Task Force on Blind Student Academic and Vocational Performance Blind Task Force (BTF)
Minutes
Zoom Meeting of Committee Representatives 
February 1, 2022
For information on the BTF, visit https://dese.mo.gov/special-education/advisory-panels/blind-task-force

Members in Attendance: Stephen Barr, Assistant Commissioner, DESE/OSE; Denise Boucher, Student Representative, Jenny Carmack, Consumer Organization: National Federation of the Blind; Linda Coccovizzo, Parent Representative; Rose Ehresman, Teacher of the Visually Impaired, Carla Keirns, Parent Representative; Jonita Scarbrough, Institution of Higher Education; Samantha Scott, DSS/RSB;    Brent Sharp, SE Administrator; Louise Whitworth, Teacher of the Visually Impaired; Robert Woerther, SE Administrator; Sheila Wright, Rehabilitation Council for the Blind; Angie Yorke, Employer, Lighthouse for the Blind-St. Louis

Members Not in Attendance: Geoffrey Barney, Superintendent, Missouri School for the Blind 

Guests in Attendance: Jessica Hall and Anthony Blade, Blind Skills Specialists

Minute taker: Regina Miller, Administrative Assistant, OSE, DESE Carla Keirns, 2021 Chairperson, officiated over the meeting.
•	Call to Order at 10:00 a.m. by Carla Keirns

•	Roll Call: R. Miller

•	Review and approval of February 1, 2022 Agenda: C. Keirns
Please add discussion and follow up presentation from C. Keirns regarding the BRITE Act.
Motion made, seconded and approved.

•	Review and approval of November 16, 2021 Minutes: C. Keirns
Motion made, seconded and approved as is without changes. 

•	DESE Update: S. Barr
Budget—State: The Governor presented his budget which includes DESE’s requests, at this State of the State on Wednesday, January 19, 2022. The budget items associated with Special Education and the Blind Task Force were not changed. A lingering appropriation from the prior year is the American Rescue Plan that provides substantive financial resources to school districts to encourage in person learning. The Legislature did not appropriate those funds for the FY 22 school year.  Allowable uses include addressing learning loss, preparing schools for reopening, and testing, repairing, and upgrading projects to improve air quality in school buildings. We met with the House Budget Committee Monday, January 31 and will present to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, Feb. 22.

Budget - Federal: A Continuing Resolution (CR) is in place through February 18, 2022 to keep the federal government running at which time it must have passed a new budget or another CR. 
 
State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR): The deadline for submitting the state’s SPP/APR to the Office of Special Education is February 1. We submitted the Part B SPP/APR on Monday, January 24. Indicator 17, related to the State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP), was submitted as part of this process. In the past, Indicator 17 was not due until April 1.

Proposed Changes to Part B State Plan: The Office of Special Education is midway through the process of making changes to the state plan/regulations implementing Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The proposed changes and summary charts were available for inspection until January 18, 2022, in the Office of Special Education and were also available on the web at https://dese.mo.gov/missouri-state-plan-proposed-revisions-11-15-2021. Written public comments on the proposed changes were accepted from November 19, 2021 through the close of business on December 20, 2021. One question and one comment were received. The next steps are finalizing all proposed changes based on the public comments, submitting the final recommendations for review by the Governor’s Office and then submitting to the State Board of Education at the March 8 meeting for approval. If approved as a final order of rulemaking, the changes will go to the Joint Committee for Administrative Rules (JCAR--legislators) and then to the Secretary of State to be published in the Missouri Register.We hope to have the final rules in place prior to the start of the next school year. The biggest changes are removing Speech Implementers as a provider of speech therapy and adding licensed assistant physicians and Missouri State Board of Nursing recognized advance practice registered nurses to the list persons who can diagnose a health impairment. Physician assistants and advance practice registered nurses are authorized to evaluate and treat patients, including prescribing medications, under the direct supervision of a licensed medical doctor. Accepting diagnostic reports from physician assistants and nurse practitioners will make it easier for parents and school staff to get access to medical personnel qualified to evaluate children.

•	Trend Analysis – Literacy Study Data, S. Barr
Included in our five-year study submission. The chart can be found at https://dese.mo.gov/media/pdf/four-year-blind-literacy-chart. 

•	Rules Committee – Proposed Bylaw Update, L. Coccovizzo, Committee Chairperson, submitted the proposed changes to the members of BTF for review prior to February 1 virtual Zoom Meeting. During the meeting the proposal was reviewed and floor with open for discussion and the committee chairperson recommended that the proposed bylaw changes be accepted. Motion was made by S. Wright and seconded by J. Carmichael. Motion passed. Regina will update bylaws to reflect this change and send to C. Keirns for review and approval before posting to web. 

•	2022 Sub Committee Follow-Up: C. Keirns
o	Academic and Vocational Services: L. Whitworth, Chairperson – No report
o	Children’s Vision Summit: R. Ehremen, Chairperson
•	Saturday, May 7, 2022 at MSB
•	Goal: Experience-centered - “Everyone who walks through the door will walk away having done something they’ve never done before.”
•	Next team meeting is Monday, February 7 at 4:00 p.m. All members encouraged to attend. Will discuss promotional materials and outreach.
o	Rules – L. Coccovizzo, Chairperson – See “Rules Committee” above
o	Student Achievement, C. Keirns, Chairperson – No report

•	BRITE Act: C. Keirns
o	Now referred to as HB-2150
•	Changes: O & M – Take out “and/or” and discuss wording of “home, school or community”
•	Pg. 7 – AT Certifications that don’t include Blind/Visually Impaired
•	Returned to legislative research to refer to committee with requested changes

•	BTF New Members/Vacancies/Updates: C. Keirns
As of February 1, 2022 virtual meeting the following vacancies are noted: 
o	(1) Parent of Blind or Visually Impaired Student Attending Public School in Missouri
o	(1) Orientation & Mobility Specialist
o	(1) Public School Special Education Administrator
o	(2) Public School Building Principals
o	(1) Employer
o	(2) Students

Motion to adjourn – Rose Ehresman – seconded by J. Carmack – Motion carried

Meeting adjourned at 11:42 a.m.

Next meeting scheduled for in-person May 3, 2022 
Department of Natural Resources Building
1738 E Elm Street, Jefferson City, MO
Bennett Springs Conference Room
Catering and refreshments will be provided by Panera (Menu will go out with meeting announcement.