SEPAC Meeting with the ARPS Administration - Tuesday, 9/17, 6:30 pm

On Tuesday, September 17th, the Amherst-Pelham Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC)  will hold an Administrative Meeting and an Executive Board Meeting back-to-back. The Administrative Meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m., the Executive Board Meeting at 7:30 p.m. Both meetings will be held at the Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk, Amherst. The Amherst-Pelham SEPAC is made up of parents of children receiving Special Education services through the ARPS school system. SEPAC aims to provide support, information and advocacy to parents of children with disabilities. From the SEPAC Blog:  (http://arpssepac.wordpress.com/) What are Administrative Meetings?  These meetings are scheduled between administrative leaders of the ARPS district and SEPAC. We strive to maintain a respectful, non-adversarial relationship between our two groups, while continually pressing that the district improve. Our mutually beneficial relationship allows the administration to consult with SEPAC regarding general opinions and guidance about various policies, while SEPAC continues to illuminate areas of need, and press for change. For example, the administration reached out to SEPAC when they were considering a change in their report card policy. SEPAC also held a seat on the selection committee when the district was hiring a new Director of Student Services. These meetings afford us the opportunity to bring your issues to the district. At every meeting this year, we will be addressing details regarding the need for transparency, the problem of discipline disparity, problems with special education service delivery, and the high dropout rate of students within the special education program. Like all of our meetings, these are open to the public. Even with our tight agenda, SEPAC always reserves time in our Administrative Meetings for public input. Please contact SEPAC if you have an area of concern. It may be that your voice is not alone. Together we can fill in the blanks. Together we are strong.