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School District 28, Quesnel
Planning Information
SD28 District Support Services Department
School History
The Quesnel School District has a long history of providing support for students with special needs. In 1989 the School District formed a Superintendent's Advisory Committee to study the status of special education in the District. The Superintendent's Advisory Committee on Special Education made recommendations to the Superintendent regarding critical issues in special education. In 1989 segregated classes in elementary schools closed through a process of consultation with parents and schools. Since l989, support services for students with special needs have been based on a model of inclusion. Educational programming for students with special needs occurs in the most enabling environment at the student's neighbourhood school, beginning in the regular classroom. In l998 the Quesnel School Board adopted Policy 309 to support Inclusion.
The service delivery model of School Based Team is used to provide collaborative planning and services for students at the school level. School level services include Learning Assistance/Resource Teachers and Student Support Workers. Secondary Counsellors are assigned to the three secondary schools and Elementary Counsellors are itinerant and provide services to all elementary schools.
District level services include the services of: Inclusion Helping Teacher, Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapist, Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments, Early Intervention Resource Teacher (Literacy), Hospital Homebound Support Worker, Alternate Education Resource Teachers and Elementary/Secondary Youth Care Workers.
The District Support Services Team (District Level specialists) continues to follow the recommendations of the Special Education Advisory Committee and the Ministry of Education's Review of Special Education (2000). These recommendations continue to be put into action in the form of district-wide initiatives as well as Support Services Team goals and actions.
District initiatives in which the Support Services Team will continue to provide leadership and support for teachers and students are:
Effective Behavioural Support (EBS)
Accountability
Early Intervention Literacy Project
Support Services Technology Team
Assessment Project - Performance Standards
Alternate Education
Vision
Student Support Services believes that Quesnel School District Beliefs, Mission Statement, Critical Issues and Intentions hold true for all students regardless of ability and special needs. The team supports the additional belief statements developed by the Superintendent's Advisory Committee on Special Education to guide future decision making in Special Education in the district.
Mission Statement
The Quesnel School District Beliefs, Mission Statement, Vision Statement and Goals hold true for all students regardless of ability.
Values
Through a collaborative process the Superintendent's Advisory Committee on Special Education developed additional belief statements to guide future decision making in Special Education in the district.
Independence - The primary goal of Special Education is to provide students with the opportunity to develop the greatest possible degree of independence.
Inclusion - Inclusion promotes acceptance, life-long learning and positive relationships.
Assessment - Ongoing assessment of individual student needs guides decisions regarding a student's educational placement and programs.
Partnerships - Inclusion is a process involving all partners sharing responsibility for students with special needs.
Most Enabling Environment - Integration requires that educational programming occur in the most enabling environment, beginning in the regular classroom at the student's neighbourhood school.
Support - To ensure equity for students with special needs, inclusion requires additional funding for support, training and resources.
School Administration Contacts
Sue-Ellen Miller, District Principal, Support Services P: (250)992-8802 F: (250)992-7652 sueellenmiller@sd28.bc.ca