HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-12-10 Speical Education Parent Advisory Council Minutes� OFq�
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Parent Advisory Council
Date: 2015 -12 -10
Building: School - Memorial High
Address: 62 Oakland Road
Purpose: Business Meeting
Attendees: Members - Present:
Alicia Williams
Nicole Fidas
Terri Teixeira
Members - Not Present:
Kate Goldlust
Rob Carney
Others Present:
Time: 7:00 PM
ItLCL.I'v LU
TOWN CLERK
READING. MASS.
JAN i 3 AD 101
Location: Superintendent Conference Room
Session: Open Session
Carolyn Wilson, Director of Student Services
Linda Snow Dockser, School Committee Liaison
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Teresa Teixeira
Topics of Discussion:
1. Call to Order: Alicia Williams called the meeting to order.
2. Approval of 11/18/15 Meeting Minutes: Meeting minutes from 11/18/15 were
distributed for review.
Alicia Williams moved seconded by Nicole Fidas that we accept the
11/18/15 meeting minutes. The motion passed.
3. SEPAC Contact Information: Board members agreed to have their contact information
provided to the Office of Student Services for the purposes of putting them on Edline so
that parents will know how to reach them. Liaisons will also establish SEPAC emails in
the format of "school.sepac @gmail.com."
4. Bylaws: A draft copy of the bylaws was distributed. Upon review, it was decided that
further revisions are needed. A subcommittee to review and make recommendations
for changes to the bylaws was proposed. The subcommittee will be comprised of:
Nicole O'Neill, Alicia Williams, Nicole Fidas, Terri Teixeira and Beth -Ann Witkowski. The
subcommittee will meet on 12- 19 -15. This will be an open meeting.
5. Update from Director of Student Services: Carolyn Wilson gave an update from the
Office of Student Services.
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a. PLCs: Professional Learning Communities (PLCS) have been established to enable
staff to learn from each other. Special education teachers meet at least once a
month and are currently focused on developing special education program
descriptions, entrance and exit criteria for programs, and other documentation.
They will present to the entire staff in February with the long -term goal of
making the information available to parents and Edline by the end of the school
year.
b. Program Names: Carolyn would like to change the names of our special
education programs. Staff is currently brainstorming possibilities.
Exploration Process: When students require more support than their current
placement can give them, the IEP team will make the decision to begin the
Exploration Process. This is a team decision. The process involves exploring the
various programs, such as: teachers from other programs coming to observe the
student, staff visiting the school and talking to program teachers, parents getting
a tour of the school by the principal, etc. The process is not to exceed 30 school
days (but may happen more quickly).
6. Meeting Topics:
January 12 —Basic Rights
January 28— Extended School Year (ESY) and Transition
March 15 — World Cafe style Meeting focused on Disabilities
April 12 — Understanding Disabilities Presentation
June 7 -TBD
Nicole Fidas will chair the April 12 meeting. The chair of the March meeting TBD.
Understanding Disabilities Meeting (4/12/15): UD has received a grant to revamp their
entire curriculum. A new component will be added with the topic of Social /Emotional
Issues. A representative of UD will provide an overview of the program and how to get
involved.
7. Other: Other topics of concern raised by parents included:
• The need for small vans transporting students to have standard yellow school bus
paint and other markings to alert drivers of the need to stop when the lights are
flashing.
• IEP meetings scheduled for 1 -hour time frames — Carolyn noted that this is due to
the need for coverage and to maximize efficiency. Follow up meetings can be
scheduled as needed and team chairs may allot more time to the initial meeting if it
is deemed necessary.
• Joshua Eaton PARC Scores — Parents are interested in finding out more about what
will be done for special education students whose scores have not improved.
Alicia moved to adjourn the meetintt. Terri seconded.
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