Tuesday, September 10, 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. – 12:00 p.m. – 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.)
1. Acceptance of Minutes from August 13th, 2013
2. General Q&A for items that may not be on the agenda
3. Director of Student Services’ Report:
a. HPS changes in Special Education staffing, incl. new hires and changed assignments
b. ESY wrap up
c. Summer Professional Development
d. Annual Parents’ Rights Presentation
4. Treasurer’s Report
5. New Business
a. Amend SEPAC by-laws regarding term of elected officers and any other items related thereto.
b. Kick-off for site-map (A.P.P.L.E. – team action plan)
c. Open Treasurer’s board position.
d. Date and venue for next parent support group.
6. Old Business
a. Fall Newsletter
b. Article for Hingham Journal to kick off the new school year
c. Locale for Parent presentation by Sarah Ward
d. SEPAC calendar for upcoming school year
e. Subcommittees
f. Fundraiser via CABI sales event, Oct. 17th
7. Other Items as may not reasonably be known within 48 hours of the meeting
8. Communications/General Inquiries
9. Announcements & Adjournment:
a. Next SEPAC meeting – Tuesday, October 8th
Upcoming SEPAC Events:
October 9th, 2013: Sarah Ward Administration (day) and Parent (evening) presentations
October 17th, 2013: CABI Sales Event Fundraiser
Meeting Minutes:
Present: Board Members: Daniela Andruszkiewicz, Marisa Ronan, Sonja Finney; School Liaison Kerry Ni; School Committee Liaison Liza O’Reilly; HPS Director of Student Services Liz Flynn and 4 guests.
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 August 13, 2013 were accepted.
Question and Answer Session: No discussion.
Director of Student Services:
Staff Changes: Liz reported on various staff changes within the district, which information will be sent to special education families in her welcome back letter. Liz also said she will start a new monthly meeting with SPED staff at each school. This meeting is in addition to her scheduled monthly meetings with team chairs.
ESY Wrap-up: The district had a successful ESY program, which focused on math and reading skills as well as life skills.
Summer Professional Development: The district sent staff to the following training: Michelle Garcia Winner’s Social Thinking program; Math Initiative/Rethinking Middle School Math; and Think:Kids (collaborative problem solving tier 1 training). There may be an opportunity to attend tier 2 training depending on grant funding. Also, several elementary paraprofessionals were ABA certified.
Annual Parent’s Rights Presentation: October 23 at 7pm, HHS room 103. Child care will be provided.
Liz also noted the HPS will cover SEPAC’s MassPac membership fee.
Treasury Report: SEPAC’s balance according to the school department is $17,005 as of July 31, 2013. This figure is almost $4,900 greater than previously recognized. SEPAC will monitor the reported balance to review any future fluctuation.
New Business:
Amend SEPAC By-laws: The board voted to amend the term of officers to one year to encourage potential candidates.
Kick off for site map development: Discussion ensued re: curriculum programming in general education and special education, and members agreed that the site map should aid parents’ understanding of district-wide general curriculum programming approaches as well as special programs. For example, Walpole is offering a presentation on the continuum of SPED services and programs in its district. SEPAC would also like to host a similar presentation once all services are identified. Further discussion ensued about discrepancies in how district programs are delivered in different schools. Kerry and Danie will continue to work on the site map. Liz advised that school team chairs will have partner schools and the chairs will round-robin during initial evaluation meetings to help them better understand the differences or similarities among the district’s schools. SEPAC is discussing whether to have a presentation in the Spring on the intersection of changes to the curriculum arising from the switch to Common Core and special education. Liza and D. Galo are planning on publishing a statement concerning the general education changes related to Common Core.
Open Treasurer’s Position: SEPAC welcomes interested members to contact us about it.
Next Parent Group Gathering: Diane and Marisa are heading up the effort for this. The next meeting is planned for early October. SEPAC discussed accessing community spaces such as the Allerton House and the Girl Scout building as possible sites.
Old Business:
Fall Newsletter: The SEPAC newsletter is ready for distribution with the District’s annual mailing of its “Welcome Back” letter and Notice of Parental Rights.
SEPAC Article to the Hingham Journal: Danie will write and submit an article to the Journal for October target date.
Sarah Ward Presentation (October 9): The presentation will be held be in PRS cafetorium from 7-9. The staff presentation will be during the day. SEPAC will ask Midge Jacobs to apprise out of district placement families of the event, and it will be posted on MassPac website and other bulletin announcements. SEPAC will arrange for copies of the materials to be available. SEPAC will set out a donation jar to help defray the cost of hosting the presentation.
Upcoming SEPAC Calendar: SEPAC continues to explore options for presentations, including any suggestions forwarded to it. Some possible presentation topics include ADHD, behavior therapy and social skills. Liz will present on Parent’s Basic Rights and Responsibilities on October 23.
Subcommittees: Nothing to report.
CAbi Fundraiser: Donna Keaney and Karen Shusterman will host a fundraiser on October 17 with a portion of the proceeds to benefit SEPAC. SEPAC will advertise the event to its membership via the newsletter, email, PTO newsletters and its website.
On a previously mentioned fundraising idea, Sonja reported that HHS Athletic Concession events are reserved for Class fundraising and sports booster groups.
Other items as may not be reasonably known within 48 hours of the meeting: None. Communications: Several solicitations and/or informational notices were received via either mail or email.
Announcements/Calendar:
The meeting was adjourned at 12:10 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. – 12:00 p.m. – 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.)
1. Acceptance of Minutes from August 13th, 2013
2. General Q&A for items that may not be on the agenda
3. Director of Student Services’ Report:
a. HPS changes in Special Education staffing, incl. new hires and changed assignments
b. ESY wrap up
c. Summer Professional Development
d. Annual Parents’ Rights Presentation
4. Treasurer’s Report
5. New Business
a. Amend SEPAC by-laws regarding term of elected officers and any other items related thereto.
b. Kick-off for site-map (A.P.P.L.E. – team action plan)
c. Open Treasurer’s board position.
d. Date and venue for next parent support group.
6. Old Business
a. Fall Newsletter
b. Article for Hingham Journal to kick off the new school year
c. Locale for Parent presentation by Sarah Ward
d. SEPAC calendar for upcoming school year
e. Subcommittees
f. Fundraiser via CABI sales event, Oct. 17th
7. Other Items as may not reasonably be known within 48 hours of the meeting
8. Communications/General Inquiries
9. Announcements & Adjournment:
a. Next SEPAC meeting – Tuesday, October 8th
Upcoming SEPAC Events:
October 9th, 2013: Sarah Ward Administration (day) and Parent (evening) presentations
October 17th, 2013: CABI Sales Event Fundraiser
Meeting Minutes:
Present: Board Members: Daniela Andruszkiewicz, Marisa Ronan, Sonja Finney; School Liaison Kerry Ni; School Committee Liaison Liza O’Reilly; HPS Director of Student Services Liz Flynn and 4 guests.
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 August 13, 2013 were accepted.
Question and Answer Session: No discussion.
Director of Student Services:
Staff Changes: Liz reported on various staff changes within the district, which information will be sent to special education families in her welcome back letter. Liz also said she will start a new monthly meeting with SPED staff at each school. This meeting is in addition to her scheduled monthly meetings with team chairs.
ESY Wrap-up: The district had a successful ESY program, which focused on math and reading skills as well as life skills.
Summer Professional Development: The district sent staff to the following training: Michelle Garcia Winner’s Social Thinking program; Math Initiative/Rethinking Middle School Math; and Think:Kids (collaborative problem solving tier 1 training). There may be an opportunity to attend tier 2 training depending on grant funding. Also, several elementary paraprofessionals were ABA certified.
Annual Parent’s Rights Presentation: October 23 at 7pm, HHS room 103. Child care will be provided.
Liz also noted the HPS will cover SEPAC’s MassPac membership fee.
Treasury Report: SEPAC’s balance according to the school department is $17,005 as of July 31, 2013. This figure is almost $4,900 greater than previously recognized. SEPAC will monitor the reported balance to review any future fluctuation.
New Business:
Amend SEPAC By-laws: The board voted to amend the term of officers to one year to encourage potential candidates.
Kick off for site map development: Discussion ensued re: curriculum programming in general education and special education, and members agreed that the site map should aid parents’ understanding of district-wide general curriculum programming approaches as well as special programs. For example, Walpole is offering a presentation on the continuum of SPED services and programs in its district. SEPAC would also like to host a similar presentation once all services are identified. Further discussion ensued about discrepancies in how district programs are delivered in different schools. Kerry and Danie will continue to work on the site map. Liz advised that school team chairs will have partner schools and the chairs will round-robin during initial evaluation meetings to help them better understand the differences or similarities among the district’s schools. SEPAC is discussing whether to have a presentation in the Spring on the intersection of changes to the curriculum arising from the switch to Common Core and special education. Liza and D. Galo are planning on publishing a statement concerning the general education changes related to Common Core.
Open Treasurer’s Position: SEPAC welcomes interested members to contact us about it.
Next Parent Group Gathering: Diane and Marisa are heading up the effort for this. The next meeting is planned for early October. SEPAC discussed accessing community spaces such as the Allerton House and the Girl Scout building as possible sites.
Old Business:
Fall Newsletter: The SEPAC newsletter is ready for distribution with the District’s annual mailing of its “Welcome Back” letter and Notice of Parental Rights.
SEPAC Article to the Hingham Journal: Danie will write and submit an article to the Journal for October target date.
Sarah Ward Presentation (October 9): The presentation will be held be in PRS cafetorium from 7-9. The staff presentation will be during the day. SEPAC will ask Midge Jacobs to apprise out of district placement families of the event, and it will be posted on MassPac website and other bulletin announcements. SEPAC will arrange for copies of the materials to be available. SEPAC will set out a donation jar to help defray the cost of hosting the presentation.
Upcoming SEPAC Calendar: SEPAC continues to explore options for presentations, including any suggestions forwarded to it. Some possible presentation topics include ADHD, behavior therapy and social skills. Liz will present on Parent’s Basic Rights and Responsibilities on October 23.
Subcommittees: Nothing to report.
CAbi Fundraiser: Donna Keaney and Karen Shusterman will host a fundraiser on October 17 with a portion of the proceeds to benefit SEPAC. SEPAC will advertise the event to its membership via the newsletter, email, PTO newsletters and its website.
On a previously mentioned fundraising idea, Sonja reported that HHS Athletic Concession events are reserved for Class fundraising and sports booster groups.
Other items as may not be reasonably known within 48 hours of the meeting: None. Communications: Several solicitations and/or informational notices were received via either mail or email.
Announcements/Calendar:
- - Next SEPAC meeting is October 8, 2013. Social starts at 10 a.m., business meeting starts at 10:30 a.m.
- - Sarah Ward presentation (evening) is October 9, 2013, PRS Cafetorium
- - CAbi fundraiser is October 17 at the Keaney Home, 3 Black Horse Lane 11-1, and 7-8:30
- - HPS Basic Rights and Responsibilities Presentation at October 23 at 7pm, HHS.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:10 p.m.
