HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-09-08 Speical Education Parent Advisory Council Minutes r'.Cri= 1 �✓ �.�.J
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Special Education Parents Advisory Council
Date: 2020-09-08 Time: 7 PM
Building: Location:
Address: Session:
Purpose: Virtual Business Meeting Version:
Attendees: Members - Present:
Maria Morgan
Alyssa Scaparotti
Laura Noonan
Amy Stewart
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Amy Stewart
Topics of Discussion:
7 PM Call to Order by Laura Noonan
Welcome by Laura Noonan
Old Business
3/10/20 Minutes approved unanimously.
New Business
Student Services Update:
Jennifer Stys reported that team chairs are in touch with families. DESE advised districts
that special education services shall be provided but may look different and that services will
represent a team effort. Staff has participated in trainings on computer programs, reading,
executive functioning, and how to use state resource book. Stys reported that district has
partnered with Crafting Minds(Orkin -brain expert)and did a training on building leaders and
utilizing graphic organizers for team chairs, reading specialists, and school psychologists.
Reported that school psychologists have started another training on assessments to obtain
baseline data (particularly Bridge program)with the objective to improve consistency with data
collection. Reported that student services staff continue to work diligently on program
descriptions and descriptions will highlight how each program is different.
Allison Wright reported that program descriptions will have consistent criteria and that
the research supporting the program's methodology will be embedded in the descriptions. Stys
and/or Wright has been meeting will all program staff to finalize descriptions. Stys stated that
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next steps will be to develop entrance and exit criteria, however, will publish descriptions prior to
that next step. Stys anticipates that descriptions will be published on website by end of
October.
Stys reported that a new team chair at high school has been hired. Her name is Renee
Lamore and she also is a reading specialist. Stys reported that Melissa Forbes has transferred
to be the team chair at Coolidge Middle School.
Stys reported that student services has been working with Gail Dowd and individual
schools to provide PPE and sneeze guards. Also working on "red cat systems' and closed
captioning for Zoom.
SEPAC short term and long term goals
Laura Noonan advised that one required goal of the SEPAC is to host a basic rights workshop.
She announced that the SEPAC has scheduled the FCSN to present Basic Rights: Eligibility
and Evaluation on October 13th. Noonan also reported on SEPAC's efforts to collaborate with
Andover and North Andover to offer the other basic rights workshops within the same
timeframe. Noonan also reported that SEPAC elections are scheduled for October and that the
Bureau of Special Education Appeals (BSEA)will be presenting to the SEPAC in November on
its available mediation related services.
Maria Morgan advised that based on her conversations with parents in Reading that SEPAC
related support and social opportunities are the priorities among parents. Amy Stewart agreed
and referenced her own conversations with parents.
Amy Stewart suggested that presentations that may be of interest to caregivers include: 30th
anniversary of the ADA and history of 504 (referenced documentary"Grip Camp" available on
Netflix) and state and community based resources for families with disabilities beyond that of
the district's services, such as DDS, Masshealth, Communitas,Arc, etc.
Amy Stewart questioned whether more caregivers would feel comfortable volunteering on the
SEPAC board if the roles/responsibilities were explicit and assigned, as opposed to a general
board format. Stewart also questioned whether encouraging caregivers to "shadow' current
board members for a month or two would provide caregivers with the skills and confidence to
take on board leadership roles. Stewart suggested that an alternative to board positions may be
volunteers who self-identify and are considered as"on-call"to support the board. Suggested
that volunteers could be called "Friends of SEPAC"or the like.
Laura Noonan staled that she prefers a flexible approach to the board structure with no explicit
roles or assigned responsibilities. Noonan stated that serving as meeting chair involves a lot of
work and she prefers to rotate and share that responsibility.
Maria Morgan suggested the SEPAC school liaison effort be a priority and that outreach to all
parents of all disabilities be a priority. Morgan stated that Amy Stewart reached out to Metco
last year and these outreach efforts should be continued this year. Morgan stated that virtual
meetings likely may become the norm and Its an opportunity for greater participation by
caregivers.
Tom Wise agreed that social support should be a prioritized goal of the SEPAC. Wise also
suggested that discussion/programming on "unseen disabilities" be a focus of SEPAC this year.
Wise suggested parent education on reading development and instruction, including what to
look for in terms of red flags, what to listen for in teacher feedback, how to interpret test results,
and how to be a team member and appropriate and reasonable advocate for your child to help
them move forward.
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Stys reported that she spoke to Orkin about presenting to parents and the school committee.
Orkin advised that she typically presents to parents in the community in the third year of the
program. Stys stated that in the meantime the district could present on its efforts.
Noonan solicited volunteer for elections coordinator position. Alicia Williams and Erin Alberts
volunteered.
Erin Alberts, Timna Serino, Julie Wall, and Dana Levin volunteered to be on-call support
volunteers to the SEPAC. Julie Wall also volunteered to be a school liaison.
Public Comment-
Amy Stewart stated that she wanted to acknowledge that there are many ways, other than
SEPAC, that caregivers can support and engage in the disability community and that those
efforts are recognized. Stewart referenced Understanding Disabilities, FCSN Special
Education Surrogate Parent program,ARC's Operation House Call, and volunteering with
Special Olympics, TOPS Soccer, and Challenger baseball to name a few.
Roll call vote on approving minutes- approved unanimously by board.
Roll call vote on adjourning meeting -approved unanimously by board.
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