Hingham Public Schools Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC)
Monday, November 16, 2015
7:00-9:00 PM
Hingham Public Library, Fearing Room
Meeting Agenda:
7:00 PM: Welcome and introductions
7:15 PM: Review feedback from 10/22 surveys
7:30 PM: Follow-up regarding meeting with the Administration
7:45 PM: Status of Upcoming Events
8:15 PM: SNAP Partnership
8:25 PM: Hingham Educational Foundation Update
8:35 PM: New member/Board Plans
8:45 PM: Liaison reports from schools and other business
9:00 PM: Adjourn
Meeting Minutes:
Present: Diane Denapoli, Chairperson; Nate Rand, Chairperson; Katie Gaughen, Secretary; Holly Pilotte, East Liaison; Kerry Ni, South Liaison; Elizabeth Flynn, Director of Student Services
The meeting was called to order at 7:15 PM. The minutes from 10/19 were approved.
The meeting began by reviewing the surveys from the “Kids+Friendship” event. The surveys were highly complimentary and many people wanted more resources on this issue. Specifically, a number of people were interested in having Katie speak to fifth graders transitioning to middle school. The presentation was filmed for HCAM and SEPAC will send an email to participants when the presentation is uploaded.
Next, the meeting turned to presenting a summary of the SEPAC leadership’s meeting with the administration. The upcoming budget meetings were the most pressing issue on the administration’s agenda, with 1/14 likely to be the date that the special education budget will be discussed. The administration is requesting an additional administrative position dedicated to special education budget. Liz Flynn reported that most districts of similar size have an assistant director for special education. This person would likely help with field supervision. An important qualification for the position would be teaching and leadership experience, as well as a working knowledge of common core curriculum and standards.
SEPAC is slated to do a Superintendent Spotlight on December 7th and 8th with a focus on what its like to have a special needs child in Hingham and what is SEPAC. The group decided that it would be great to have SNAP co-featured in the Spotlight.
During the meeting with the administration, SEPAC officers also discussed ESY. The Administration is very focused on increasing the level of communication/notification around ESY in 2016. We discussed ways SEPAC could assist and they thought an ESY information night in the April timeframe would be ideal. The administration discussed having the ESY director as well as transportation take part in this informational evening.
The meeting then turned to a discussion of SEPAC’s partnership with the Hingham Educational Foundation (HEF). HEF is eager to rollout a speaker series and agreed to fund Nadja Reilly as a speaker on April 6th. Members present thought it would be great if Nadja could address teachers and staff at 4 PM and have a second event for parents at 7 PM. In addition, the group thought it made sense to reach out to principals to see if it would be useful for Nadja to address students, such as the Fifth Grade Leadership Club at South. HEF will provide 100% of the funding.
Nate also discussed funding teacher training with HEF. HEF was supportive, but acknowledged difficulty with Professional Development Points. Liz believed that it would be possible to award teachers PDPs (after 7/1/16 have to show 50 PDP points in special education topic and 10 in ELL). Liz shared that Ellen Keane is in charge of the teacher mentoring program and that new teachers may be a good target for SEPAC training.
In thinking about additional speakers for a HEF series, the group discussed:
The group agreed that for all future speaking events, it is best organize a series of presentations geared toward children, youth, parents and teachers/staff.
The group next discussed updates from schools:
Kerry Ni provided several SNAP Updates:
Monday, November 16, 2015
7:00-9:00 PM
Hingham Public Library, Fearing Room
Meeting Agenda:
7:00 PM: Welcome and introductions
7:15 PM: Review feedback from 10/22 surveys
7:30 PM: Follow-up regarding meeting with the Administration
7:45 PM: Status of Upcoming Events
8:15 PM: SNAP Partnership
8:25 PM: Hingham Educational Foundation Update
8:35 PM: New member/Board Plans
8:45 PM: Liaison reports from schools and other business
9:00 PM: Adjourn
Meeting Minutes:
Present: Diane Denapoli, Chairperson; Nate Rand, Chairperson; Katie Gaughen, Secretary; Holly Pilotte, East Liaison; Kerry Ni, South Liaison; Elizabeth Flynn, Director of Student Services
The meeting was called to order at 7:15 PM. The minutes from 10/19 were approved.
The meeting began by reviewing the surveys from the “Kids+Friendship” event. The surveys were highly complimentary and many people wanted more resources on this issue. Specifically, a number of people were interested in having Katie speak to fifth graders transitioning to middle school. The presentation was filmed for HCAM and SEPAC will send an email to participants when the presentation is uploaded.
Next, the meeting turned to presenting a summary of the SEPAC leadership’s meeting with the administration. The upcoming budget meetings were the most pressing issue on the administration’s agenda, with 1/14 likely to be the date that the special education budget will be discussed. The administration is requesting an additional administrative position dedicated to special education budget. Liz Flynn reported that most districts of similar size have an assistant director for special education. This person would likely help with field supervision. An important qualification for the position would be teaching and leadership experience, as well as a working knowledge of common core curriculum and standards.
SEPAC is slated to do a Superintendent Spotlight on December 7th and 8th with a focus on what its like to have a special needs child in Hingham and what is SEPAC. The group decided that it would be great to have SNAP co-featured in the Spotlight.
During the meeting with the administration, SEPAC officers also discussed ESY. The Administration is very focused on increasing the level of communication/notification around ESY in 2016. We discussed ways SEPAC could assist and they thought an ESY information night in the April timeframe would be ideal. The administration discussed having the ESY director as well as transportation take part in this informational evening.
The meeting then turned to a discussion of SEPAC’s partnership with the Hingham Educational Foundation (HEF). HEF is eager to rollout a speaker series and agreed to fund Nadja Reilly as a speaker on April 6th. Members present thought it would be great if Nadja could address teachers and staff at 4 PM and have a second event for parents at 7 PM. In addition, the group thought it made sense to reach out to principals to see if it would be useful for Nadja to address students, such as the Fifth Grade Leadership Club at South. HEF will provide 100% of the funding.
Nate also discussed funding teacher training with HEF. HEF was supportive, but acknowledged difficulty with Professional Development Points. Liz believed that it would be possible to award teachers PDPs (after 7/1/16 have to show 50 PDP points in special education topic and 10 in ELL). Liz shared that Ellen Keane is in charge of the teacher mentoring program and that new teachers may be a good target for SEPAC training.
In thinking about additional speakers for a HEF series, the group discussed:
- Larry Epstein – Collaborative Problem-Solving (The Explosive Child).
- Donna Pincus – Growing Up Brave
- Shut Up Sisters
The group agreed that for all future speaking events, it is best organize a series of presentations geared toward children, youth, parents and teachers/staff.
The group next discussed updates from schools:
- A mother at South started recess running club, which has been a great outlet for children struggling to connect socially at recess. There is also interest in starting similar groups at East and Foster.
- East had quiet room at Halloween Party, which was successful. Continues to work on Buddy Bench
- The high school advertised social in newsletter
- Best Buddies requires more structure and support at the high school, particularly around communication.
- There is no buddies program at the middle school or elementary school levels.
- There are no structured lunch bunches
Kerry Ni provided several SNAP Updates:
- Basketball program starting this winter
- SNAP is working on starting Little League and Track in the spring
- There is movement to build an accessible playground at Crest Farm. This will be discussed at the upcoming Community Preservation Committee
- SNAP approved that members can continue participating in SNAP activities as senior mentors after age 22
- SNAP has several upcoming events, including
- St. Patrick’s Day event (Community Center)
- Pizzapalooza (last Tuesday of March)
- Cocktail Party (Friday, June 10th)
- Fun Run (SNAP/SEPAC) at Black Rock
- In addition, SNAP highlighted several community resources for children with special needs, including
- Zumba at Fuego Fitness
- Rockclimbing at Challenge Rocks
- Pleasant Street Farms Horseback Riding
