HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-07-06-SEPAC-minSEPAC Business Meeting Minutes
Date: July 6, 2015
Attendees: Jennifer Yaar, Mona Roy, Robin Abrams, Kathy Georgopoulos, Jenifer
Schatten Swirnoff, Ann Wolf, Carol Millard
Location: Panera, Lexington Center
Call to order: 10:05 am
Adjourned: 11:34 am
Approvals
• Meeting minutes from May 19, 2015 were approved unanimously.
• Reimbursement to Kathy Georgopoulos for $24.00 for end -of -year staff
appreciation at Estabrook Elementary.
Review of 2015 -2016 Meetings /Presentations
• Carol Millard and Mona Roy to own the September 16, 2015 SEPAC evening
meeting (Parent Meetup) 7:00 -8:30 pm. Large Meeting Room at Cary
Library has been reserved for this meeting.
• Jennifer Yaar to reserve all meeting rooms for SEPAC evening /morning
meetings after dates are agreed upon.
• Attendees discussed Ellen Sugita's focus on earlier screening for dyslexia (as
discussed in a June meeting with Ellen Sugita and Kay Slusser). Robin
Abrams to follow up with Bettina McGimsey and the Dyslexia Support Group
about this development, and to determine if Ellen Sugita or someone else
from LPS wants to speak at the October SEPAC meeting (with focus on
dyslexia).
• Jennifer Yaar to follow up on MassPAC membership with Federation and
Ellen Sugita's office.
• Ann Wolf to own the Basic Rights meeting scheduled for 11/5/15 in the
evening.
• 12/3/15 meeting will be Q &A with Superintendent Czajkowski, Ellen Sugita,
and Kay Slusser. Jenn Yaar and Ann Wolf to own this meeting.
• Mid - January 2016 meeting will focus on Sibling Support with speakers from
Community Therapeutic Day School. Jenn Yaar to follow up with the
speakers; Ann Wolf to help support this meeting.
• We are not planning a February SEPAC meeting.
• 3/3/16 meeting with focus on an overview of OT and Speech Therapy.
Proposed speakers are Katina Lawes and Faye Backert (OT) and Natalie
Cohen (Speech). Robin Abrams and Mona Roy will own this meeting.
• 4/7/16 meeting will focus on LPS Guidance with Valerie Viscosi, with a
discussion on 504 plans. Ann Wolf and Carol Millard to own this meeting.
• 5/5/16 meeting will focus on Neuropsyc Evaluations. Proposed speakers are
Dr. Janine Stasior Dr. Rachel Mintz of Child Development Network (CDN)
Lexington. Jenifer Schatten Swirnoff to own this meeting
• 6/2/2016 meeting will be officer elections and meeting planning for the
following school year.
• Robin Abrams to follow up with Barbara White regarding doing a transition
topic as part of a Transition Support Group meeting.
LHS ILP Update
• Parents of incoming LHS freshman continue to raise concerns about
readiness of program for September 1, especially since Diamond aides and
teachers are not moving with students and new teaching staff are starting at
the same time as students.
• Parents are continuing to raise concerns in their individual IEP meetings.
Upcoming Business Meetings
• Team agreed that business meetings would be held monthly, with a schedule
that alternates between a separate meeting and a brief meeting prior to the
SEPAC evening presentation meetings. Robin Abrams to send out a proposed
schedule of dates and times.
Preparation for Meeting with New Superintendent Mary Czajkowski
• Ann Wolf and Robin Abrams will meet with Dr. Czajkowsi in July. They will
communicate the following priorities /focus areas for LPS special education:
o Success Criteria for LPS Special Education services and programs (e.g.
how is Ellen Sugita's performance measured ?)
o How will LPS manage new special education programs as the
population of special education students grows with the overall
student population?
o Importance of communication and partnership with parents
Support Groups
• Colleen McAdams contacted Jennifer Yaar about the idea of hosting monthly
networking /support groups at her home. Jennifer Yaar to follow up with
Colleen McAdams on this idea.