HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-03-11 Speical Education Parent Advisory Council Minuteso
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Meeting Minutes
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Board._ Committee -'Commission - Council:
Parent Advisory Council
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Date: 20.17-03-11 Time: 9:00 AM
Building: Reading Public.Library Location: Conference Room
Address: 64 Middlesex Avenue
Purpose: Business Meeting. Session:
Attendees: Members - Present:
Gina Moran (chair)
Alicia Williams -
Melissa Davis
Terri Teixeira
Kate Goldlust
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Carolyn Wilson, Director of Student Services
Linda Snow Dockser, School Committee Liaison
Laura Gemme, Town. Clerk
Minutes Respectfully Submitted:By: Gina Moran
Topics of Discussion:
1. Call to Order:. Meeting called.to order @ 9:08 am by Gina Moran
2. Meeting Minutes from 1/31%17 presented by Gina Moran
Motion to accept by Alicia Williams. Seconded by Kate Goldlust
3. Public Comment:
a. Reading, Friends & Family Day - SEPAC to participate- will form a
subcommittee chaired by Terri Teixeira
4. Update from the Director of Student Services:
a. District mid -,cycle CPR postponed again by DESE .to mid-April.
b. Reminder that Carolyn Wilson has no operating funds for professional
c. development '17-'18; pursuing grants.
d. Carolyn Wilson not planning to draft an OOD parent letter - OOD coordinate
will instead follow up.with- individual families, who are interested in returning
to district and will send SEPAC brochure out. -
5. New Business
a.SEPAC business cards have been made available to Team chairs
b. IEP survey changing to Survey Monkey_ /online format (with.each draft sent
home for signature)
c. SEPAC website up and running. The referral list of.professionals needs a
disclaimer. Will have parent forms available including release of information
:.and observation requests
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d. Request for data/rates of graduation from RMHS..for students on IEPs?
Carolyn Wilson presents to the School Committee on 4/3/2017 and all are
encouraged to attend as one of the topics will address this; Carolyn asking
the district's data manager to pull these. numbers
e. Elementary report card.concerns: Melissa Davis presented concern. re: new
report card system and the lack of comment section. Does this address
progress towards goals versus progress in the general curriculum? Is
modified curriculum accounted for? How does this standards based reporting
fit with guidelines from the Office of Civil Rights? Carolyn Wilson responded .
that the system is still in progress and very.new. Ms. Wilson does not directly
over this. Working with consultant Allan Blume on the topic of
modification versus accommodation, progress reporting, PLEP A
accommodations, etc. Melissa Davis reports that progress reporting is not
consistent throughout the district - varies by specialist or liaison.
f. SEPAC reports multiple parents are sharing concerns about 504 Plans and
IEPs versus 504s - suggest this be addressed..
g. Elementary and middle school book fairs: Special educators should be
actively. invited to create "Wish Lists suggest reaching out.to Book Fair
coordinators (parent volunteers) each September
6. Open Meeting Law Training by Laura Gemme - all board. members present. 9:35 -
10:30 am.
7. Concerns with mission overlap between district SEPAC and Joshua Eaton parent
council - discussed and tabled. Linda Dockser and Laura Gemme may follow up.
8. Next meeting and event dates - being cross-referenced by Carolyn Wilson against
town and school calendar:
Coffee and. conversation with Carolyn Wilson and principals at elementary
schools continuing to be set up.
3/23/17 General Meeting - Updates; Carolyn Wilson to present on ESY for 45.
minutes (Super's conference room)
'4/3/17 SEPAC Meeting at 6 pm followed by School Committee meeting at 7.
pm where SEPAC will present
4/27/17 General Meeting - school psychologist to speak
5/16/17 General Meeting —speaker TBD
6/8/17 General Meeting- special educator recognition/award (details to
follow), planning for 2017-2018
Topics for next year:
EI/transition to preschool speaker for parents of 1-3 year olds .
IEP for My Child (Kate Goldlust will own)
Neuroscience of Dyslexia
"Advocate speed dating" at general meetings
Return of.Dr..Olivardia (Alicia Williams will own).
Action items:
Gina Moran to submit minutes to be voted upon at next meeting
Teacher recognition subcommittee to meet
-Bylaws subcommittee to meet
All board members need to be sworn.i'n at Town Hall if they have not
already done so
Motion to adilourn presented by Kate Goldlust at 11:20 am. Seconded
by Alicia Williams
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