Yoshua Belicha

This School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) for Wellington Smith, Jr. School outlines strategies to maximize resources and improve student achievement. It focuses on two main goals: improving graduation rates and fostering student engagement through enhanced school environments and culturally relevant practices. Key priorities include increasing credit acquisition, providing individualized academic and transition supports, and addressing social-emotional well-being. The plan aims to improve academic outcomes for all students, particularly underserved students in court school settings, by addressing skill deficiencies in English Language Arts and Mathematics and supporting Long Term English Learners, ultimately preparing students for college, career, and lifelong learning.

The committee held a discussion regarding the challenges of meeting registration and communication for families. A parent workshop was conducted focused on the use of assistive technology, including Chromebook accessibility features and Google Suite tools, to support student learning and engagement. Various agency reports were presented, covering mental health support services for LGBTQ+ youth, upcoming community events such as a Valentine's Day celebration and a parent-focused resource event, and information regarding educational transitions and placement options. Additionally, an announcement was made regarding a future presentation on parent mentorship models and dispute resolution.

The meeting commenced with introductions and roll call, establishing a quorum. Key discussions included a public comment regarding the dissemination of meeting information. Action items involved the unanimous approval of the current agenda and the prior meeting minutes from May 15, 2025. Informational segments covered a parent workshop presented by CAPTAIN members on utilizing Social Narratives as a strategy to promote social understanding, which detailed the components and application of these visually represented stories. The annual survey results from Special Kids Connect (SKC) for Spring 2025 were reviewed, highlighting demographics, preferred communication methods (text blasts), and identified service gaps, particularly childcare. The committee proceeded to select co-chairs for the 2025-2026 term, nominating Karey Shaffer and Alejandra Ruiz as co-chairs, and Noemi Gomez volunteered as secretary. Agency reports confirmed SKC's plan to host the Halloween Resource Fair and noted that Monterey County Behavioral Health is coordinating updates with Special Education regarding staffing.

The meeting commenced with welcome and introductions, followed by public comment on non-agenda items, where one representative noted their participation was pending district board approval. Key action items included the unanimous approval of the agenda for November 12, 2025. Discussion items centered on the Parent Forum, where members discussed how appointed members can support their districts, and agency reports. The agency reports provided updates on Special Kids Connect workshops, including a goal writing workshop and resource fair, and announced the new Behavioral Health Unit Supervisor for Monterey County Behavioral Health. Additionally, it was noted that SELPA is relocating facilities. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a parent workshop on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Basics, presented by representatives from Open Access and the Diagnostic Center of Northern California. Topics covered included defining AAC, addressing common myths such as the belief that AAC impedes speech development, and reviewing different levels of AAC technology. Emphasis was placed on honoring all communication modalities, the importance of training communication partners, and strategies for modeling language effectively. Questions regarding accessing AAC evaluations and local resources were addressed.

Key discussions included the amendment of the Monterey County SELPA and Monterey County Behavioral Health Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the 2024-2025 school year, including an additional FTE allocation. The committee also discussed the proposed MOU for the 2025-2026 school year, focusing on increased FTE costs due to Medi-Cal eligibility and updates to referral processes. Special purpose funding distribution from the Extraordinary Cost Pool (ECP) and Small School District Reserve (SSDR) was approved, with specific reimbursement amounts detailed for various districts. Updates were reviewed for the 2025-2026 Local Plan Sections D (Annual Budget Plan) and E (Annual Service Plan), noting changes in fund tracking codes and service codes. Discussion also covered interagency agreements, including the SELPA-CCS contract and ongoing review of the SIRAS contract for IEP Documentation services, which includes an increase in per-student charge.