HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-05-08-SEPAC-min Lexington Special Education Parent Advisory Council(SEPAL)
Lexington Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA)
Business Meeting Minutes
May 8,2018
Attendees: Robin Abrams, Bettina McGimsey, Mona Roy, Lisa O'Brien, Kathy Cunningham, Marina Levit,
Patricia Jacotin,Jennifer Yaar, Bronte Abraham, Georgia Swann, Barbara White,Jeanne DeSantos
Called to order: 9:03 am
Adjourned: 11:01 am
• Treasurer Report: balance is$4403.70
• Membership is at 111.
• The team discussed some ideas to increase membership:
o PTA Push
o Early Intervention communications
o Kindergarten orientation
o Facebook
• Jeanne DeSantos gave an update about the difficulty in getting program information about the
TLP (Therapeutic Learning Program) at Estabrook and the need for getting more information
about district-wide programs overall.
• Team discussed opportunity to get more involved in MassPAC best practices—Agnes Chan
volunteered to be point of contact for this effort in the 2018-2019 school year.
• Team discussed the Resource Fair—Deb Osber and Ashley Waring have volunteered to organize
this for the 2018-2019 school year. Team discussed possibility of holding the Resource Fair in
the spring, reserving space at Lexington Community Center, and possibly charging vendors.
• Barbara White gave an update on the Transition Group—Barbara Jackins presentation was very
helpful and should be a yearly event.
• LHS ILP 3 Update: Sandro Allessandrini and Kate Colburn will meet with Dr. C, Ellen Sugita, and
Andrew Baker(union representative) regarding the cancellation of the NECC contract and will
then provide an update.
• DLP Update: Program review was completed last Fall and was presented to School Committee in
January. Ellen Sugita will present the implementation plan to School Committee during 5/8
meeting.
• Transition Review: Review of LHS Transition Program to be done by outside consultant. LPS is
trying to fill a role for Transition Program Coordinator.
• School Committee Update:
o The School Committee has acknowledged the need for more proactive working
relationships with parents of special needs students, and the need for better addressing
problematic special needs education issues/challenges, as well as concerns about
intimidation and retaliation.
o Eileen Jay and Kathleen Lenihan will be working to create a Committee on Civil Rights in
an effort to address these issues.
• Human Rights Committee(HRC)Survey on Discipline Update
o Team discussed extensive issues with LIPS error in sending out the HRC Discipline Survey
to some parents without keeping their identities private, and then refusing to send out
the survey to the full set of parents originally agreed to.
o Survey results will be summarized despite the fact that the survey wasn't distributed as
planned.
o Next steps will need to be addressed with the new superintendent and the School
Committee members.
• The following slate of SEPAC/SEPTA 2018-2019 executive board members and liaisons was
unanimously approved by the nominating committee:
Co-chairs(two) Emma Harding en1ithardlY1g( n1all.Con1
***EB Farhana Stevenson fa_rhar1a..(E_form_�,p.l_atrix scam.
***EB
Treasurer Patricia Jacotin piacotin(@0L.Ytlo0k.com
***EB
Secretary Colette Powell cobopgw.II( mail,co.m
***EB
Membership Lauren Onorato _ra_re.rrca..riorato.Lcchca.trrra.i.l_.com.
***EB
Communications Bettina McGimsey bettine.rncgirnsP ( mail.com
Web/Tech Ashley Waring ashhcwari_ng2yjhoo ccaM
Transition Barbara White ba_rbarawhi..te.333.E�.me.com
Member at Large Marina LevitM ccons
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Presentations and Special Events Kathy Cunningham kaahySCl.lY1Y1'n .ha_n1_( IC_C UcI_corn
Lisa O'Brien I.,m.mobrien.@.- :co.m
Lexington Public School Liaisons
LHS Carol Millard m i la rd E�kc I m
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Barbara White b.a..r.b.a rqwbi Le 333.@.m e.co rn.
Mona Roy monarni. o rn
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Clarke Kathy Cunningham K.a.t.hymi inningham(@icloud.com
Lisa O'Brien 1....r.1..r.1..o b rken
Diamond Carol Webb carol..LE.ez.z..e..I.I.w.e..b..b....c.o..r.r..i.
Bowman Lori Wright w Di h.I .�[ZW�MIOL
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Bridge Agnes Chan ag
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Estabrook Jeanne Desanto
Fiske Elise Phair eentjairr�yahoo.com
Harrington Heidi Mann heidirn 0�@hcrm4il.corn
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Hastings Deborah Osber deb.orah..o..sbe.r_.@.gmail.com
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LCP(Lexington Children's Place) Georgia Swann Gann
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Out of District Agnes Chan ag
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Interest Groups
ADHD Parents Group Jennifer Yaar Jen..n.ifef...
Autism Parents Group Elise Phair
Dyslexia Parents Group Bettina McGimsey beffina.. ic
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Nicole Locher
School Committee Liaisons Mona Roy monarni.ci.ro o rn
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Bronte Abraham bronteab aa.ol.corn
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Patricia Jacotin Riacotin@0L.Ytlook.com