well. She said she explained there are a lot of different parts to that process, you do one today and wait three weeks to do the next part. We are well into that.
  • A project to replace the roof on TLC has been approved
  • The new walk-in-freezer in dietary has been connected and is done
  • Upgrading another walk-in-freezer and coolers is being planned
  • Plans are underway to upgrade the a/c in a few of the buildings
  • Bandwidth at ISVI is being expanded from 4kbps to 20kbps with potential to go to 50kbps. This includes replacing computer ports with hubs.
  • Statewide offices are being upgraded to Office 365. Some staff will require new computers to run Office 365. Office 365 cannot be pushed until upgraded data lines are installed.
  • ISVI is getting a new VOIP phone system throughout the campus.

Superintendent Preston told the group another great thing is happening this October at the annual APH meeting in Louisville, our own former ISVI Superintendent Frank Hall is being inducted in the APH Hall of Fame. She said it's a really big deal. Never more than two people are inducted into this Hall of Fame a year. Frank Hall had been nominated three times and he was finally selected. Frank Hall is known for his invention of the Perkins Braille Writer. Superintendent Preston said she will be accepting the award on behalf of Frank Hall in her capacity as ex-officio member of APH in October in Louisville at that annual meeting. She said some community members along with Jane Breen are working on a fund raiser for the Frank Hall Induction, a community wide effort. No details are available but things are starting to come together.

Superintendent Preston reported on Summer Camp. She said there were 40 campers which is a good number. She told the group about an accessibility app the campers used at the movie theater that was a huge success. She said students said it was the best most descriptive app they have ever used. The student campers went to a theater in Springfield that plays video with the needed format for this app to work. Ms Ballard was asked to find out the name of the app for future reference. (Later that day Ms Ballard reported to this writer that the name of the app was Actiview and provided the following link: https://activiewapp.com/en/).

Superintendent Preston was asked about whether or not the campus would be getting Wi-Fi. She said no, we have to get through the current projects. She said VOIP was at least an 11 week project.

Superintendent Preston gave the following updates:

  • ISVI was able to purchase IPods for students this year. IPod are better for some students rather than electric readers
  • The next Low Vision Clinic is scheduled for October 22-23.
  • Advised the group that they will provide a list of parents names to be voted on at the October meeting to sit on the Advisory Council

New Business:

  • Establishing 2018-2019 meeting dates cannot be done due to last minute relocation of current meeting.
  • Voting, discussing and updating Advisory Council Members cannot be done until next meeting due to last minute relocation of this meeting.

Councilperson John Thien, who represents the Lion's Club, told the group he would like to see the Low Vision Clinic expanded to accommodate adult, though not at the expense of our kids. He hoped to have more information at a later date.

Vice Chair Mark Peters told the group that the alumni had their reunion but he did not have a follow up report.

Councilperson Jesse Rogers reported to the group Blind Vendor's has a program to help students interested in their profession that would help pay students for their time and transportation as they learn the trade. He also told the group the Mary Bryant Home in Springfield is looking for another facility to educate blind people in other areas other than just Braille and computer work. They want to expand to teach living skills. He said the location of a new facility will likely be downtown Springfield where more transportation is available. He said a young lady by the name of Peggy Dyson is overseeing this project and he will have more information at a later date.

Councilperson John Thien said Blind Children's purchased some stuff to be used with O&M and he would like to hear more about that. A note to find out more about this was made.

The meeting adjourned at 11:36 a.m.