Tuesday, December 11, 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: November 13, 2012
Treasurer’s Report:
Communications: general inquiries
Old Business:
· Update re: “Shut-Up Sisters” January 31, 2013
· Summary re: Christmas In The Square
· Update re: Ad Hoc Committee on Special Education Funding
· Update re: January 7, 2013, coffee/meeting at HHS prior to SC meeting
· Follow up re: APPLE Institute May 15 – 17, 2013
· Follow up re: formation of a support group
· Follow up re: School Committee liaison to SEPAC
New Business:
· Discussion re: SEPAC liaisons to HPS schools
· Discussion re: SEPAC special education advocacy initiative
Subcommittee Reports:
Director of Student Services Report:
· Budget update
· Announcement of new Out-of-District Liaison
Announcements & Adjournment:
· Upcoming SEPAC events:
- Next SEPAC meeting – Monday, January 7, 2013 (coffee/informal meeting at HHS) & Tuesday, January 8, 2013
- “Shut-up Sisters” Presentation, Thursday, January 31, 2013
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
December 11, 2012
Present: Board Members: Donna Keaney, Jean Garrity, Marisa Ronan, Daniela Andruszkiewicz, Sonja Finney and Diane DeNapoli; School Personnel: Liz Flynn. There were no additional attendees.
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 November 13, 2012 were accepted.
Treasurer’s Report: SEPAC account balance is $13,499.36. Kim will reconcile this amount with a slightly different amount reported by the School Department. Several reimbursements and contractual costs are anticipated in the next month. SEPAC should consider the teacher grant program for 2013.
Communications: Several solicitations and/or informational notices were received via either mail or email.
Old Business:
Shut Up Sisters: Presentation date under contract for 01/31/13 at 7pm. Flyers to be distributed to Hingham SEPAC community, Hingham Journal, and local SEPAC boards, as well as posted at various locations in Hingham.
Christmas in the Square: Cancelled due to weather. Will follow up on fee owed to Hingham Downtown Association.
Hingham School District/ Board of Selectmen Ad Hoc Committee: Last Ad Hoc meeting was 11/29/12. Next Meeting is 01/16/13. Committee is seeking information re: how other districts handle reimbursement for Special Education costs. Melissa Goldman was newly appointed to the committee.
January 7, 2013 Coffee: Liz reports that the School Committee rescheduled their meeting to 01/17/13. Another reschedule may occur due to numerous meetings re: athletic fields. SEPAC will plan a coffee for new date unless notified of changes.
Apple Institute: Seminar re: supporting parent and school administration relationship. Scheduled for May15-17, 2013. SEPAC will consider sending 3 representatives along with Liz Flynn.
Special Education Support Group: SEPAC website is currently not a confidential forum for group discussion. SEPAC will consider hosting coffees at member’s homes or other venues to facilitate group support and increase awareness of SEPAC’s mission. A resource event may be useful to SEPAC parents. SEPAC may explore ways to enhance its name recognition with its membership and the general public.
School Committee Liaison to SEPAC: SEPAC will attempt to define the role it envisions for a liaison with the School Committee. Donna will collect suggestions for this. The School Committee’s Special Education Sub-Committee does not frequently meet, however one of its members may be the most suitable candidate to act as a liaison with SEPAC.
New Business:
SEPAC Liaisons to Schools: SEPAC has representatives to each school except Foster, Plymouth River and Hingham Middle School. Liaisons assist with posting information at schools and otherwise supporting SEPAC’s presence in each school. SEPAC will explore adding liaison information to the website.
SEPAC Advocacy Initiative: SEPAC is considering an advocacy initiative to open discussions with the school district about select areas of special education. Development of Support Groups may aid in determining which areas are of particular interest to the SEPAC community. While exploring this within the broader SEPAC membership, the SEPAC board has initially identified reading programs as an area to pursue an information exchange with the district.
Sub-Committee Reports: No Reports
Director of Student Services:
Liz Flynn reported:
- The School Committee has canceled the 12/17/12 budget meeting, however the budget writing process is underway. Donna asked Liz to keep SEPAC notified of Budget hearing dates.
- HPS is looking to return a full time Assistant Principal position to each elementary school.
- The HPS Out of District Liaison was replaced recently. Liz contacted the families currently in transition. The new liaison is Marjorie Jacobs, a retiree from the Boston Public Schools where she was special education teacher for moderately to severely disabled students. Marisa offered to post Marjorie’s information on the SEPAC website to introduce her to the community, and Liz will ask Marjorie to attend a SEPAC meeting/coffee to acquaint herself with the group.
- Team Chairs are currently putting ESY dates together, which generally run the month of July. Parents should refer to their child’s IEP for ESY plans, and contact the team with specific questions.
- R. Boddie of HMS will participate in a general meeting with parents whose children are transitioning from elementary to HMS. SEPAC will work to coordinate this event.
Announcements/Calendar:
- Jen Milia will present on Special Education and Siblings in March 2013
- Shut Up Sisters will present on January 31, 2013 at 7 p.m. At the South Shore Country Club
- SEPAC Coffee is scheduled for January 7, 2013 before the the School Committee meeting
- Next SEPAC meeting is January 8, 2013. Social starts at 10 a.m., business meeting starts at 10:30 a.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:15 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: November 13, 2012
Treasurer’s Report:
Communications: general inquiries
Old Business:
· Update re: “Shut-Up Sisters” January 31, 2013
· Summary re: Christmas In The Square
· Update re: Ad Hoc Committee on Special Education Funding
· Update re: January 7, 2013, coffee/meeting at HHS prior to SC meeting
· Follow up re: APPLE Institute May 15 – 17, 2013
· Follow up re: formation of a support group
· Follow up re: School Committee liaison to SEPAC
New Business:
· Discussion re: SEPAC liaisons to HPS schools
· Discussion re: SEPAC special education advocacy initiative
Subcommittee Reports:
Director of Student Services Report:
· Budget update
· Announcement of new Out-of-District Liaison
Announcements & Adjournment:
· Upcoming SEPAC events:
- Next SEPAC meeting – Monday, January 7, 2013 (coffee/informal meeting at HHS) & Tuesday, January 8, 2013
- “Shut-up Sisters” Presentation, Thursday, January 31, 2013
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
December 11, 2012
Present: Board Members: Donna Keaney, Jean Garrity, Marisa Ronan, Daniela Andruszkiewicz, Sonja Finney and Diane DeNapoli; School Personnel: Liz Flynn. There were no additional attendees.
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 November 13, 2012 were accepted.
Treasurer’s Report: SEPAC account balance is $13,499.36. Kim will reconcile this amount with a slightly different amount reported by the School Department. Several reimbursements and contractual costs are anticipated in the next month. SEPAC should consider the teacher grant program for 2013.
Communications: Several solicitations and/or informational notices were received via either mail or email.
Old Business:
Shut Up Sisters: Presentation date under contract for 01/31/13 at 7pm. Flyers to be distributed to Hingham SEPAC community, Hingham Journal, and local SEPAC boards, as well as posted at various locations in Hingham.
Christmas in the Square: Cancelled due to weather. Will follow up on fee owed to Hingham Downtown Association.
Hingham School District/ Board of Selectmen Ad Hoc Committee: Last Ad Hoc meeting was 11/29/12. Next Meeting is 01/16/13. Committee is seeking information re: how other districts handle reimbursement for Special Education costs. Melissa Goldman was newly appointed to the committee.
January 7, 2013 Coffee: Liz reports that the School Committee rescheduled their meeting to 01/17/13. Another reschedule may occur due to numerous meetings re: athletic fields. SEPAC will plan a coffee for new date unless notified of changes.
Apple Institute: Seminar re: supporting parent and school administration relationship. Scheduled for May15-17, 2013. SEPAC will consider sending 3 representatives along with Liz Flynn.
Special Education Support Group: SEPAC website is currently not a confidential forum for group discussion. SEPAC will consider hosting coffees at member’s homes or other venues to facilitate group support and increase awareness of SEPAC’s mission. A resource event may be useful to SEPAC parents. SEPAC may explore ways to enhance its name recognition with its membership and the general public.
School Committee Liaison to SEPAC: SEPAC will attempt to define the role it envisions for a liaison with the School Committee. Donna will collect suggestions for this. The School Committee’s Special Education Sub-Committee does not frequently meet, however one of its members may be the most suitable candidate to act as a liaison with SEPAC.
New Business:
SEPAC Liaisons to Schools: SEPAC has representatives to each school except Foster, Plymouth River and Hingham Middle School. Liaisons assist with posting information at schools and otherwise supporting SEPAC’s presence in each school. SEPAC will explore adding liaison information to the website.
SEPAC Advocacy Initiative: SEPAC is considering an advocacy initiative to open discussions with the school district about select areas of special education. Development of Support Groups may aid in determining which areas are of particular interest to the SEPAC community. While exploring this within the broader SEPAC membership, the SEPAC board has initially identified reading programs as an area to pursue an information exchange with the district.
Sub-Committee Reports: No Reports
Director of Student Services:
Liz Flynn reported:
- The School Committee has canceled the 12/17/12 budget meeting, however the budget writing process is underway. Donna asked Liz to keep SEPAC notified of Budget hearing dates.
- HPS is looking to return a full time Assistant Principal position to each elementary school.
- The HPS Out of District Liaison was replaced recently. Liz contacted the families currently in transition. The new liaison is Marjorie Jacobs, a retiree from the Boston Public Schools where she was special education teacher for moderately to severely disabled students. Marisa offered to post Marjorie’s information on the SEPAC website to introduce her to the community, and Liz will ask Marjorie to attend a SEPAC meeting/coffee to acquaint herself with the group.
- Team Chairs are currently putting ESY dates together, which generally run the month of July. Parents should refer to their child’s IEP for ESY plans, and contact the team with specific questions.
- R. Boddie of HMS will participate in a general meeting with parents whose children are transitioning from elementary to HMS. SEPAC will work to coordinate this event.
Announcements/Calendar:
- Jen Milia will present on Special Education and Siblings in March 2013
- Shut Up Sisters will present on January 31, 2013 at 7 p.m. At the South Shore Country Club
- SEPAC Coffee is scheduled for January 7, 2013 before the the School Committee meeting
- Next SEPAC meeting is January 8, 2013. Social starts at 10 a.m., business meeting starts at 10:30 a.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:15 p.m.
