May 2, 2024 Minutes
Town of Harvard
Special Education Parent Advisory Council Minutes for May 2, 2024
Via Zoom
Present: Shannon Molloy, Molly Vaughan, Aspen Ference, Naomi Ahuja, Elizabeth Brown, Jen Manell (joined 7:12), Hannah Russel (joined 7:15), Elizabeth Brown (joined 7:45)
Absent: Naomi Ahuja, Jenny Gillard
Others: Michelle DellaValle, Director of Pupil Services
Aspen Ference, SEPAC co-chair, called the meeting to order at 7:05pm.
District updates:
Michelle DellaValle, Director of Pupil Services
- New IEP implementation Committees (one for each building), almost done with internal
work
- Hoping to give a parent/caregiver training tentatively Tuesday May 21, zoom,
evening, but will be recorded and sent out. Future home on website
- All IEPs will be transitioned to new forms during the 24-25 school year
- Hiring Adjustment Counselor for 6-12, several good candidates, incorporating high school students into interview process
- Integrated preschool teacher is going out on maternity leave, substitute is arranged for the rest of this year, working on someone for next year
- Hired Benita Kumar as Mary Gusha’s replacement (OT)
- Integrated preschool is primarily a preschool to support students with disabilities. Have
had to shift to a half day model because it creates additional slots for IEP students (they either have half day or full day) but peer models only have the opportunity for half day attendance.
- ESY: letters going out this week for students who already have ESY in their IEPs. Return date of May 15, but no one loses services if they miss the date, it’s for planning.
- Using grant funding to purchase 2 different sensory pads and 3 new assessments: Diagnostic assessment of youth and children, KTEA, DEAP
- Org chart has been created at SEPAC request, will be shared and posted on the website Public comment: none
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Minutes:
- The minutes of March 28, 2024 were approved as presented.
- Board discussed how to make SEPAC business more accessible and transparent and
decided on posting minutes publicly to our website and sending a minutes link out to membership as well.
Administration meeting update:
- Tabled as Jenny, who attended the last administration meeting for SEPAC, is absent
School Committee update: Shannon:
- Reported Town Election results: tier 2 override did not pass but tier 1 passed and will
preserve level service for FY25
- Attending MASC seminar on how SCs can support SEPACs and will report back
- Possible dates for SC presentation 5/28 or 6/10; Shannon will text dates to Aspen and
Jenny so they can choose
Adaptive sports: Hannah:
- Adaptive frisbee/soccer’s first session was successful with 5 registrants. People have
been helpful but information has not been available very far in advance. 5 sessions left. May want a dedicated adaptive sports email address in the future to segregate from the parent SEPAC account and prevent the need to forward family questions, etc.
Survey: Aspen:
- First final draft is complete and sent out. Look it over and suggest any edits to Aspen.
Next year’s survey:
- Are there ways to make the work easier for the board? Subcommittee? Survey generally goes out over the summer and stays open until after the start of the next year.
- Hard parts: analysis of answers, turning comments into summaries.
- Review of survey and changes to questions: check past minutes about idea for a new
question, what was that?
Spring social:
- Discussed Thursday, June 6 3:30. Date tentative pending check of school calendar for conflicting events. Next admin meeting: add an agenda item to discuss staff participation in SEPAC socials. We hold it right after school close to school, are there other things we can do to encourage people to come? Part of the stated goal is to give families and school providers a social opportunity outside of school. Swag bags? Rename event to Sped Appreciation day? Kids draw pictures, or give note cards to providers? Both-kid art
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notecards? Make fall event more provider centered, School Kickoff? Would that tie families and providers together more? Joint social with HFA?
Parent Support Group:
- Thursday May 2, 12pm Devens Main St Cafe. Jenny and Shannon staffing
- Monday May 13, 9:15am, HGS, Aspen staffing
Board recruitment and elections:
- Email needs to go out to full membership asking for nominations to the board
- Nominations can also be taken on the floor in the May board meeting
- Elections will be held at the June meeting
Future agenda items:
- Updates from the district
- Public comment
- Approval of minutes
- Admin meeting updates (probably for 2 meetings)
- Adaptive sports update
- Spring social planning
- Parent Support Group scheduling
- Survey (finalize past report, plan new survey)
- SC meeting presentation prep
- Board nominations (May), elections (June)
Upcoming meetings and events:
- Next board meeting: May 23, 7-9pm by zoom
- PSG: Monday, May 13, 9:15am, HGS
Adjournment:
Meeting adjourned at 8:46pm
Supporting documents (0 Total) Minutes: Shannon Molloy
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