Tuesday, August 14, 2012
HINGHAM SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL (SEPAC)
Hingham Public Schools
Hingham Public Library, Fearing Room, 66 Leavitt 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. – noon – 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.)
Introduction and Rules
Acceptance of Minutes: July 10, 2012
Treasurer’s Report:
Communications: “Legs for Luke” event – September 21, 2012
Weymouth SEPAC
CHADD Parent-to-Parent Class
Old Business:
· Update SEPAC calendar for 2012 – 2013 school year (approximate cost of speakers, meet & greet “coffee” with incoming
Director of Student Services, fundraisers, PTO meetings in September, etc.)
· Summary of presentation to School Committee on July 23, 2012
New Business:
· Mailings & Publicity
· Discussion regarding policy of grant requests & HEF grants
· Summary from last All-Town PTO meeting
· Renewal of MassPAC membership
Subcommittee Reports:
Announcements & Adjournment:
· Upcoming SEPAC events:
- Next SEPAC meeting – Tuesday, September 11, 2012
The provision of Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) according to federal and state laws and regulations related to the education of children with disabilities includes the following areas: Assessment of Students, Student Identification, Parent and Community Involvement, Curriculum and Instruction, Student Support Services, Faculty, Staff and Administration, School Facilities, Program Plan and Evaluation and Record Keeping.
Meeting Minutes
Present: Donna Keaney, Marisa Ronan, Kim Cross, Jean Garrity, and Director of Student Services Liz Flynn.
The meeting was called to order at 10:30 a.m.
Minutes from the July 10, 2012 were unavailable.
Treasurer: Kim reported that the check for $250.00 to the Rec Dept. for the SEPAC’s July 4th road race donation has been received by Mark Thorell.
Communications: Jean shared communication that had come through the gmail SEPAC account from a Hingham parent who is holding a fundraiser in September to support Autism Speaks. The event is called “Legs for Luke” and it will be held on September 21, 2012, at the South Shore Country Club. The information about this event is already on our website.
Jean also shared communication from Weymouth SEPAC asking if we would be interested in co-hosting the Federation program on Basic Rights. Jean will e-mail Weymouth SEPAC back letting them know that Liz Flynn will be doing this presentation for Hingham this year.
A final communication was a request for Hingham SEPAC to host a series of 7 evening programs for CHADD. It was decided that at this point we are not in a position to host this. Jean will reply to the e-mail and let the organizer know about the possibility of booking the library herself for these programs.
Old Business:
SEPAC Calendar:
PTO meetings: HHS – 9/6 @ 7:00 p.m. – Donna
HMS – 9/20 @ 8:30 a.m. – Jean
South – TBA
Foster – TBA - Kim
East – 9/12 time TBA – Marisa
PRS – TBA - Donna
Basic Right – Liz Flynn to present on October 18 at East during the school day.
Shut Up About Perfect Kid – November 15 is no longer available. Jean will contact them to check availability of January 24 or 31. SEPAC would still like to have the event at the Country Club as more of a social evening of comedy.
Sarah Ward – Will look into the Tuesday or Wednesday after February vacation (week of February 25) per Assistant Superintendent Ellen Keane’s request. SEPAC is looking to host an afternoon program for staff and then an evening program for parents. Jean will look into possibility of CEU’s for staff in attendance.
Turning 3 Program – To be held October 24, 2012, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. in the Whiton Room at the Hingham Public Library.
Welcome coffee – An opportunity for parents to meet the new Director of Student Services. This will be held during the 11:00-12:00 hour of the September 11th SEPAC meeting at the Hingham Library in the Fearing Room.
Welcome coffee for pre-school parents – An opportunity for preschool parents to meet SEPAC board and learn more about SEPAC. Still awaiting confirmation of date, time, and location.
XMAS in the Square – will be held December 7 and 8.
Siblings presentation – Kim will contact Jen Melia to see if she would be interested in doing a program on typically developing siblings in either November or March.
SEPAC Presentation to School Committee: Donna and Jean updated the Board on their presentation to School Committee on July 23.
New Business:
Mailings and Publicity – The first newsletter of the school year will go out next Monday or Tuesday. In this mailing there will be a volunteer form as well as a brief survey for parents.
The pre-school welcome coffee will have an invitation that will be printed up and given to parents through Becky Case.
The next mailing will go out the week of December 3.
The new Director of Student Services will be sending out a welcome letter to parents in which she will introduce herself and discuss some of her goals.
Marisa will work on an article to be on Local Betty at the beginning of the school year.
HEF Grants: Donna updated SEPAC on the one special ed grant that was not fully funded by HEF, the boomerang desks. It was decided at this time to see what teacher response is like before deciding whether or not to fund the remainder of this grant.
All Town PTO: Jean gave an update from the June meeting. Topics included: Foster held its last Fun Run. In the future, they will tie in with the runs held by PRS and South. Foster held an ice cream fundraiser at Brigham’s. HHS track and tennis court should be ready by the beginning of this school year.
MassPAC renewal: Kim is in the process of getting a check from John Ferris to submit the renewal to MassPAC.
Director of Student Services Report: Liz Flynn reported that the Coordinated Program Review is set up for March.
The meeting adjourned at 12:00 p.m.
HINGHAM SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL (SEPAC)
Hingham Public Schools
Hingham Public Library, Fearing Room, 66 Leavitt 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. – noon – 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.)
Introduction and Rules
Acceptance of Minutes: July 10, 2012
Treasurer’s Report:
Communications: “Legs for Luke” event – September 21, 2012
Weymouth SEPAC
CHADD Parent-to-Parent Class
Old Business:
· Update SEPAC calendar for 2012 – 2013 school year (approximate cost of speakers, meet & greet “coffee” with incoming
Director of Student Services, fundraisers, PTO meetings in September, etc.)
· Summary of presentation to School Committee on July 23, 2012
New Business:
· Mailings & Publicity
· Discussion regarding policy of grant requests & HEF grants
· Summary from last All-Town PTO meeting
· Renewal of MassPAC membership
Subcommittee Reports:
Announcements & Adjournment:
· Upcoming SEPAC events:
- Next SEPAC meeting – Tuesday, September 11, 2012
The provision of Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) according to federal and state laws and regulations related to the education of children with disabilities includes the following areas: Assessment of Students, Student Identification, Parent and Community Involvement, Curriculum and Instruction, Student Support Services, Faculty, Staff and Administration, School Facilities, Program Plan and Evaluation and Record Keeping.
Meeting Minutes
Present: Donna Keaney, Marisa Ronan, Kim Cross, Jean Garrity, and Director of Student Services Liz Flynn.
The meeting was called to order at 10:30 a.m.
Minutes from the July 10, 2012 were unavailable.
Treasurer: Kim reported that the check for $250.00 to the Rec Dept. for the SEPAC’s July 4th road race donation has been received by Mark Thorell.
Communications: Jean shared communication that had come through the gmail SEPAC account from a Hingham parent who is holding a fundraiser in September to support Autism Speaks. The event is called “Legs for Luke” and it will be held on September 21, 2012, at the South Shore Country Club. The information about this event is already on our website.
Jean also shared communication from Weymouth SEPAC asking if we would be interested in co-hosting the Federation program on Basic Rights. Jean will e-mail Weymouth SEPAC back letting them know that Liz Flynn will be doing this presentation for Hingham this year.
A final communication was a request for Hingham SEPAC to host a series of 7 evening programs for CHADD. It was decided that at this point we are not in a position to host this. Jean will reply to the e-mail and let the organizer know about the possibility of booking the library herself for these programs.
Old Business:
SEPAC Calendar:
PTO meetings: HHS – 9/6 @ 7:00 p.m. – Donna
HMS – 9/20 @ 8:30 a.m. – Jean
South – TBA
Foster – TBA - Kim
East – 9/12 time TBA – Marisa
PRS – TBA - Donna
Basic Right – Liz Flynn to present on October 18 at East during the school day.
Shut Up About Perfect Kid – November 15 is no longer available. Jean will contact them to check availability of January 24 or 31. SEPAC would still like to have the event at the Country Club as more of a social evening of comedy.
Sarah Ward – Will look into the Tuesday or Wednesday after February vacation (week of February 25) per Assistant Superintendent Ellen Keane’s request. SEPAC is looking to host an afternoon program for staff and then an evening program for parents. Jean will look into possibility of CEU’s for staff in attendance.
Turning 3 Program – To be held October 24, 2012, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. in the Whiton Room at the Hingham Public Library.
Welcome coffee – An opportunity for parents to meet the new Director of Student Services. This will be held during the 11:00-12:00 hour of the September 11th SEPAC meeting at the Hingham Library in the Fearing Room.
Welcome coffee for pre-school parents – An opportunity for preschool parents to meet SEPAC board and learn more about SEPAC. Still awaiting confirmation of date, time, and location.
XMAS in the Square – will be held December 7 and 8.
Siblings presentation – Kim will contact Jen Melia to see if she would be interested in doing a program on typically developing siblings in either November or March.
SEPAC Presentation to School Committee: Donna and Jean updated the Board on their presentation to School Committee on July 23.
New Business:
Mailings and Publicity – The first newsletter of the school year will go out next Monday or Tuesday. In this mailing there will be a volunteer form as well as a brief survey for parents.
The pre-school welcome coffee will have an invitation that will be printed up and given to parents through Becky Case.
The next mailing will go out the week of December 3.
The new Director of Student Services will be sending out a welcome letter to parents in which she will introduce herself and discuss some of her goals.
Marisa will work on an article to be on Local Betty at the beginning of the school year.
HEF Grants: Donna updated SEPAC on the one special ed grant that was not fully funded by HEF, the boomerang desks. It was decided at this time to see what teacher response is like before deciding whether or not to fund the remainder of this grant.
All Town PTO: Jean gave an update from the June meeting. Topics included: Foster held its last Fun Run. In the future, they will tie in with the runs held by PRS and South. Foster held an ice cream fundraiser at Brigham’s. HHS track and tennis court should be ready by the beginning of this school year.
MassPAC renewal: Kim is in the process of getting a check from John Ferris to submit the renewal to MassPAC.
Director of Student Services Report: Liz Flynn reported that the Coordinated Program Review is set up for March.
The meeting adjourned at 12:00 p.m.
