HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-11-16-SEPTA-SEPAC-min RECEIVED
Lexington Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) and Special Education Parent Teacher
Association (SEPTA):
LEI
Business Meeting Minutes
November 16, 2022 LEXINGTONI
Attendees: Maria Bertram, Jess Quattrocchi, Emma Harding, Nicole Locher, Christy Waller, Anna Miller,
Lianor Hillerstron, Gary Van Deurse, Stephanie Hsu, Paul Quatttrocchi, Colette Powell, Debbie Hellweg,
Amit Chawla, Robin Ackerman, Arvind Sudarsanam, Vaidehi Venkatesan, Lingiu Wu
Called to order 6:30pm
Treasurer's report
• $2.5k Takeda donation was delayed processing so appears on budget as deficit on 2021-22,
came in Aug 2023
• Budget is a work in progress—trying to work as we go to make it realistic
Approval of September meeting minutes-unanimously approved
Events
• Battlegreen run had great team participation, 36 on the team, $1k raised and we will get a
payment from the Battlegreen run foundation.
• Sarah Ward webinar planning for January, need to establish the best day and time.
Film screening,The Disruptors, expecting higher cost and fundraising needs.
Understanding our differences-3-5
o Parent participation is essential to the success. Volunteers needed, guest speakers are
virtual across grades. Parents in Newton developed the curriculum, talking about
different ways of learning. Parent volunteers are needed to run activities, training is
provided.
o Parent model has been key to success of the ongoing curriculum, like big back yard with
a school based admin but with a PTO role responsible for UOD.
o District is working on the curriculum for 6-12, no timelines yet
o Going back to the in person model this year. It is run by parent volunteers so the goal is
to educate both parents and students. We will be doing 4th and 5th grade modules this
December. Volunteering is open to all parents, but would love to see parents from
SEPAC sign up to volunteer as well. We worked hard to get this curriculum into all the
Lexington schools and now we need to support it.This time, we will still have the
speakers with the featured disability over zoom for all schools at once. Learning
disabilities unit doesn't name the disabilities but the activities are really great. It
involves using a mirror and trying to write. Auditory processing—go around the circle
and each person adds a sentence to the story.The 2nd time, you go around but can't use
the letter N. It becomes more challenging. Presentation is recorded PPT presentation
that intros strengths and challenges.
o Question: How much support is there from the staff in the schools?
■ Answer: Staff are supportive but it's very much a parent led model and so not a
lot is asked of the teachers and staff. It's only a 1hr 45 min commitment—less
than Big Backyard, so it hasn't been so difficult to get volunteers. It seems like
they may move toward a part time admin role that helps to facilitate the lists
o Q; Is this part of the actual classroom curriculum?
■ A:The district talks about inclusion and strengths and challenges, but not
naming any specific disabilities due to privacy concerns
o Q; is there anything like this in the upper grades—this is only 3-5.
■ A:There is a DEIB task force working on older grades
o Q: are the speakers live and can kids ask questions?
■ A: Yes,they are LHS grads and questions and curiosity are encouraged
Dyslexia parents group and ADHD parents group update
• Story walk in October was well received, to raise awareness, second event.
•Story time at the Cary library with characters two mondays in October
• Normal isn't real movie previewed at Hastings evening and replayed at teacher learning days.
• 3 more support group meetings scheduled, once-a-month coffees in the calendar.
Quarterly meeting
• Co Chairs with Dr. Hackett Ellen Sugita, Kay Slusser, school committee members Kathleen
Lenihan and Deepika Sawhney.
• Staffing issues discussed, SC approved additional support staff, Ellen Sugita had a next step to
provide update on staffing needs
• OOD state level 14%, District looking for MASBO lobbying support
• LCP, audit conducted see report presented to school committee
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• Disconnect when SPED personnel changing, IEP documentation and continuity of services has
been variable start of 2022-23. Counseling resource has been variable.
• District to improve Kindergarten and transitions, communication.
• We will follow up to solicit more info from parents on transition support needs
Meeting adjourned Bpm