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Westwood SEPAC Meeting Minutes
January 08, 2008
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- CALL TO ORDER
- OFFICER REPORTS
- D.O.E. (Dept. of Education)
- Dept. of Education is now done with their evaluation of how Westwood Public Schools meet the needs for special education, civil rights, and English learning services.
- Susan Nichols (snichols@doe.mass.edu) is our town’s program quality assurance representative; she can answer our questions/concerns about policy, compliance issues, IEP questions, etc. She interviewed Pam, Tracey, and Tania on 12/10/07.
- SEPAC provided DOE with notebook of its operations so far.
- Upcoming Elections
- All positions are open for next year…Chair, co-Chair, Secretary,
- Treasurer, and Membership Coordinator.
- Last day for nominations: February 28, 2008.
- Should bring any and all nomination ideas to next SEPAC meeting (2/12/08).
- Actual elections for offices: May 13, 2008 (also our last SEPAC meeting of this school year).
- See our website for nomination form. Mail back completed form to 220 Nahatan Street address.
- Balance of Funds
- As of January 3, 2008 our balance: $2,838.66.
- Tracy will type up possible/suggested events, etc. where we might consider giving money.
- Membership (Tania)
- We have around 80 members currently (there are some 500 families with kids w/special need(s) in town!)
- Discussion followed regarding where and how we might advertise/promote our SEPAC
- word of mouth, school newsletters, early intervention places, places of worship, “Marcy and Me,” doctor
offices, dentist offices, etc.
- Articles of Organization - written by Tania and Jen
- purpose: to gain 501C3 status
- we can then register as a charitable org.
- incorporates us in Massachusetts
- lays groundwork for charitable donations
- COMMITTEE REPORTS
- Social Skills Group (Jen and Tracy)
- Consistent need in Westwood for parents to find a place where their children can learn (more) social skills
- Members met on 12/5/07 to discuss how to put something together. kids will be grouped by diagnosis, age, gender, ability.
- Applying for a $5k grant (funds) for a proposed Social Skills group to begin in summer
- Kids will be grouped by diagnosis, age, gender, ability.
- Program may consist of two (2) 7-week groups of 6 kids in an age 3-5 yr. range and another group of 6 kids in the age 6-8 range. There would be 2 facilitators (trained) and maybe some auxiliary staff (??)
- Will start with a social skills group that targets one specific diagnosis (high function ASD) as we have contact with a developer with this specialty.
- Social skills rating sheets for interested parents passed out. Must be filled out and returned by 2/12/08 to 220 Nahatan address or fill out online and return by email. Must be filled out as part of development of project.
DISCUSSION- Lisa Lucas asked if we could/should look at ways to get our special needs kids into integrated town team sports. Can be extremely frustrating. She will explore.
- Tracey has a contact in Sudbury, Ma who has set up sports groups for kids like ours.
- Let’s check out how town sports are organized and set up in Westwood. Do a special needs seminar for coaches?
- Library
- Sheehan donated $125 to SEPAC Westwood, to buy books for their library collection.
- Parents from any school can go to Sheehan and borrow these books.
- Liaisons
- Discussion led in the direction of considering the liaisons for each school an obsolete position.
- Any volunteer from SEPAC could just as effectively represent us at Curriculum Night. Secretary could maintain list of all PTO officers, principals, newsletters, and all their contact information.
- Would need to amend by laws.
- Website
- Carmel Sterling did a beautiful job on SEPAC website.
- ii. Currently no link to Westwood Public School’s website.
- Fundraiser (November photo sittings)
- Overall not highly impressed with the after-photo logistics. The company never sent blank envelopes w/photos???
- The female photographer was not as good as the male. Why?
- Will take place next year on Nov. 1st
- Scholarships
- By April 2008, we will need to plan our two $500 scholarships. They are intended for seniors about to graduate from Westwood High School.
- We will need to review existing procedures. Andy Ferrara volunteered to help (w/Pam S.) review entire process
- OLD BUSINESS – none
- NEW BUSINESS- Pool party for our families and kids by Martina Lombard at Rec. on 1/12/08 from 3-5pm
- ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Feb. 12 meeting – no speaker – will be open discussion
- Mar. 11 meeting – NAMI presents – Childhood Mental Illness
- ADJOURN -9:15pm
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