Franklin SEPAC Monthly Meeting – September 16, 2009

The Franklin Special Education Parent’s Advisory Council (SEPAC) had our first monthly meeting on September 16, 2009 in the 3^rd floor conference room in Franklin’s Municipal Building.  The SEPAC President, Sharon Miller called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM.   There were 12 people in attendance in addition to the 4 officers.

Introduction of Officers

President: Sharon Miller

Vice President: To be voted on tonight

Treasurer: Sarah Montani

Secretary: Sara Madden

Election of Vice President & Treasurer

We had elections this evening for vice president.  Sarah Montani (our treasurer) was nominated and voted in as our new Vice President for SEPAC.   Nicole Corliss-Williams was then nominated and voted in as our new Treasurer to replace Sarah Montani.

Revision of Bylaws

Sharon Miller has been working very hard on the 501c3 Application so that the IRS will recognize us as tax exempt.  Sharon has been reviewing our Bylaws that need to be included with the application.  She made a few changes to our bylaws and discussed these changes at our meeting.  We then voted to approve the changes made.

Sharon thanked John Forte (our outgoing President) for his all his dedication and hard work in his previous years as President.  John Forte then thanked the new officers for all our hard work over the summer.

Sharon discussed the new SEPAC pamphlets that she has been working on to promote SEPAC.  Beth Fitzmaurice, Franklin’s New Director of Special Education announced that they will be sent out with the Procedural Safeguards, as well as at IEP meetings. 

A list and description of all our 2009-2010 workshops was handed out.  This information is available on our website: www.franklin.ma.us/sepac/

Treasurer’s Report:

We had a beginning balance of $2,666.58 for the school year.  Our expenses were $1,431.09 for speakers and workshops, $150.95 for supplies, $45.00 for our annual fee to Commonwealth of Massachusetts and $500.00 invested towards our fall fundraiser.  Our Incoming money was $1,155.00 from donations and state reimbursements.  We also added $820.21 from our July 4th booth fundraiser on the Franklin common.  Our ending balance is $2,214.64.

Sharon thanked the new officers and Ariel Doggett for all our hard work over the summer.  That she was so excited for the workshops we helped plan and the hard work with our upcoming fundraiser.

Fundraiser:

Sarah Montani announced the information regarding our fall fundraiser.  We are excited to be planning SEPAC’s first Comedy Night on Friday, November 13^th!  Our Comedy Night Fundraiser will be located in the ballroom at the Milford Doubletree Hotel.  Paul "Fitzy" Fitzgerald will be hosting this evening of comedy featuring three local comics including Rhode Island's Comic of the Year, Brian Beaudoin!  Doors will open at 6:30, and the comedians are scheduled to start at 8:00.  We will have complimentary appetizers, cash bar, silent auction, balloon raffle and an opportunity to get your picture taken wearing the three latest Patriot Super Bowl rings.  Tickets are $30 in advance, to purchase please got to www.neautismbenefits.com or they will be available at our October 14^th meeting.  We are looking for volunteers to help find donations, sell tickets and to help the evening of the event.  For more information, please email Sarah Montani at franklinSEPAC@gmail.com.  We also discussed ways to advertise (besides hanging flyers around).  Such as advertising in the Franklin Gazette and the school’s newsletters were discussed.

Going Green:

Franklin has decided to “go green” with notices going home from school.  The school department has decided that SEPAC (along with all other groups) are no longer allowed to send flyers home.  This is challenging, as most attendees to our events attend because they receive our flyers as a monthly reminder.  We discussed other ways to get our name out to parents who may need our services and how they can get involved with SEPAC.  We are hoping to be given permission have our information listed in the school’s monthly newsletter.   If you know of any parents interested in attending our workshops, or learning more about SEPAC, please have them sign up for our email Newsletter at franklinSEPAC@gmail.com.

Survey:

Sarah Montani created a survey that was handed out at our meeting.  The survey is geared towards helping us help you!  We want to find out what areas you want to learn more about, so we can cater our workshops and events towards your needs.  This survey is also available on our website www.franklin.ma.us/sepac/.

Parent to Parent Meetings:

Our next Parent to Parent meeting is Tuesday, September 29^th at 9:30 at the Franklin Panera Bread.  Terri Morgan will be there to help answer any questions you have in a more 1:1 social environment.  These meetings are great way for parents to support each other and a way to see that they are not alone. 

Committees:

Fundraiser: We discussed our November 13^th fundraiser earlier in the meeting.  We need volunteers if anyone is interested!

Outreach/Communication:  We discussed earlier different ways for exposure.  Without having our monthly flyer going home, new ideas are needed.

Website: Sara Madden has updated our website.  We are very limited to what we can do on the town’s site.  We are looking to maybe having our own separate website where we can add pictures and have it a lot easier to maneuver.  If anyone knows of a free for nonprofits website we can use, please let us know!

Guest Speakers:

Jaime Estrella, the YMCA program coordinator discussed their Integration Programs.  She handed out brochures and showed us all what is available to special needs children.  Jaime will meet with parents/guardians to discuss what extra help or needs a child has prior to attending an integrated program.  She will then train the teacher, possibly even adding an aid to help your child get the most out of their programs.   The YMCA offers Adapted swim and other sports programs available.  They also help with the Best Buddies program and the “Real Deal” program for high school age students.  For more information, please contact Jaime at 774-235-2722 or Jaime@hockymca.org.

This Saturday, September 19^th the AM radio station WMRC will be at the Franklin YMCA highlighting their Integration Programs.  Our November 13^th fundraiser will also be announced (free) on WMRC.

October 13^th they are having their annual “Run for Bob”.  A 5k marathon to support their integration and best buddy programs.  In the evening they will be hosting “Fun for Bob” at the Milford Pins.  There will be free pizza, bowling and activities for kids.  Please contact Jaime for more information.

Beth Fitzmaurice is Franklin’s NEW Director of Special Education.  Beth started here on 8/3, and was previously the director of pupil services in North Brookfield, MA.  She said she feels at home already because everyone here in Franklin has been so welcoming.  She is looking forward to meeting all the kids and families here.  She has an intensive special needs background, along with 17 years with the US Army including being a teacher at West Point.  She is a mother of three children (two in college).   Her office is here in the Municipal Building in the Pupil Service Office. 

She mentioned that Franklin’s Special Education Department is in the process of an audit by the State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.  This audit is done every 6 years and so far they have found no errors.  The audit will take place the week of Dec 7th 2009 and they will be randomly choosing families to interview.  If you are not one of the families chosen, you can still request an interview with them.

Respectfully submitted,
Sara Madden