I. Introductions
Overview of the evening's agenda.

Introduction of Joanne Flatley from the Dedham's Special Ed. PAC who came to observe and to offer advice to our newly reforming SEPAC group. Dedham meets monthly with a speaker at each meeting and to offer support to families. Said most speakers will present for free. Joanne invited all to attend upcoming Dedham events which include April 4 Sarah Ward to present on Executive Functioning and March 28 Speaker on Autism Spectrum(at Dedham Middle School ).

Review of Proposed By-Laws. Copies of the drafted By-Laws were distributed.....This outlines SEPAC Name, Purpose, Membership, Meeting requirements (4 minimum per school year), Executive Board Roles and Responsibilities, Non-Exec. Board Positions (Liaisons and Committee Chairs), Voting and election procedures, and By-Laws Amendment Procedures. (For further discussion on By-Laws, see below.)

Website Development - plans update by Jean Barrett and Carmel Sterling. Once developed site will link with the Westwood Public School site. Will have running documentation of minutes, membership information and ability to join on-line, dissemination of information on local programming and services for our children. Website committee collaborating with Anu Palakurthi who is donating time/cost of initial building of the website. Committee to focus on content will be needed once basics are established.

MASSPAC - Chapter can benefit from being part of the state-wide organization. Question posed as to how to fund MASSPAC membership. J. Flatley noted that in Dedham, the district pays for MASSPAC.

SEPAC Membership - Membership forms collected from those joining the group tonight and added to mail in registrations. Donations accepted but no required joining fee.

Short-term objectives reviewed:
   -Website development and listserv
   -Membership- enrollment
   -Executive brd. election for 2006-07
-Organizational binder to document SEPAC by-laws, membership, organizational info., events, resources, etc.

Organizational binder: Proposed Table of Contents distributed. Topics for resource binder should be submitted to Tracey Stoll at jtnjm@verizon.net

Communications Update - Katie Wheeler discussed email vs. mailings and use of school liaisons to contact principals to put SEPAC information into their newsletters. Also suggested that school liaisons introduce themselves at open houses/curriculum nights. Liaisons also to collect ideas for workshops/learning from its membership. (Dedham sends out an October mailing with dates of upcoming meetings/speakers, Liaison phone numbers. Also surveyed parents' interests. Tool- SurveyMonkey.com available.

Other communication channels: brochure for mailing with TEAM Meeting invitations. Connect-Ed calls to announce events. Members who did not receive the connect call to announce tonight's meeting should call Mary Martin at Student Services Office to have name added to list. Families of children on a 504 plan will be added.

Parents' Rights - Linda Chase will make parents rights presentation at the May meeting. Regulations require this presentation be offered annually.
Next meeting dates announced as 5/1 and 6/5 ...7:00. Though these are Tuesday nights, may vary which day of week meetings are held on.

Further discussion of By-Laws. Discussed proposal to amend by-laws to include dates for nominations and elections. Nominations for Board positions to be made by Feb. 28 and elections by April 30 of each year. To be voted upon after tonight’s election.

Reviewed Minutes from the 2/6/07 meeting and motion to approve minutes was accepted.

Election held for Executive Board Members. All nominated individuals ran unopposed. Election results:
      Mary Sethna - Chairperson      32 votes      one term
      Pam Speigel - Co-chair            31 votes      two terms (becomes chairperson for '07-'08)
      Tracey Stoll - Treasurer            32 votes      two terms
      Joyce Ford - Secretary            30 votes      one term
      Tania Rooney- Membership      32 votes      two terms
   
By-Laws Voted upon and accepted with the addition of nomination/election date guidelines included.

Volunteers for School Liaisons:
Hanlon - Paula Bezdedeanu
Deerfield - Kathleen Leone and Patty Bernardo
Martha Jones Laura Noyes and Michelle Fiola-Reidy
Downey - Gail Carnes and MaryAnn Carty
Sheehan - Mary Parlarto and Sandra Doherty
Thurston - Lori Brown and Maura O'Brien
High School- Lori Brown and another tba
Preschool - Katie Wheeler and another tba
Out of District - Pam Spiegel and Roger Zessis

Secretary to keep/distribute list of Liaisons. Liaisons to work with membership coordinator on communications.

Ideas for next meeting:
Target middle school and high school parents for involvement/membership (must email or postal mail and backpack notices not useful for this age group).
Part of next agenda to include listing of greatest areas of interest of activities and input for website.
Meeting Adjourned

Minutes notes voluntarily taken by Maura Ryan/ typed by Joyce Ford.