HINGHAM SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL (SEPAC)
Hingham Public Schools
Tuesday, December 9, 2014, 10:00 a.m.
Children’s Dept., Hingham Public Library, Hingham, MA 02043
Meeting Agenda
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Monthly Meeting to discuss SEPAC business
Audience comments are always welcome as agenda items are discussed.
1. Acceptance of Minutes from November 10, 2014
2. General Q&A for items that may not be on the agenda
3 Sharing with School Committee Liaison
4. Sharing with PTO Liaisons
5. Treasury Report
6. Business
- Homework helpers concept. Is there an opportunity for Hingham High school students to volunteer to help
the elementary school kids with homework or a big buddy type program
- Possible co-sponsorship of anxiety-theme presentation at the Middle School
7. Communications/General Inquiries
8. Other Items as may not reasonably be known within 48 hours of the meeting
9. Announcements & Adjournment:
- Next SEPAC meeting will be on Tuesday, January 13, 2014
Meeting Minutes
Present: Marisa Ronan; Kerry Ni; Sharon Burnett; Holly Pilotte; and School Committee Liaisons Edward Schreier and Liza O’Reilly
The meeting was called to order at approximately 10:15 a.m.
The minutes from November 10, 2014 were accepted.
General Q&A for items that may not be on the agenda: None
Director of Student Services: N/A
School Committee Liaison: Ed noted that the School Committee will be meeting with the Advisory Committee tonight at 8:45 p.m. to specifically discuss full-day kindergarten (“FDK”). The intention of the meeting is to discuss the rationale for Hingham adopting FDK and not to discuss funding of the program. Having said that, the major issue surrounding adopting FDK is how to fund it. Liza added that the working group for the FDK proposal has increased to 22 people with representatives from each of the schools included. There was some discussion around whether a special ed parent is represented in the working group to speak for the special ed population when considering how the FDK will be set up and implemented relative to how it is currently structured and implemented with typical peer models. Both Liza and Marisa will contact Dr. Galo to express the need for special education parent representation in the FDK working group. E.C. Tregoe volunteered to get involved as a special ed representative. Liza noted that the first draft of the HPS budget will go to the School Committee after Christmas break. She also noted that on the HHS website is a link to statistics on the class of 2014 with regard to standardized test scores and college acceptances.
PTO Liaisons: Nothing to report.
Treasury Report: No update.
New/Old Business: Holly suggested the possibility of creating a homework help program for elementary students that would utilize high school students who are in need of community service hours. Liza suggested checking with the Hingham Buddies to see if there might be interest in helping out there. It was also suggested that the East Elementary PTO could look at setting up a homework help program similar to that offered by South and Foster. Holly and Marisa will work on discussing this with the East PTO.
The SEPAC bottle and can drive at the Transfer Station is scheduled for Saturday, May 30. We are required to complete some community service in order to receive the funds. Marisa will bring the list of possible community service activities to the January SEPAC meeting.
SEPAC will plan on partnering with SNAP to put on the annual Fun Run/Walk in the spring in the hopes of increasing visibility and participation of the event.
Communications/General Inquiries: None.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 a.m.
Hingham Public Schools
Tuesday, December 9, 2014, 10:00 a.m.
Children’s Dept., Hingham Public Library, Hingham, MA 02043
Meeting Agenda
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Monthly Meeting to discuss SEPAC business
Audience comments are always welcome as agenda items are discussed.
1. Acceptance of Minutes from November 10, 2014
2. General Q&A for items that may not be on the agenda
3 Sharing with School Committee Liaison
4. Sharing with PTO Liaisons
5. Treasury Report
6. Business
- Homework helpers concept. Is there an opportunity for Hingham High school students to volunteer to help
the elementary school kids with homework or a big buddy type program
- Possible co-sponsorship of anxiety-theme presentation at the Middle School
7. Communications/General Inquiries
8. Other Items as may not reasonably be known within 48 hours of the meeting
9. Announcements & Adjournment:
- Next SEPAC meeting will be on Tuesday, January 13, 2014
Meeting Minutes
Present: Marisa Ronan; Kerry Ni; Sharon Burnett; Holly Pilotte; and School Committee Liaisons Edward Schreier and Liza O’Reilly
The meeting was called to order at approximately 10:15 a.m.
The minutes from November 10, 2014 were accepted.
General Q&A for items that may not be on the agenda: None
Director of Student Services: N/A
School Committee Liaison: Ed noted that the School Committee will be meeting with the Advisory Committee tonight at 8:45 p.m. to specifically discuss full-day kindergarten (“FDK”). The intention of the meeting is to discuss the rationale for Hingham adopting FDK and not to discuss funding of the program. Having said that, the major issue surrounding adopting FDK is how to fund it. Liza added that the working group for the FDK proposal has increased to 22 people with representatives from each of the schools included. There was some discussion around whether a special ed parent is represented in the working group to speak for the special ed population when considering how the FDK will be set up and implemented relative to how it is currently structured and implemented with typical peer models. Both Liza and Marisa will contact Dr. Galo to express the need for special education parent representation in the FDK working group. E.C. Tregoe volunteered to get involved as a special ed representative. Liza noted that the first draft of the HPS budget will go to the School Committee after Christmas break. She also noted that on the HHS website is a link to statistics on the class of 2014 with regard to standardized test scores and college acceptances.
PTO Liaisons: Nothing to report.
Treasury Report: No update.
New/Old Business: Holly suggested the possibility of creating a homework help program for elementary students that would utilize high school students who are in need of community service hours. Liza suggested checking with the Hingham Buddies to see if there might be interest in helping out there. It was also suggested that the East Elementary PTO could look at setting up a homework help program similar to that offered by South and Foster. Holly and Marisa will work on discussing this with the East PTO.
The SEPAC bottle and can drive at the Transfer Station is scheduled for Saturday, May 30. We are required to complete some community service in order to receive the funds. Marisa will bring the list of possible community service activities to the January SEPAC meeting.
SEPAC will plan on partnering with SNAP to put on the annual Fun Run/Walk in the spring in the hopes of increasing visibility and participation of the event.
Communications/General Inquiries: None.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 a.m.
