Call to Order by Chairperson Pam Spiegel
Member Sign In
Minutes from 5/2/07 - Approved
School Liaisons list of names and email addresses sent to membership by email. All in attendance are receiving emails correctly.

Co-Chair: position open, passed around nominating paper.
Position is to assist Chairperson for 1 year, followed by becoming Chair the second year. For specific responsibilities, refer to by-laws.
Election to be held at first meeting of the 2007-08 school year (Oct. 2, 2007)
Not a daunting time commitment as the entire Exec. Board and committees work together. Help educate and support other parents, while being part of a fun, and active group.
(Noone was nominated this evening/readdress at October mtg.)

Brochure Committee - Need Volunteers (2) to help create a tri-fold brochure to give to parents new to town, with IEP packet, etc.. . To include such items as mission statement, description of Special Education and PAC, benefits of joining/how to join, and meeting schedule. Sign up sheet passed along and one volunteer signed on (Martina Lombard).

Logo Ideas - Retired cartoonist Eddie Germano (Martina’s neighbor) agreed to sketch ideas for a logo. Ten sketches passed out for viewing. Will use on website, letterhead, brochure, and etc.,
Need to add “Westwood” to any design. Logo discussion tabled to next exec. board. Mtg.

Liaison Committee update given by Louise Haughn.
Committee members finding out how/when to add SEPAC notes to principal/school newsletters.
Flyers for childrens’ backpacks went out. Challenges to be worked on next time:
Have printed flyers at Admin Building at Student Services office for liaisons to pick up.
Be sure secretaries and Student Services Director know it is there.
Notify principals that liaisons will be bringing flyers for distribution.
Have principals identify the teachers (Students’ TEAM Liaison) to distribute flyers to their caseload.
Linda Chase will mention this to Dept. Heads in her meeting.
Just as our SEPAC liaions bring info to schools, schools should feel they can communicate with SEPAC through the liaisons (conduits of info.)

Guest in attendance: Jack O’Brien - Newest school committee member was introduced by Pam.

Treasurer’s report, given by Tracy Stoll. A savings account was opened for old balance and new donations; Total = $1432.16.
Tracy is looking into switching to a checking account with credit card, given savings have risen to a suitable level to open such account.
Seeking ideas for fund-raising....discussion to follow.
SEPAC missed the deadline to offer scholarships this year, but we will plan to be on time for the next school year. Deadline for scholarship forms is May 1, to Robert Fanning at the H.S.
Tracy issued printed working budget to the school committee and Executive Board for review. Copies passed around table. Includes projected fees, supplies, materials, speakers, and fund-raising. Total operating budget projected at $10, 425.

Goals review for 2006-07:
Executive essential Binder of info. - up-to-date and is a work in progress
Finding central location for its storage, for easy retrieval by membership.

Implement website and listserv - being established /website demo page tonight
Membership - currently approx. 70 members/continuing to get the word out
Write By-Laws - Done
Organize and hold elections - done/currently one opening

Goals proposed for 2007 -08 for consideration, as compiled from feedback forms:
Organize, promote and implement

2 fund-raising projects
2 family social events
Resource library of essential topics
Also, Increase membership and community awareness

MASSPAC - John Antonucci approved town covering membership fee for the first two years.
Thank you to Katie Wheeler for making the inquiring.
Thanks to Maryanne Carty for filled out the required paper work

Grants - will apply for grant money from various sources, such as:
Westwood Young Women’s Club
Autism Center - Danny foundation
Doug Flutie Foundation, Autism Alliance
Westwood Education Foundation
WESC

Membership: get word out about SEPAC at private preschools and libraries and at Westwood Pediatrics and through the Early Childhood Council.
Add to membership form a line item asking, “Do you wish to have your name added to data base and made available to other parents?” Suggestion to register with the IRS as Not -for- profit status to help in getting grants, speaker s and funding.


Announcements: Westwood Community Chest (based on donations) is offering camp scholarships to families in financial need.....up to $500 per child and no limit to the number of children per family. Forms available at public places -Rec. Dept. Fire, dept., police dept., town hall, library and Sr. Center.
Students in the lunch program may be pre-approved. Confidential process, family choose the camp.
Westwood Youth and Family Services runs social skills groups for school-age children in grades K-5; organized by age and led by social worker. Sign up forms available at elementary school principal offices. Link will be provided on SEPAC website as this is a municipal resource. Space is limited but student s on IEPs may be given priority for placement.

Big Brother Big Sister Program pairs a high school student with students from grades 3-5. Limited to 16 students per year so there is a waiting list; call Maryanne Carty for info.

WY&FS also provides clinical services for children 4-18.

Next Executive Board meeting 6/26/07
Next General meeting 10/2/07

Linda Chase announced that this is her last Westwood SEPAC meeting as her last day of work in Westwood is June 22. Linda is wished all the best in Lexington where she will head up Student Services. Westwood Student Services Director will be Audrey Seyffert as an interim placement. Ms. Seyffert comes with 17 years of in Natick Student Services and 21 years in Franklin.

SEPAC must comply with “Open Meeting Law”. All Exec. Board and general meetings must be announced and open to the public.
(Subcommittees do not need to announce meetings.)
Require a quorum to vote.

Website: Carmel Sterling presented an overview of the website set-up. Carmel worked closely with Jean Barrett and Anu Palakurthi . Site developers are in India. Soon to have prototype.
Carmel showed Home Page with some sample content added. Design is similar the towns’ public schools site in terms of how to navigate, but is hosted privately.
Go to school.....Link....separate browser. Intended for parents, students and staff

Color scheme = blue (evokes trust and compliments Westwood green.)
Opens to Welcome to SEPAC page with mission statement and news.

Click on “helping your child succeed" (explaining transitions between grades/schools), Resources, and Contact Us headers. About Us: officers, goals, by-laws, calendar, minutes, contact info of school liaisons. Will show logo and offer place to join listserv and membership form in PDF format.

Specific Resources that will be linked: Early Childhood Ed, Youth and Family Service, recreation dept, Disabilities
commission.
Pictures - need a bit more diversity. Working prototype is 90-95% done. Clean and uncluttered Concord’s SEPAC has a fine website to review for resource listings.....schools, programs, camps, and etc. Membership in MassPAC will enable us to view more resources. Concord will be able to list our URL.
Need a Resources subcommittee to determine what other resources (websites, books, etc.) to link.

Discussed “helping your child succeed” section which will have info from local educators on how to help your child transition between schools and grades. Originated from a question, “What does the school system want from SEPAC?” Will provide parents with guidance as to how to handle transitions. (Not a list of Special Ed services as they are an individual team decision.) May include helpful info on stages of child development. Tips for parents regarding set ages. Linda Chase to talk to principals and teachers to determine what issues come up for kids (Unique to the age and environment.) Also may include how to effectively communicate with your school.

Speaker idea: Federation for Children offers free workshop on Barriers to Communication.

Name “westwoodsepac.com” is available. Requires a one time registration fee.
Palakurthi and the developer are graciously donating the initial website start-up fee ($700-800) and the first five years of maintenance fees. It is expected to take a couple hours per month to keep the site up to date. In keeping with the open meeting policy, website is accessible to all without need of login.

Members met in small brainstorming groups during a “carousel” activity in which groups had 4- 5minutes to brainstorm about a topic before moving on to the next topic. Ideas jotted on chart paper are summarized verbatim below:

Family/Social Event(s) SEPAC can sponsor /organize
Swimming party at WHS pool
BBQ with softball/volleyball
Sibling group/support groups - “drop in center”
Family outing to Pawsox/Rox...
Book Club - selections relevant to SEPAC members
Ice cream (sundaes) social
Zoo day
Music entertainment day
Bowling
Day at Hale
children’s museum/Science museum trip
trolley/duck tour
Sledding
fund-raising event with entertainers

Resources/Materials or information that would be helpful/supportive/Educational for SEPAC Families:
Info on Special Olympics
Library resources - Books /recommended reading
Directory - where to find medical info, vaccine info., advocates, financial and estate planning
List of speakers or experts in the area
Teaching materials i.e. epi-pen administration , managing diabetes in school, managing epilepsy....
Babysitters lists, Daycare for SEPAC families
Respite provider lists, emergency or crisis help
List of doctors by specialty....ADD, BiPolar, CP, etc.
Lists of advocates, therapists,
After school social groups for kids
Groups for parents
Places to get help with Mass Health or other government forms
DMR, SNARC, TILL (Provide links)

Fund-raising initiatives:
The Chateau or Papa Ginos (% of purchases)
sell refreshments at events
sell calendar (kids’ art)
Roche Bros gift card program
Goosefair antique show
student artwork auction/sale
Amazon.com proceeds (link on our website) - Need 501 status?
Cabot ,Cabot ,Forbes events at field/ matching funds
Car wash
Flower bulbs sale
Paid homework club
Westwood book with tips and info....handbook

Volunteers to work on ideas from brainstorming:
Marissa Lazor - to work on Resources
Paula Bezdedeanu- busy currently but want to volunteer next school year

Meeting adjourned at 8:50.

Minutes submitted by Joyce Ford, Secretary.