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Home My WebLink About2022-05-19-SEPAC-SEPTA-min RECEIVED 1123 2 7 Jahn, I1 44 am Lexington Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) and Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA): LEI Business Meeting minutes Date: May 19, 2022 Time: 7:00pm —8:45pm LEXINGTON MIA Location: Zoom Attendees: Alissa Lauzon, Joyce Yang, Colette Powell , Pamela Goldstein, Carissa Black, Anna Miller, Colette Powell, Carol Millard, Heidi Mann, Sam Johnston, Susannah Hoch, Myriam wright, Maria Bertram, Nicole Locher, Lianor Hillerstrom, Stephanie Hsu, Jess Quattrocchi Agenda • 7:00pm Call to order • Cary Library Presentation on Children's Room Design "Chirp Project"- Alissa Lauzon, Head of Youth Services & Laura Bernheim, Deputy Director o Children's room hasn't been redesigned for many years. Looking to update it to 21st century more active use that fits modern needs. Not as accessible as it should be. Wheelchair users can't access all the aisles. Safety—how we think about it in public spaces has changed. o Universal Design principles should be applied, and accessibility is one of the key drivers o Community engagement - starting 5/31 - question of the week on social media and on the bulletin board. Survey- main priority, why it's your prio and anything else you want to share about the library. Will be doing listening sessions - Alissa is available by email, phone, zoom, whatever works. o Want to make meaningful changes - like widening the aisles, and wants to lower some shelves where the picture books are but balancing not losing too much shelf space so that collection would be affected o Working with architects now and there will be a session to hear the plans o Also working on more accessible programming - like sensory friendly events, book collections that are decodable - Dog on a log series. Adding phonics and reading kits, gross and fine motor skill kits, sensory kits, social emotional kits, etc. Would love suggestions for other suggestions for kits. o Carissa asked about a book club for parents around special needs and disabilities - should reach out to Helen Lui (Programming Coordinator) at hlui@minlib.net o Not touching the teen space, but will be looking at the big conference room across the hall to make it more flexible o Alissa Lauzon (Head of Youth Services) alauzon a)minlib.net o QEtA: • If you want to donate any resources, bring them to the desk and tell them to give them to Alissa Lauzon • https://www.carvlibrarv.or /suggestions • Shout out to book clubs - audio selections were great that they were provided • Could there be a place that fosters a community for parents with young children with needs - or programs that are advertised as more inclusive and being proactive that all are welcome and where everyone's expectations are set • Working with Kate D'Angelis to make programming more inclusive at the library • Some of the programs are so small, can they be offered at multiple times so more people can access them • Long term vision in a post covid world - virtual/in-person - going back to in person this summer- to see how it goes. Zoom book clubs have been a mixed bag - some older groups have gone better on zoom, but some like youngest and comic book club didn't work as well. So they may do it depending on the book club in the future. • Bookshare - district representative and free resources for anyone who has reading challenges: htt s://www.bookshare.or /cros/ • Suggestion to add social stories that prepares kids to navigate the new space, and potential previewing to book clubs or other programming • Approval of minutes from January and March meetings - motioned, seconded, and approved unanimously • Officers' reports o Co-Chairs • Quarterly meeting will be next week so nothing to report yet • Event Report-out (Film Screening, Resource Fair) - both were really great in terms of attendance, Community Center was a great space to have the Resource Fair - it's a great partnership and they like having this as a flagship event in their space. Chief of police and school committee joined the film screening, great conversation. Thanks to the organizers for their work on these events. • Understanding our Differences Update - held a parent info session and elementary spring sessions are going on now. Going full in-person in the fall, maybe speaker will be remote, but the parents and activities will be in person. Colette will be looking for help supporting this for next year. o Treasurer - Some expenses due to the film screening and resource fair. Still waiting on Takeda donation - will check on that. Teacher appreciation gifts for spring - based on the number of staff in each school - did Harry and David gift baskets in addition to the individual cookies around the holidays. Staff members really appreciate these gestures especially during covid. Over the last couple of years we've also shown appreciation with videos, thank you notes, tried to do awards but that didn't really get off the ground. o Membership - currently at 173 members - we tend to get a few more in spring along with progress reports • Nominating Committee: Slate Presentation o Stephanie, Heidi, Emma and Patricia were all instrumental in filling the slate with a great list of candidates. o In our next meeting we will vote - so we need a quorum of executive members to be able to vote. o Jess Quatrocchi / Maria Bertram as Co-chairs. Good mix of experienced and new faces on the slate. o Still looking for a 2nd School Committee liaison, transition, resource fair - really want to fill this role by next meeting when we vote. • School Committee updates - no update today as there's a conflicting meeting • School Liaison updates - o Pam - transition housing - how to apply and what kinds of housing to consider - Autism pathways presented - 25 signed up and 15 attended - always new info as laws change - there is a recording from a previous session - she didn't mention restrictions so should be OK to share the link with member list. We need to pay her invoice. Could add a link to their website on the resources section of our website. Not just applicable to autism but to any disability. o Nicole and Dyslexia group: Concern about some articles being shared on social media by an elementary literacy specialist - what do we want to do if anything as an organization - Carissa asked that Dyslexia group craft a statement or they work together to craft something that could be shared at the quarterly meeting next week- along the lines that this messaging is harmful to parents and students with language based learning challenges. • Background: There is a push on literacy curriculum based on the new laws - this article has been tweeted and shared and liked by Dr. Hackett htt s://journals.sae�ub.com/doi/full/10.1177/Z3613377211024625?fbclid=1w AR3zDaHSF9WWJLYVK1Dnliuo5V5nP3gkRZCwD4Y°1 ATvgNoBIZ Xrmoxdw • School committee meeting recording where Dr. Hackett commented on this: htt s://video lager,telvue,com/player/cOgKv9ZUF0uiidDafFfESDZA5Ekkjp7L/m edia/719463?autostart=true€xshowtabssearch=true€xfullscreen=false o LHS - • LEXSepta should have a seat at the table for graduation requirements - there is going to be a community speak on this • Concern that students are still falling through the cracks - continuing lag from COVID • Leveling - the concern is in the leveling and whether accommodations are being followed within the levels. • If there's a specific ask- Carissa and Colette can take it to the quarterly meeting o All special programs - are they being adequately sustained and taken care of- overcrowding at Fiske, DLP, Hastings and proper staffing o Is there a trend of students being offered out of district placements without parents asking for this? We have heard of a few, not sure if it's a trend, but could be concerning that parents are caught by surprise and district is not looking for ways to meet students' needs in district o Invisible differences - had a conversation and Johnny Cole was involved and talked a bit about neurodiversity o Concern about Kidsborough - They are asking for IEP and medical records - not clear if it's being properly used and safeguarded - or if it could be used as a reason to exclude - not clear why they need medical info - accommodations from an IEP would make sense. • That info cannot be required - it can be offered by parents, but it cannot be required for admission. • Support Group updates -Cathy McCarthy is retiring in the fall—director of literacy K-5 • Upcoming Events o LexSEPAC / SEPTA Business Meeting, June 9th 7pm (Elections and Social Event), Tavern on the Square, Burlington—LEXSEPTA providing apps and first drink—social event to celebrate at the end of the year as well as the vote and need a quorum. • 8:45pm Close