Meeting called to order by chairperson, Pam Spiegel @ 7:08.
Introduction of officers:
Pam Spiegel, Chairperson
Tania Rooney, Membership
Tracey Stoll, Treasurer
Joyce Ford, Secretary
Also introduced:
Louise Haughn, Liaison Coordinator.
Officer Reports:
Secretary announced that Annual Newsletter, recapping the 2006-2007 school year, will be distributed by email. Please notify Joyce if you are not receiving mail correctly or if you prefer to not receive SEPAC emails.
Treasurer’s report:
Written budget was handed out / to be voted on later in evening.
Included proposed budget for 2007-2008 based on last year’s figures and anticipated costs. Current balance in Savings Account = $1337.51 (prior to removal of funds for brochure production).
Reinstating scholarship money for 4 High School students if funds permit.
The cost of MASSPAC membership for two years was donated by the district. District is also paying for the Basic Rights Workshop by the Federation for Children with Special Needs to be held on Oct. 2.
Seeking donations from town organizations – PTO’s and ECC. Letters requesting support have been sent.
Membership:
Must complete new membership form each year to remain active. Membership forms can be found in the new brochure. Membership is free, but donations are welcome. Recommend completing membership form tonight.
Business:
Mission Statement: Needed to rewrite to use the word "disabilities" in place of “special needs.”
Proposed Goals (2007-2008) were distributed and include these topics:
- Launch www.westwoodsepac.org in order to provide the community with federal, state, and municipal resources on special education, disabilities, and related topics. *
- Create and distribute a brochure to inform people from the community about Westwood SEPAC and to promote membership in the organization.
- Provide a series of free workshops to educate and support families who have children with special needs.
- Build a financial foundation by filing appropriate government forms, applying for community grant(s), and by creating a budget.
- Begin development or a resource lending library to provide families, students, and professionals access to diverse educational and support materials.
*Thanks to Carmel Sterling for long hours spent this summer on website content and format.
By-Laws: Discussed change to voting policy because 504 plans do not fall under the special education umbrella. Proposed change to by-laws read:
V11. Voting – “Voting privileges are afforded to members of SEPAC who are parents or guardians of a child or children on an IEP* through the Westwood Public Schools.”
*Removes the words, “or receiving 504 accommodations.”
A vote on this change will take place at the next SEPAC meeting on October 2, 2007, given that by-law changes require prior notice.
Speaker Series for the year was announced:
Oct. 2, 2007 Basic Rights, presented by the Federation for children with Special Needs
November 6, 2007 “Let’s Get Organized” presented by Family Ties of Massachusetts
December 4, 2007 “Public Benefits” presented by Massachusetts Family Voices
March 11, 2008 “Childhood Mental Illness” presented by the National Alliance for
the Mentally Ill (MA Chapter)
May 13, 2008 SNARC – South Norfolk Association for Retarded Citizens
Members – Please RSVP to meeting announcements so we can anticipate number attending. Also send questions about the topic ahead, so that presenters can tailor talks to our needs.
Volunteers needed for small manageable jobs. Wish list as follows:
- Gather website updates and organize them according to preset categories.
- Help to obtain a funding grant by completing just 2 forms.
- Take part in a fundraising committee.
- Verify our existing scholarship procedures.
- Advertise upcoming events in local newspapers.
- Be a hospitality rep – organize refreshments for our meetings with speakers.
- Be a bilingual translator for our ESL parents (17 families are in need of this service.
- Help to develop a social skills program/playgroup for our kids along with the Chairperson (Pam), Deerfield principal, Louise Lipsitz, and others from community agencies.
- Help start up a collection of books and other materials for a lending library.
Voting on topics discussed above:
- Mission Statement - approved use of the word “disabilities.”
- 2007- 2008 Goals – approved as written.
- SEPAC funding of Brochure/ stationery/ and pdf disks with SEPAC logo and design fees passes with a total funding of $849.14.
- Budget as presented by the treasurer was accepted. Current assets balance with the accepted brochure expenses = $337.51.
Volunteers for fundraising and for other bookkeeping support requested.
Roger Zessis volunteered to help with budget related topics.
Reminder: All meetings are public. All are welcome at Executive Board Meetings.
Introduced Martina Lombard who asked her neighbor and retired cartoonist, Eddie Germano for sketches for use as a SEPAC logo. The selected design is now printed on the brochure (light shining on stack of books). Martina was also instrumental in designing the brochure, along with her sister-in-law, Rita Lombard. Thank you Rita and Martina for your fine writing, editing and negotiating with the printing company!
Liaison Coordinator, Louise Haughn gave liaison updates:
Two Openings exist – one each at Hanlon School and the High School. Volunteer liaison needed for communication with those schools.
Liaisons will introduce themselves and the SEPAC at Curriculum night.
Next flyers to be delivered to schools by the liaisons will be on Sept. 18. Handouts will be ready at the school administration building at 7:00 A.M. that day.
Meeting Adjourned at 7:45
Meeting followed by introduction of Audrey Seyffert, Director of Student Services. Audrey gave presentation on Special Education in Westwood, with emphasis on the Coordinated Program Review Process, and the Differences among 504 plans, General Education Plans, and Individualized Education Programs. Audrey also handed out a parent survey for feedback regarding SEPAC benefits and exemplary practices and programs in Westwood.
Thank you to members who brought refreshments to our meeting.
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