Update from the Board Meeting

The IAASE Board met this past week in Springfield at the office of the Illinois Principal's Association to discuss and take action on several items.  Members can find all of the action items posted on the Members Only section of our website.  Here are a few highlights of our work:

1. The Board discussed and took action to send a letter to the Illinois State Board of Education regarding the issue of IDEA Flow Through Grants.  Specifically, the Board agreed that the extension of six-months to the timeline was problematic and would make more work for schools and districts across the state.  As such, the Board respectfully requested an extension of a full year.  You can read the letter sent to the State Board by clicking here.  You should know that ISBE is planning on discussing this issue at its meeting this week on Wednesday.
2. Kim Moore, our Medicaid Committee Chair, recently attended the National Association of Medicaid in Education (NAME) Conference and reported on that work.  She also gave a report on all things Medicaid that can be found on our website by clicking here.
3. David Andel, Acting Director of Special Education at the Illinois State Board of Education was present at the meeting to give an update on the status of current issues at ISBE.  He congratulated IAASE Board Member Barb Moore on her new position as the Director of Special Education at ISBE as of December 17, 2018.  Read more in the ISBE report.
4. The Board heard an update from the Working Group on Staff Structure (Lead by Jimmy Gunnell and Missy Taylor).  The team noted that they continue their work and will have a more formal update at the Board meeting in February.

Other issues of importance include the following:

• We approved comments on the issue of Public Charge. (Members Only Link)
• We received a legal update from our attorney, Bennett Rodick at Hodges, Loizzi, Eisenhammer, Rodick, and Kohn.
• Heard an update from the CASE Board of Directors Meeting in Biloxi, MS.
• Heard an update from President-Elect Jami Hodge on the Winter Conference!
• Approved an amended budget for the current fiscal year.
• Received updated working guidelines for reimbursement of expenses related to Board member work and travel.
• The Board agreed to donate money to the upcoming Women in Education Leading and Learning (WELL) Conference.  Click here to get registered.  Thank you to Melissa Taylor (Belleville Township High School District 201) for all of her hard work on organizing this conference with the team.