Department of Pupil-Special Services
2012-2013 Parent Advisory Committee Meeting Notes
March 25, 2013
· Introductions
o As meeting participants entered, handouts for Insurance Coverage for Autism and a FAQ sheet about the NJ Autism Insurance Act were offered.
o Mr. Andrew Brandon was introduced as the new Supervisor Pupil-Special Services.
· Mission Statement Review and Input
o Mr. Conklin thanked members for feedback provided via email.
o Any parent who has input to the mission statement should forward it to Mr. Conklin so that information can be posted on the website the first week of April.
· May Symposium
o The May Symposium is scheduled for Wednesday, May 22, 2013 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Herbert Hoover Middle School. Refreshments for purchase will be offered by students from the Woodrow Wilson Coffee Shop as a fund-raiser for their program. Community Vendors/Booths will be present. Speakers will address the group as a whole, followed by two half-hour break-out sessions, with a ten-minute break, in between.
o Mr. Conklin passed out index cards to elicit suggestions for symposium topics.
o Mr. Conklin elicited suggestions for community service providers/vendors for booths.
· Potential Activities for ESPAC
o Parents were invited to write down suggestions for future ESPAC activities.
· Thoughts and Recommendations
o The group reviewed the following as emailed to members on 3/19/13:
§ ESPAC Mission Statement/Role,
§ Continuum of Education Services Chart, and
§ Program Options and Least Restrictive Environment descriptions.
o Mr. Conklin requested input from the group on the descriptions of the continuum of services and on the order that information should appear on the website.
· Program Options Review and Input
o The suggestion was made to hyperlink program types within the Continuum of Educational Services chart to their description within the Program Options document.
o The order for presentation on the website was proposed as the Continuum of Education Services Chart followed by the Program Options and Least Restrictive Environment descriptions.
· Good of the Order
o The Special Services Website has been updated for ease of use to include the Supervisors’ new building assignments.
o Mr. Conklin proposed creating an email link on the website for parents to submit questions to the district to be checked periodically by assigned personnel in the special services department.
o It was asked if classification automatically entitled a student to transportation. Mr. Conklin clarified that eligibility for special education transportation is made at the IEP team level only if a specific reason warrants it.
o The Parent Advisory Council will be called ESPAC instead of ESEPAC for the Edison Special Education Parent Advisory Council.
o Summer Reading Program concerns and suggestions were voiced. Mr. Conklin stated that while dialogue has occurred between departments regarding these requirements, that the summer reading program is not specific to the Special Services Department. He clarified that summer reading is addressed as the global level and not at the IEP level. Mr. Conklin hopes to have additional information to offer at the June meeting.
o Regarding students receiving accommodations and modifications for middle school benchmark assessments, Mr. Conklin encouraged parents to follow up with their child’s case manager.
o Mr. Conklin mentioned the changes the State Board of Education is proposing to NJAC 6A:14. He will email a link to meeting participants for their review of the proposed changes.
o The next ESPAC meeting was proposed for June; Mr. Conklin invites and welcomes any parent to participate in the ESPAC forum.
o If parents have additional feedback for Mr. Conklin, they are encouraged to email him prior to the next ESPAC meeting.
· Adjournment
o The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m. and was followed by the ESPAC-sponsored presentation entitled, “Social Skills – Connecting Social Skills in the Home and Community” as presented by Thomas Macchiaverna and Jeffrey Tobie.
