BDFB-PRC1 - Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) 

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BDFB-PRC1

Adopted: April 25, 2024
 

 

HOPKINTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE POLICY

 SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL (SEPAC)

 

Establishing a School Committee Liaison to the SEPAC

 

1.  In accordance with School Committee policy,  BDFB, the School Committee may each year, subject to availability of member resources, appoint one or more of its members as the liaison(s) to the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) for the term of one school year. The liaison(s) will be responsible for attending SEPAC meetings periodically and reporting back to the School Committee on the results of these meetings.

Establishing an Annual Calendar 

1.  Together the SEPAC, the School Committee, and Director of Student Services will establish a meeting calendar at the start of each academic year. A date should be built in for a mid-year check-in, which may occur through email, virtual or in-person meeting.

2.   In accordance with the meeting calendar established in partnership between the School Committee, SEPAC, and the Director of Student Services, at the start of each school year, the SEPAC will be invited to present to the School Committee two times a year, at mutually agreed upon times, to share annual goals or other topics related to educational programming and the education and safety of students with special needs.

3.  Also in accordance with the meeting calendar established in partnership between the School Committee, SEPAC, and the Director of Student Services, the Director of  Student Services or his/her/their designee, the HPS School Committee liaison(s), and the SEPAC chairperson(s) or a designee will meet bimonthly throughout the calendar year, as schedules and inclination permit, to address mutual concerns. Meetings have proven beneficial to support parent-school collaboration and communication. 

4.  During one evening meeting in the fall, the Director of Student Services or his/her/their designee will host an open forum for SEPAC and the team chairs.

Communicating about School Committee Agendas

1. The School Committee agenda and packet are posted 48 hours in advance of the meeting in accordance with open meeting law.  The School Committee liaison to the SEPAC will make every effort to communicate to the SEPAC chair,  as far in advance as possible, items on the agenda that may be of interest to the SEPAC. When an agenda item is of interest to the SEPAC, the School Committee chair will afford representatives of the SEPAC Board (not to exceed four) the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback on that item during the meeting.

 4.25.2024