Tuesday, March 12, 2013
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 12, 2013
Treasurer’s Report:
Communications: general inquiries
Old Business:
· Update: Ad Hoc Committee on Special Education Funding
· Update: Fun Run/Walk – May 4, 2013
· Update: SEPAC special education technology grants
· Update: APPLE Institute May 15 – 17, 2013
· Update: first support group meeting March 13, 2013
· Update: School Committee liaison to SEPAC
· Update: SEPAC liaisons to HPS
· Update: Spring mailing of SEPAC newsletter
· Update: Spring SEPAC elections
· Update: Jen Milia presentation March 20, 2013
· Update: All-town PTO
New Business:
· Bottle/Can Drive at Hingham Transfer Station, Saturday, June 1, 2013
Subcommittee Reports:
Director of Student Services Report:
· CPR Audit March 4 - 8, 2013
· DDS Guideline update
· A.P.P.L.E. Institute
· Budget Update
Announcements & Adjournment:
- Next SEPAC meeting – Tuesday, April 9
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: Board Members: Donna Keaney, Jean Garrity, Marisa Ronan, Daniela Andruszkiewicz, and Kim Cross; SEPAC Liaisons to Schools: Kerry Ni; School District Personnel: Liz Flynn.
A thirty-minute social preceded the business portion of the meeting.
The meeting was called to order at 10:30 a.m.
The minutes (in draft form) from February 12, 2013, were accepted. The final version of the February 12, 2013, minutes will be reviewed and voted on at the April meeting.
Treasurer’s Report: The balance is the same as last month - $13,484.34. Kim informed the board that deposits are only credited on the 15th of each month.
Communications: Jean noted that Mr. Boddie emailed SEPAC regarding the SEPAC-sponsored transition night at HMS on 4/25/13 from 6 – 7 p.m.
Old Business:
Hingham School District/ Board of Selectmen Ad Hoc Committee: Marisa noted that there are no new developments since the January 16 meeting and nothing is currently scheduled.
Fun Run/Walk: The event will take place in the same area of Bare Cove Park as in 2012. It will be untimed. Marisa sent Aquarion a sponsorship letter in the hope that they can donate water bottles. Marisa informed the board of committed sponsors: Fluency Factory (gold level), Dr. Larry Epstein (gold), Mathnasium (3 $100 memberships to be considered gold level), and Skills4Living (gold level). Last year we had 14 volunteers. Donna will look into having two photography students from HHS volunteer.
A.P.P.L.E. Institute: The site location has been changed to Dedham.
Special Education Support Group: Approximately 6 parents (elementary school – high school) have RSVPd. A motion was made to vote on spending up to $50 for beverages at the Meet & Mingle. It was approved 3 votes in favor,0 opposed.
School Committee Liaison to SEPAC: Donna contacted Caryl Falvey to follow up.
SEPAC Liaisons to Schools: PTO’s to have a SEPAC liaison as part of their boards. It is suggested that a SEPAC parent fill that role. Suggested responsibilities were discussed. Marisa will draft a letter to all PTO presidents outlining the liaison position.
All-town PTO: Dr. Galo mentioned at the last All-town PTO meting that the position to replace Mr. Boddie will be listed internally. There will be a focus group and a public process.
New Business:
Bottle/Can Drive – June 1, 2013: Jean outlined the community service options: 1) work with Keith Jermyn to place flags on the graves of service men and women prior to Memorial Day; 2) clean up trails for the Conservation Commission. SEPAC needs to do 4 hours of community service before 6/1/13. Two weeks prior to 6/1/13, we must contact South Shore Redemption. On day of bottle/can drive there must be an adult and two students to help load bottles and cans.
Sub-Committee Reports: Kerry reported there is no SEPAC activity from South School. Was asked to post technology grant announcement and leave copies of grant application in South office.
Director of Student Services: Liz Flynn noted that the CPR audit from March 4-8 was completed. The exit interview was held on March 8. The full report is expected perhaps in June. They do not issue reports over the summer. Regarding the budget, Liz noted that more notices of retirements and departures are being received; the budget is looking good; it is pretty much “level funded”; there will be some retirements to fill (at HHS and PRS). She will be working on ESY staffing. She also noted that a Teens & Technology presentation will be held at HHS on 3/26 and that Norwell is hosting a presentation on Coping with Death on 4/23.
Announcements/Calendar:
- Next SEPAC meeting is April 9, 2013. Social starts at 10 a.m., business meeting starts at 10:30 a.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:45 a.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: February 12, 2013
Treasurer’s Report:
Communications: general inquiries
Old Business:
· Update: Ad Hoc Committee on Special Education Funding
· Update: Fun Run/Walk – May 4, 2013
· Update: SEPAC special education technology grants
· Update: APPLE Institute May 15 – 17, 2013
· Update: first support group meeting March 13, 2013
· Update: School Committee liaison to SEPAC
· Update: SEPAC liaisons to HPS
· Update: Spring mailing of SEPAC newsletter
· Update: Spring SEPAC elections
· Update: Jen Milia presentation March 20, 2013
· Update: All-town PTO
New Business:
· Bottle/Can Drive at Hingham Transfer Station, Saturday, June 1, 2013
Subcommittee Reports:
Director of Student Services Report:
· CPR Audit March 4 - 8, 2013
· DDS Guideline update
· A.P.P.L.E. Institute
· Budget Update
Announcements & Adjournment:
- Next SEPAC meeting – Tuesday, April 9
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: Board Members: Donna Keaney, Jean Garrity, Marisa Ronan, Daniela Andruszkiewicz, and Kim Cross; SEPAC Liaisons to Schools: Kerry Ni; School District Personnel: Liz Flynn.
A thirty-minute social preceded the business portion of the meeting.
The meeting was called to order at 10:30 a.m.
The minutes (in draft form) from February 12, 2013, were accepted. The final version of the February 12, 2013, minutes will be reviewed and voted on at the April meeting.
Treasurer’s Report: The balance is the same as last month - $13,484.34. Kim informed the board that deposits are only credited on the 15th of each month.
Communications: Jean noted that Mr. Boddie emailed SEPAC regarding the SEPAC-sponsored transition night at HMS on 4/25/13 from 6 – 7 p.m.
Old Business:
Hingham School District/ Board of Selectmen Ad Hoc Committee: Marisa noted that there are no new developments since the January 16 meeting and nothing is currently scheduled.
Fun Run/Walk: The event will take place in the same area of Bare Cove Park as in 2012. It will be untimed. Marisa sent Aquarion a sponsorship letter in the hope that they can donate water bottles. Marisa informed the board of committed sponsors: Fluency Factory (gold level), Dr. Larry Epstein (gold), Mathnasium (3 $100 memberships to be considered gold level), and Skills4Living (gold level). Last year we had 14 volunteers. Donna will look into having two photography students from HHS volunteer.
A.P.P.L.E. Institute: The site location has been changed to Dedham.
Special Education Support Group: Approximately 6 parents (elementary school – high school) have RSVPd. A motion was made to vote on spending up to $50 for beverages at the Meet & Mingle. It was approved 3 votes in favor,0 opposed.
School Committee Liaison to SEPAC: Donna contacted Caryl Falvey to follow up.
SEPAC Liaisons to Schools: PTO’s to have a SEPAC liaison as part of their boards. It is suggested that a SEPAC parent fill that role. Suggested responsibilities were discussed. Marisa will draft a letter to all PTO presidents outlining the liaison position.
All-town PTO: Dr. Galo mentioned at the last All-town PTO meting that the position to replace Mr. Boddie will be listed internally. There will be a focus group and a public process.
New Business:
Bottle/Can Drive – June 1, 2013: Jean outlined the community service options: 1) work with Keith Jermyn to place flags on the graves of service men and women prior to Memorial Day; 2) clean up trails for the Conservation Commission. SEPAC needs to do 4 hours of community service before 6/1/13. Two weeks prior to 6/1/13, we must contact South Shore Redemption. On day of bottle/can drive there must be an adult and two students to help load bottles and cans.
Sub-Committee Reports: Kerry reported there is no SEPAC activity from South School. Was asked to post technology grant announcement and leave copies of grant application in South office.
Director of Student Services: Liz Flynn noted that the CPR audit from March 4-8 was completed. The exit interview was held on March 8. The full report is expected perhaps in June. They do not issue reports over the summer. Regarding the budget, Liz noted that more notices of retirements and departures are being received; the budget is looking good; it is pretty much “level funded”; there will be some retirements to fill (at HHS and PRS). She will be working on ESY staffing. She also noted that a Teens & Technology presentation will be held at HHS on 3/26 and that Norwell is hosting a presentation on Coping with Death on 4/23.
Announcements/Calendar:
- Next SEPAC meeting is April 9, 2013. Social starts at 10 a.m., business meeting starts at 10:30 a.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:45 a.m.
