2020-12-08 Special Education Parent Advisory Council Minutes

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rR Town of Reading kECEIVEL' Q / Meeting Minutes T0'NIN CLERK (� �a fir= p f . %! " U r,. va'�wwxv°a Board - Committee - Commission - Council: 2721 JA(i 13 P4 4: 27 Special Education Parents Advisory Council Date: 2020-12-08 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Location: Address: Session: Purpose: Business Meeting Version: Attendees: Members - Present: Amy Stewart (Chair for meeting) Laura Noonan Alyssa Scaparotti Members - Not Present: N/A Others Present: John Doherty, Superintendent of RPS Dr. Jennifer Stys, Director of Student Services Allison Wright, Assistant Director of Student Services Christine Kelley, Assistant Superintendent for the RPS Erin Gaffen, School Committee Member/SEPAC Liaison Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Laura Noonan Topics of Discussion: Call to Order at 7:00 PM Welcome remarks by Amy Stewart in regards to the program descriptions on the Agenda tonight. Dept.of Student Services update on special education program descriptions Welcome to Vanessa Kraft,new secretary in the office of Student Services, taking over for Ann Marie Foley. Jillian Solivan and Florrie Johnson are present to speak to entrance and exit criteria for psychological counseling. Power point presentation on program descriptions given during this virtual meeting is to be posted on the student services website following the SEPAC meeting, along with a flow chart for the Reading Public Schools Special Education Programming.When creating the new descriptions,focus was made on input and making it a team effort. Goal was two-fold: 1.to gel the program descriptions out and create the resource for families and teams, and 2.to develop a continuum of service that makes sense. Thought process was:What is the best way to talk about programming and supporting children and really make sure that the kids get what they need? Back in 2018/19 Sharon Stewart began looking at the program methodologies for each program. Format was created and posted with a bulleted list. Mirrored the support in each program. Surveyed district staff and asked what questions they have, and asked parents in community the same type of questions. Looked at other communities,and asked other school community members for input. Collected all that data last year. Thought process was:What do we need to make it the best program we can,over time?This is what was delayed by Covid. District wants to make sure they have a renewable cycle, and then will continue those conversations with the staff. Staff visited other school districts to see what other districts are doing-where can we improve our program descriptions?District hopes to continue to do that once Covid restrictions are over. Thought process-What are schedules and service delivery?Are we thinking about transition delivery? Outreach to leaders in different programs in other communities. Asked Dr. Melissa Orkin,of Crafting Minds, to Page 1 1