5/2/2012 SEPAC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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partner with the district to engage with a bit of extra communication be- professional development speakers in key tween PAC leaders and parents, areas of need. sometimes it is more possible than it might appear at first to find a way for an In any circumstance, it can be helpful to individual parent to make a contribution. attempt to integrate the PAC's concerns PAC leaders have to try hard to meet with the school councils' and the priorities parents where they are, rather than as- and concerns of the school district as a suming that they are free to handle larger whole. The PAC will benefit from having roles. established itself as a familiar player with a knowledgeable perspective, more than For example, try to match a parent's in- presenting itself as a tiny, unknown entity terests and talents with a job that needs from an isolated corner of the school to be done. People are more likely to vol- system. unteer if they feel competent from the start. Break down responsibilities as Creating Spin-off Groups, such-as much as possible into time-limited tasks Parent Support Group that may seem more manageable. One person can help send PAC announce- Often times, some of the parents who are ments by email; another can bring interested in attending a PAC meeting refreshments to the meeting. A full year's have a desire to share concerns and calendar of PAC presentations can be put feelings with other parents about their together if each speaker is contacted by a experiences and hard work in trying to different volunteer. Other parents might get the best possible special education contribute important feedback by partici- program in place for their son or daugh- pating in a PAC email group. ter. Sometimes, one or more parents might want to find time to discuss their To help volunteers become comfortable personal situations. While parents will with larger leadership roles, offer the op- undoubtedly refer to their own experi- portunity to shadow the PAC chair-person ences at the PAC meeting, one option for or invite an interested parent to attend giving them an avenue to voice and share the PAC chairperson's meeting with the concerns is to establish a group that administrator of special edu-cation. Re- meets separately from the PAC- a "Par- member to publicly recognize everyone ent Support Group". That way, parents who donates time to help the PAC. interested in this can have their needs met, while at the same time, the PAC PACs across the state use their meetings meeting can remain sufficiently focused for a wide variety of purposes and activi- on its main advisory function. ties. Naturally, members use meetings to discuss concerns at the local level. In ad- Most PACs attempt, in some way, to pro- dition, PACs plan an array of activities- vide information, resources, and support ranging from inviting guest speakers on to parents of children with disabilities, as special education topics, to asking a well as to the community at large. school psychologist to give a talk on the WISC test, to workshops on laws and Helping Parents Make the regulations. Contributions They Can The PAC can often take on an expanded Often, parents- particularly parents of role of helping educate parents and the children with disabilities- find it difficult to school community about disabilities and make time in their busy schedules to at- special education. In addition to the an- tend all the PAC meetings, or to take on nual training done in cooperation with the all PAC tasks or assignments. However, district on the rights and responsibilities 10