September 21, 2015

Hingham Public Schools Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC)

Monday, September 21, 2015

7:00-9:00 PM

Hingham Public Library, Fearing Room

Meeting Agenda:

Goals:

1.     Introduce SEPAC goals for 2015-2016 school year

2.     Learn HPS goals for special education in 2015-2016

3.     Reach consensus on roles of SEPAC liaisons

4.     Review draft calendar of Fall events

5.     Create a plan for open house/curriculum nights

6.     Review next steps

7:00 PM:              Welcome and introductions

7:10 PM:              Introduce SEPAC goals for the 2015-2016

1. Build a broad base of active, invested constituents
a. Monthly meetings
b. Social events
c. Informational evens
2. Form internal and external partnerships through active outreach
a. Internal partners: administration, school committee members, PTOs
b. External partners: SNAP, South Shore SEPACs, CORSE, Skills for Living, Best Buddies
3. Support district-wide social skills learning by sponsoring “The Year of Friendship”
a. Training for teachers and paraprofessionals
b. Social program to support healthy relationships for children
c. Speakers for parents

7:30 PM:              2015-16 HPS vision and goals for special education

7:40 PM:              Reach consensus on the role of SEPAC liaisons

·       Form partnerships with school administrators (principal, assistant principal, etc.) and PTOs

·       Support parents of children in special education within schools

·       Other thoughts?

8:00 PM:              Review draft Fall calendar

·       Curriculum Nights

o   Designate school leads and responsibilities

o   Discuss materials (brochures, sign-up sheets, talking points, etc.)

·       Know Your Rights meeting – 9/28/2015

·       Skills for Living event – 10/22/2015

8:30 PM:              School reports and other business

8:45 PM:              Review next steps

9:00 PM:              Adjourn

Meeting Minutes:

Present: Diane Denapoli, Chairperson; Nate Rand, Chairperson; Lynda Vanderhoven, Treasurer; Katie Gaughen, Secretary; Holly Pilotte, East Liaison; Laura Struzziery, Foster Liaison; Jed Grimm, parent

On September 21, 2015, the Hingham Public Schools Special Education Parent Advisory met to achieve the following goals:

Introduce SEPAC goals for 2015-2016 school year
Learn HPS goals for special education in 2015-2016
Reach consensus on roles of SEPAC liaisons
Review draft calendar of Fall events
Create a plan for open house/curriculum nights
Review next steps

The meeting was called to order at approximately 7:10 PM.

The minutes from June 9, 2015 were accepted.

Treasury report: SEPAC’s current balance was reported at $9861.11. SEPAC spent $277 to fund the Fourth of July parade. The committee approved the following upcoming budget items:

$850 for Kids and Friends social event (fees and copying)
$100 reception for Know Your Rights presentation on 9/28/2015
$20 for Anxiety and Depression in the Classroom donation to the library

The meeting then turned to reviewing SEPAC’s goals for the year as proposed by the Executive Committee:

Build a broad base of active, invested constituents
1. Monthly meetings
2. Social events
3. Informational events
Form internal and external partnerships through active outreach
1. Internal partners: administration, school committee members, PTOs
2. External partners: SNAP, South Shore SEPACs, CORSE, Skills for Living, Best Buddies
Support district-wide social skills learning by sponsoring “The Year of Friendship”
1. Training for teachers and paraprofessionals
2. Social program to support healthy relationships for children
3. Speakers for parents

Members present affirmed the goals listed above and expressed support of several related and/or additional initiatives:

Support quality, organization and communication related to the Extended School Year Program
- Potentially host a “Get to Know ESY” presentation in March
- Research/share best practices related to ESY
Follow-up to the Know Your Rights presentation, including specific information regarding:
- What’s the drawback of rejecting services?

Host a transition talk or possibly a social event where parents are encouraged to talk through the theme of transitions
- What to expect with transitions
Engage the Special Education subcommittee of the School Committee
- Invite them to attend the Kids and Friendship event
- Engage them in an introductory meeting – get on School Committee agenda
- Send quarterly updates regarding SEPAC’s progress
Sponsor alternative outlets for school events
- Host quarterly shadow events for children and young people with special needs
- Create sensory-friendly spaces for students at school events

The group then turned to a discussion of the role of the SEPAC liaisons, especially with regard to upcoming events (Know Your Rights meeting on 9/28/15 and Kids+Friendship event on 10/22/15). Based on this discussion, the following action steps were agreed upon:

Diane will send talking point and a powerpoint slide to support liaisons as they present at Curriculum Night
School liaisons will reach out to their respective PTOs to get photocopies of the Kids+Friendship flyers sent home in backpacks
Liaisons will ask principals to send out email promoting the event
SEPAC officers will work to get an article regarding the Kids+Friendship event in the journal
SEPAC members will post flyers around town
Diane will attend the all-town PTO meeting to publicize the Kids+Friendship event
Jed will work on setting up a SEPAC twitter account

There was also discussion about booking Naja Riley book speaker as follow-up speaker to the Kids+Friendship event

SEPAC officers will reach out to Dr. Galo
Laura also reported that Cohasset recently hosted a speaker regarding social/emotional learning and that she would find out the details regarding the presentation

Finally, Diane shared that the Hingham Public Schools’ SLTs were willing to share the social stories that they have developed on the SEPAC website

The meeting adjourned at 9 PM.