Tuesday, April 8, 2014
HINGHAM SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL (SEPAC)
Hingham Public Schools
Hingham Public School Department, Conference Room, 220 Central St., Hingham, MA 02043
Meeting Agenda
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Informal social – opportunity for attendees to meet and converse
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Monthly Meeting to discuss SEPAC business
(Audience comments are always welcome as agenda items are discussed. Attendees are encouraged to attend the 30-minute social prior to the start of the board meeting to address matters not related to the agenda.)
1. Acceptance of Minutes from March 11th, 2014
2. General Q&A for items that may not be on the agenda
3. Update from Director of Student Services
a. Feedback: The Big Picture presentation
b. Budget Update
c. DESE/IEP revision process and educator/parent input
4. Sharing with School PTO Liaisons
5. Treasury Report
6. Subcommittees
a. Special Education Sitemap
b. Events/Presentations
7. New Business
a. SEPAC Elections
b. Transition Workshop Planning
c. Grant Process
d. Establishing a Communication Link with Out-Of-District Parents
8. Old Business
a. SNAP Activities
b. Fun Run/Walk 2014 planning
c. Article for Hingham Journal
9. Communications/General Inquiries
10. Other Items as may not reasonably be known within 48 hours of the meeting
11. Announcements & Adjournment:
a. Next SEPAC meeting will be back at the Library – Tuesday, May 13th
Upcoming SEPAC Events:
April 10th, Demystifying Section 504, HHS room #103, 7 pm
May 3rd, SEPAC 3rd Annual Fun Run/Walk at Bare Cove Park
Meeting Minutes
Present: Daniela Andruszkiewicz, Marisa Ronan, Sonja Finney; School Liaisons Kerry Ni and Brooke Gagnier; School Committee Liaison Liza O’Reilly and Special Education Director Liz Flynn and two audience members.
A thirty-minute social preceded the business portion of the meeting.
The meeting was called to order at 10:30 a.m.
The minutes from March 11, 2014 were accepted.
General Q&A for items that may not be on the agenda: There was no discussion.
Director of Student Services:
Feedback: The Big Picture Presentation - Approximately 40 people attended. The audience expressed interest in raising awareness among children about learning differences. SEPAC and the School department will consider collaborating on the issue within the schools. PRS will host a screening of Mother Nature’s Child, which covers the importance of letting children play in the natural environment. Liz will schedule a 504 Presentation (featuring Head of Guidance Heather Rodriquez for April 30.
Budget update: School Committee will meet April 16. Town Meeting will vote on the budget April 28.
DESE/IEP revision process: DESE is revising the IEP forms and seeks parental input. Visit iep@doe.mass.edu. There is no hard roll out date and the process may take a couple of years.
Update from School Committee Liaison:
The School Committee’s SPED subcommittee will meet 4/17 to review new guidelines for educational collaboratives. The group will recommend an appointee to the South Shore Collaborative, which role is currently held by Superintendent D. Galo. Liza asked what topics SEPAC would like the subcommittee to consider. Some ideas were promoting an inclusion theme in the district; and helping define the scope of the adjustment counselor’s role. SEPAC seeks to understand the mission of the subcommittee and would like to offer relevant suggestions for topics.
Sharing with School PTO Liaisons:
Kerry reported that she announced the upcoming Fun Run and Nature’s Classroom viewing at South School. Brooke noted that Foster has a PTO meeting scheduled for April 30. Danie shared that East PTO is hosting a Pancake Breakfast the same day as the Fun Run.
Treasury Report: The SEPAC account balance is $11,473.54. Marisa expects another $500 in deposits from sponsors. Most of the Fun Run expenses are outstanding. The board voted to amend the Fun Run budget to $1,200.
Subcommittees:
Special Education Site Map: SEPAC has collected staff names and areas of instruction. Some information may be missing that is not readily available in school directories or on the district website. Discussion ensued about what additional information should be part of the directory.
Events/Presentations: There are no additional presentations scheduled for this academic year. SEPAC will focus on planning for 2014-15.
New Business:
SEPAC Elections: Marisa’s Chair position is up for election. The election is scheduled for May 27 from 10-12 and 5-7.
Transition Workshop Planning: This task will pick up again after completion of the Fun Run.
Grant Process: SEPAC is accepting applications. Dr. Galo sent out an email in March to HPS staff. Liz will remind staff about it at team chair meetings. SEPAC has no active applications to date. Deadline for submitting one is April 30.
Out-of-District Liaison: There was discussion about how to keep active communication with out of district families in a way similar to the liaisons SEPAC has with each school. The group agreed that this topic can be more fully addressed when the new Out of District Coordinator is hired by HPS.
Old Business:
South Shore Special Needs Athletic Program (SNAP): The group’s first program will be rowing for middle school and older youths. The volunteer supported program will meet weekly for 14 weeks. So far, there are 9 registered participants. Additional programming is underway, including a possible summer schedule at the South Shore Country Club that runs in tandem with ESY.
Fun Run 2014: The subcommittee has worked hard to plan the event and all is in order.
Article for Hingham Journal: The article will focus on elections and increasing participation. It will also mention the Fun Run, grants and presentations SEPAC has hosted in 2013-14.
Communications/General Inquiries:
No report
Other Items as may not reasonably be known within 48 hours of the meeting:
There was a general discussion about MCAS tutoring being offered by the school outside classroom hours and concern raised that the students instructional needs were not being met within the regularly scheduled day.
Announcements:
Next SEPAC meeting – Tuesday, May 13 at 10 a.m. at Hingham Public Library, Fearing Room
The meeting was adjourned at 12:08 p.m.
HINGHAM SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL (SEPAC)
Hingham Public Schools
Hingham Public School Department, Conference Room, 220 Central St., Hingham, MA 02043
Meeting Agenda
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Informal social – opportunity for attendees to meet and converse
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Monthly Meeting to discuss SEPAC business
(Audience comments are always welcome as agenda items are discussed. Attendees are encouraged to attend the 30-minute social prior to the start of the board meeting to address matters not related to the agenda.)
1. Acceptance of Minutes from March 11th, 2014
2. General Q&A for items that may not be on the agenda
3. Update from Director of Student Services
a. Feedback: The Big Picture presentation
b. Budget Update
c. DESE/IEP revision process and educator/parent input
4. Sharing with School PTO Liaisons
5. Treasury Report
6. Subcommittees
a. Special Education Sitemap
b. Events/Presentations
7. New Business
a. SEPAC Elections
b. Transition Workshop Planning
c. Grant Process
d. Establishing a Communication Link with Out-Of-District Parents
8. Old Business
a. SNAP Activities
b. Fun Run/Walk 2014 planning
c. Article for Hingham Journal
9. Communications/General Inquiries
10. Other Items as may not reasonably be known within 48 hours of the meeting
11. Announcements & Adjournment:
a. Next SEPAC meeting will be back at the Library – Tuesday, May 13th
Upcoming SEPAC Events:
April 10th, Demystifying Section 504, HHS room #103, 7 pm
May 3rd, SEPAC 3rd Annual Fun Run/Walk at Bare Cove Park
Meeting Minutes
Present: Daniela Andruszkiewicz, Marisa Ronan, Sonja Finney; School Liaisons Kerry Ni and Brooke Gagnier; School Committee Liaison Liza O’Reilly and Special Education Director Liz Flynn and two audience members.
A thirty-minute social preceded the business portion of the meeting.
The meeting was called to order at 10:30 a.m.
The minutes from March 11, 2014 were accepted.
General Q&A for items that may not be on the agenda: There was no discussion.
Director of Student Services:
Feedback: The Big Picture Presentation - Approximately 40 people attended. The audience expressed interest in raising awareness among children about learning differences. SEPAC and the School department will consider collaborating on the issue within the schools. PRS will host a screening of Mother Nature’s Child, which covers the importance of letting children play in the natural environment. Liz will schedule a 504 Presentation (featuring Head of Guidance Heather Rodriquez for April 30.
Budget update: School Committee will meet April 16. Town Meeting will vote on the budget April 28.
DESE/IEP revision process: DESE is revising the IEP forms and seeks parental input. Visit iep@doe.mass.edu. There is no hard roll out date and the process may take a couple of years.
Update from School Committee Liaison:
The School Committee’s SPED subcommittee will meet 4/17 to review new guidelines for educational collaboratives. The group will recommend an appointee to the South Shore Collaborative, which role is currently held by Superintendent D. Galo. Liza asked what topics SEPAC would like the subcommittee to consider. Some ideas were promoting an inclusion theme in the district; and helping define the scope of the adjustment counselor’s role. SEPAC seeks to understand the mission of the subcommittee and would like to offer relevant suggestions for topics.
Sharing with School PTO Liaisons:
Kerry reported that she announced the upcoming Fun Run and Nature’s Classroom viewing at South School. Brooke noted that Foster has a PTO meeting scheduled for April 30. Danie shared that East PTO is hosting a Pancake Breakfast the same day as the Fun Run.
Treasury Report: The SEPAC account balance is $11,473.54. Marisa expects another $500 in deposits from sponsors. Most of the Fun Run expenses are outstanding. The board voted to amend the Fun Run budget to $1,200.
Subcommittees:
Special Education Site Map: SEPAC has collected staff names and areas of instruction. Some information may be missing that is not readily available in school directories or on the district website. Discussion ensued about what additional information should be part of the directory.
Events/Presentations: There are no additional presentations scheduled for this academic year. SEPAC will focus on planning for 2014-15.
New Business:
SEPAC Elections: Marisa’s Chair position is up for election. The election is scheduled for May 27 from 10-12 and 5-7.
Transition Workshop Planning: This task will pick up again after completion of the Fun Run.
Grant Process: SEPAC is accepting applications. Dr. Galo sent out an email in March to HPS staff. Liz will remind staff about it at team chair meetings. SEPAC has no active applications to date. Deadline for submitting one is April 30.
Out-of-District Liaison: There was discussion about how to keep active communication with out of district families in a way similar to the liaisons SEPAC has with each school. The group agreed that this topic can be more fully addressed when the new Out of District Coordinator is hired by HPS.
Old Business:
South Shore Special Needs Athletic Program (SNAP): The group’s first program will be rowing for middle school and older youths. The volunteer supported program will meet weekly for 14 weeks. So far, there are 9 registered participants. Additional programming is underway, including a possible summer schedule at the South Shore Country Club that runs in tandem with ESY.
Fun Run 2014: The subcommittee has worked hard to plan the event and all is in order.
Article for Hingham Journal: The article will focus on elections and increasing participation. It will also mention the Fun Run, grants and presentations SEPAC has hosted in 2013-14.
Communications/General Inquiries:
No report
Other Items as may not reasonably be known within 48 hours of the meeting:
There was a general discussion about MCAS tutoring being offered by the school outside classroom hours and concern raised that the students instructional needs were not being met within the regularly scheduled day.
Announcements:
Next SEPAC meeting – Tuesday, May 13 at 10 a.m. at Hingham Public Library, Fearing Room
The meeting was adjourned at 12:08 p.m.
