CPAC outlines year of special-education events; district reports near-full staffing and one remaining vacancy

CPAC co-chair Gail Trink updated the committee Oct. 22 on the Special Education Parents Advisory Council’s schedule and outreach and thanked district leaders for support. CPAC will meet monthly and has scheduled presentations on parental rights, anxiety (Nov. 3), community arts, transition planning and ADHD through the school year.

Trink said CPAC pursued support from state Sen. Michael Rodrigues for an ADA-compliant playground and that Superintendent Starkey helped draft a letter for potential earmarked funds. CPAC’s next meeting is Nov. 3 in the lecture hall and will feature child psychologist Dr. Marcy Atkins on anxiety-related issues.

Kelly (Director of Student Services) briefed the committee on quarterly reports from two collaboratives the district uses for specialized placements — REEDS and South Coast Educational Collaborative — and said the district currently uses contracted services (for example, teachers of the deaf and educational audiologists) when needed. She reported that REEDS is fully staffed for its deaf- and hard-of-hearing program and that South Coast had made organizational hires, including a human-resources professional.

On staffing, Kelly said the district is down to one special-education vacancy: an inclusion teacher at the high school. She said classes and services are covered and that the district continues recruiting and will refresh postings and hire before anticipated retirements or long-term absences.

Committee members encouraged parent participation in CPAC and thanked Gail Trink and district special-education staff for their work.