Call to order
Welcome was extended to new and existing members

General Updates and Business

1.	New meeting format was reviewed as reflected in the agenda
2.	"Holiday Giving Tree" drive was a great success. Response from SEPAC families was more generous than anticipated. Dianne Berry has offered to be a permanent drop off site for donations to the Department of Children and Families.
3.	A new program the Early Childhood Council was just embarking on: the “Birthday Bag” was brought up. MaryAnn Carty from Westwood Youth and Families volunteered to email the organization once the details of how the program would solicit and disseminate donations were finalized between the two groups.
4.	Web site maintenance is being transferred from Carmel Sterling to Pam Spiegel, with Jen Maggiacomo as a back-up.
5.	At the moment there is a balance of $2343.00. This does not take into any potential revenue generated by next weeks, “The Mother Project” workshop.
6.	Two venues are currently being explored for family events; the pool and the Dedham Community Theater to occur in Feb and March/April respectively. The floor was open for other suggestions for family events. The following suggestions were made
NESA 2dye4 Hale Mad Maggie's or other pool and ping pong parlor Vello’s family dinner The Pond or Roche Rink
	Identified Ongoing Issue : Many of these events target younger children. How do we establish events for older children?
	Q: Do we know how many children are teenagers?
	A: Information exists, but needs to be pulled out of the membership information.
	Suggestions
	Target parents with older children and Request suggestions from them for events. Invite parents to a “party” to meet but not necessarily for the kids. Possibly SNARC or Senior Center.
	Discussion on the floor established that many families would like Westwood SEPAC to investigate and sponsor a parent event without children. Focus of family event needs to change.
	Action Item : Tania and Tracey to look into feasibility / venue / timing
7.	SEPAC currently has 51 families, 34 which are returning families and 17 new members this year. An additional 34 families did not renew membership from last year, but did not deny continuation on listserv either.
	Identified Issue: How do we increase membership?
	Advertising is not as aggressive as last year, need to go back and be more aggressive Mass mailing giving families the option to renew membership on line. Determine if annual renewal is a legal or by-law requirement. If a by-law requirement look into modifying it.
	Action Item : Tracey and Jen to look into requirements.
8.	Glen Atkinson was present to discuss current district news. The STAR program which is located at the Downey school and is for students with emotional disabilities was reviewed and changes were recommended to the school committee. Current program is staffed by 1 SPED teacher and a number of IAs and designed to support 8 children. However, there is now 13 children in the program. The district is recommending that some IAs be replaced by an additional SPED teacher. The floor was opened for questions.
	Q. Is there a required teacher/student ration to be met? A. None to his knowledge. Q. What age range does the program cover? A. Covers K-5 and is district wide but located at the Downey. Q. What happens in the Middle School? A. Cannot supply specifics since the model is different however supplies the same support level to these children. Q. What is the entrance criterion? A. That is based upon the team recommendations, of which a parent is a member. Q. What happens if there is a further increase in the number of children? A. No difference. The children are supported based upon their needs. Q. Will children be spending more time in a general ED or SPED class because of the recommended change in staffing? A. Currently not all IA are in general ED classes. Currently the one SPED teacher must teach the children, train the IA’s and “put out fires” for situations that arise that an IA cannot handle. An additional SPED teacher can be in classrooms to “put out fires” while the other is teaching a small group. This is a redistribution of resources. Member commented that : “More in this case is not necessarily better.”. Q. Will the same program review happen at the Middle School level? A. In general terms yes the program review must happen, but could offer no specifics.
9.	SEPAC and the district co-wrote a grant request to target elementary school implementation of the social thinking curriculum similar to the summer “kids club”. Dedham savings has committed to give the district $10k/yr for 3 years to implement this program. The district is targeting training over the summer and will pilot the program during the school year. More details to follow as developed.

Open Discussion

During open discussion, a question arose on what was the upcoming workshop on Transitional Planning. Pam described the seminar based upon the description supplied by the Federation.

Meeting Adjourned