Newton, MA SEPAC

Special Education Parent Advisory Council

Newton SEPAC — Open Board Meeting Minutes: September 16, 2025

Abstract: These minutes document the Newton SEPAC Open Board Meeting held virtually on September 16, 2025. Key discussions included challenges with ParentSquare, SEPAC communication strategies, upcoming candidate events, and concerns regarding IEP language and special education inclusion. Action items were assigned to address these issues and improve communication and support for families.

Date: September 16, 2025 Location: Virtual meeting via Zoom Time: 8:00 PM – 10:30 PM

Facilitator: Sarah Riccardi-Swartz Notes: Maka Bubashvili

Status: Draft for Review

Attendees(21)

SEPAC Board Members

  • Head: Eliza R. Spaulding
  • Co-Heads: Sarah Riccardi-Swartz, Jenny Klein-Sosa
  • Programs: Sri Sridhar, Sahar
  • Communications: Alena (absent)
  • Parent Liaison: Lindsay
  • Board Member: Brittany
  • Secretary: Maka

Guests and SEPAC Liaisons

  • Aileen Landau (SEPAC Liaison)
  • Alicia Piedalue (Newton School Committee & SEPAC Liaison)
  • Amy Ricigliano (SEPAC Liaison)
  • Ani Ross Grubb (SEPAC Liaison)
  • Chris Callanan (SEPAC Liaison)
  • Emily Prenner (Newton School Committee & SEPAC Liaison)
  • Ima Jonsdottir (SEPAC Liaison)
  • Jacquelyn Lykken (SEPAC Liaison)
  • Jason Bhardwaj (SEPAC Liaison)
  • Jordyne Wu (Bowen Co-SEPAC Liaison)
  • Linda Swain (Newton School Committee & SEPAC Liaison)
  • Molly (SEPAC Liaison)
  • Yael Mito (SEPAC Liaison)

All attendees introduced themselves, noting their roles, involvement in special programs, and length of engagement with SEPAC, fostering a welcoming and supportive atmosphere.

Agenda Discussions

  • ParentSquare Issues: Families are experiencing difficulties with ParentSquare, including trouble contacting teachers directly, lack of transparency in communications, and difficulty retaining records.
  • SEPAC Google Group: The Google Group has approximately 550 subscribers, but the number of active NPS families is unclear. A proposal to refresh the contact list and re-engage families was discussed.
  • Communication Platform Exploration: Sri Sridhar suggested exploring Microsoft Teams as a communication option for SEPAC. Feasibility may depend on support from NGOs with ‘Friends’ status to cover costs.
  • ParentSquare Enhancement: An idea to work with NPS to enhance ParentSquare features specifically for special education families (dedicated groups, better record-keeping) was proposed.
  • School Committee Candidate Interviews: Candidate interviews revealed varying positions on special education (SPED) funding.
  • Recognition of Service: Members acknowledged and thanked Emily Prenner for her service.
  • School Committee Representation: Ongoing School Committee representation continues with Alicia Piedalue, Linda Swain, and liaison Jordyne Wu.
  • Meet the Candidate Event:
    • The event will be held virtually on Zoom.
    • Promotion and media approach discussed, with selective/controlled outreach considered.
    • Suggested channels: Fig News, Newton Beacon, Newton Patch, Boston Globe (Newton), Reddit r/Newton, Nextdoor; optional city e-posting.
    • A press release and Save-the-Date were emphasized.
  • SEPAC Events Brainstorming: Members were encouraged to brainstorm new SEPAC events for the upcoming year. Ani Ross Grubb mentioned ‘events etc.’ as part of the discussion, highlighting the need for structured planning and idea collection. Emphasis was placed on gathering input from SEPAC members and liaisons to create a diverse calendar of activities.

Open Comment Discussions

  • IEP Language: The new IEP style and language is difficult for parents to interpret. Confusion arises even for experienced families.
  • Translation Needs: Professional human translation is needed for non-English-speaking families; AI translations can be inaccurate.
  • Inclusion Inconsistencies: Inconsistencies in inclusion and accommodations for special education students were noted.
  • Field Trip Accessibility: Field trip accessibility was noted in some IEPs but not consistently applied. Coverage depends on whether events are ‘school-sponsored’; PTO/club/aftercare events may lack obligations.
  • Communication Gaps: Broader communication gaps exist about accommodations not always being shared by teachers.
  • Testing Time Limits: Strict time limits negatively affect special education students’ ability to demonstrate their knowledge.
  • Superintendent Support: Superintendent Anna Nolin is supportive of special education teachers, but maintaining regular communication is important.
  • Newcomer Event: A virtual newcomer event is planned to orient and onboard families, as no in-person venue was available.
  • SPED Document Guides: Parents questioned whether guides to Newton SPED documents function as a menu of services or a starting point for deeper understanding.
  • Meeting Expectations: One parent expected this meeting to be onboarding/training; the board clarified this was a standard meeting.

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