Tuesday, June 12, 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: February 14, 2012, & May 8, 2012
Treasurer’s Report:
Communications:
· Hingham Education Foundation (HEF) grant applications
· Request to consider funding projector
Old Business:
· Tentative SEPAC calendar for 2012 – 2013 school year (approximate cost of speakers, meet & greet with incoming Director of Student Services, fundraisers, PTO meetings in September, etc.)
· End-of-year SEPAC report to Dr. Loud and School Committee
New Business:
· Possible donation to 4th of July Hingham Roadrace
· Volunteer form for next SEPAC mailing
· Discussion regarding policy of grant requests
· Summary from last All-Town PTO meeting
· Update on Director of Student Services position
Subcommittee Reports:
HPS Director of Student Services Report:
Announcements & Adjournment:
· Upcoming SEPAC events:
- Next SEPAC meeting – Tuesday, July 10, 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, Ann Grady, Marisa Ronan, Tia Mastromatteo, Ellie Hickey, Jean Garrity, Tracey Styles, Kim Cross, Dr. Jean Curtis Loud, and three others.
The beginning of the social portion of the meeting consisted of introductions. Several in attendance expressed their concerns about one of the candidates for the Director of Student Services position, Elizabeth Kurlan Flynn. These concerns were noted and parents were encouraged to voice their concerns to Dr. Galo and school committee members. The SEPAC board will also forward along parent concerns to Dr. Galo and school committee.
The meeting was officially called to order at 10:30 a.m.
The minutes from February 14, 2012, and May 8, 2012, were reviewed and accepted.
Treasurer Report: Kim Cross presented the budget report for FY’12, and the ending balance as of June 12, 2012, was $14,434.30. Kim also prepared a budget for FY’13 which will be reviewed at the July meeting.
Communications: Donna shared the e-mails she had received from Dana Donnelly from Hingham Education Foundation (HEF) regarding grants. This year HEF fully funded all but one of the special education grant requests that they received. The one that they did not fully fund, they were able to partially fund. It was a grant requesting specialized boomerang desks. Donna will contact Dana Donnelly to get the full grant request/application and will share this at a future meeting so SEPAC can decide whether to fund the balance of this request.
Another e-mail Donna received was a request to SEPAC to fund a projector. After discussion of this, SEPAC decided to contact this teacher and ask her to apply for this when SEPAC opens their grant process next March.
Old Business:
End-of-Year SEPAC Report: Donna is working on this report. It will be completed and submitted to Dr. Loud and Dr. Galo by June 30, 2012. This year SEPAC is planning on presenting the end-of-year report to school committee at one of their meetings.
New Business:
July 4th Road race donation: SEPAC voted unanimously to once again donate $250.00 to Hingham Rec to be a sponsor of the road race. The SEPAC name will appear on the t-shirts worn by runners in the race. Kim will coordinate with Pam to get our information and a check to Mark Thorell at Hingham Rec.
Update on Director of Student Services position: Donna and Jean reported that there are currently two finalists for the position of Director of Student Services. Dr. Galo has interviewed both candidates and hosted a coffee this morning to allow other school committee members and other staff from central office to meet both candidates. Dr. Galo will be making her recommendation to the school committee at the school committee meeting on June 18, 2012. Parents were encouraged to attend this meeting to once again have an opportunity to voice any concerns or ask any questions they might have.
HPS Director of Student Services Report: Dr. Loud also gave an update on the search for a new Director of Student Services. Some parents spoke about their concerns regarding one of the candidates. Dr. Loud explained that she was able to spend an hour with each of the candidates this morning. She expressed that both candidates have a good understanding of FAPE, both candidates were knowledgeable, and both candidates could definitely do a good job.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:20 p.m.
