SpedPAC February '07 minutes

GROTON-DUNSTABLE REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCIL

BUSINESS MEETING MINUTES

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2007

OFFICERS PRESENT: Nancy Bugbee, President

Sarah Campbell, Vice-President

Maryanne Squeglia, Secretary/Treasurer

MEMBERS PRESENT: Lisa McLaughlin

STAFF PRESENT: None

The February 7, 2007 business meeting of SpedPAC was held at the GD Middle School Library-Project Room.

President Nancy Bugbee, called the meeting to order at 10:00am.

President Nancy Bugbee made a motion to accept the minutes from the December 4, 2007 meeting, Maryanne Squeglia seconded the motion.

Treasurer Maryanne Squeglia reported that the SpedPAC checking account balance was $3,427.99.

The balance of the grant money from the Groton Trust Fund is $0.00. Maria Trozzi's lecture fee of $1,500.00 will be paid from the SpedPAC checking acct. A donation will be made to the Federation for Children with Special Needs in the amount of $100.00 due to their excellent presentation of the IEP Workshop this year. Accountant Cynthia Thomas' services will be required to complete the filing of the Federal Form 1023 for non-profit status. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Annual Report has not been filed. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts corporate tax forms have not been filed.

Sarah Campbell reviewed a request written by Maryanne Squeglia to be submitted to the local Rotary Clubs in possibly helping out with funding for future SpedPAC lectures. It was decided that SpedPAC would create another statement for Maryanne Squeglia to submit to the local Rotary Clubs that welcomes donations to fund our lecture series for next year. Sarah Campbell agreed to write the statement after she had drafted the grant proposal for the Groton Trust Fund. Maryanne Squeglia is going to submit the original request she wrote to the Ladies Agape Society at St.Philips Church in Nashua, NH at their General Assembly Meeting on March 12, 2007.

Regarding the Spec. Ed. Services Survey, Nancy Bugbee reported that she and Maryanne Squeglia will complete the survey data tallying. A deadline date for the completion of this project or the presentation of the findings have not been established. It is SpedPAC's hope to make a complete presentation of the survey results at an April School Committee evening meeting. Ms. Bugbee will be in touch with the Chairman of the School Committee to coordinate a date for that presentation.

Lisa McLaughlin was appointed a Yahoo Group Moderator by President Nancy Bugbee. Ms. Bugbee will be in touch with Lisa O'Connell so that she can add Ms. Laughlin as a moderator.

Lisa McLaughlin presented the new website design. The design reflects the same features as the newsletter and should be completed by the end of the school year. A list of resources that the SpedPAC has at the Groton Library will be added to the website.

MEETING MINUTES (SPEDPAC) Page 2

The next newsletter is to be distributed on March 30, 2007. The newsletter will contain the following:

Large Article Maria Trozzi Lisa McLaughlin

Large Article Summer/Area Resources Lisa McLaughlin

Small Article Review- Greene, news, basic rts, IEP workshop Nancy Bugbee

Small Article Next year-suggested topics, update on grants Sarah Campbell

Small Article ???? Joan Endicott

Nancy Bugbee reported that the Middle School and Prescott School have not been presented their books that were purchased from the Groton Ed Foundation grant as part of SpedPAC's project, the Education Resource Library. She will be in touch with both schools' principals to schedule a date for presentation of these books.

Advertising deadlines where established for Maria Trozzi's lecture in April. Nancy Bugbee will contact Maria Trozzi for PR information.

There was discussion regarding future SpedPAC meetings to take place in the evenings as there had been a request from a parent in reference to this due to her interest and unavailability to attend daytime meetings. It was decided that the SpedPAC Annual business meeting, slated for Tuesday, June 5, would take place at 7:00pm in the High School Library to accommodate those parents who could not attend daytime meetings and who are interested in becoming involved in SpedPAC activities. It was agreed that when new officers are elected, the discussion of evening meetings will be added to their first agenda. It was also decided that Joan Endicott , the District's PPS Director, would be invited to attend.

Nancy Bugbee presented a request from Beth Raucci, Principal of the Middle School, that members of the PAC attend a school faculty meeting to speak about our personal stories concerning our challenges raising a special needs child. The Sped PAC officers decided against it at this time because of concerns for privacy for our children.

Discussion followed regarding possible lecture series topics for 2006-2007 as follows:

Estate and Finance Planning Special Needs Families Nancy Bugbee to find speaker

Success in High School Caroline McQuire/Hallowell Center

14-22yrs. old - Transition Federation for Children with Special Needs

Reading Programs/District Joan Endicott

Medication Jeff Prince

Basic Rights Federation for Children with Special Needs

IEP for my Child Federation for Children with Special Needs