CLAC discusses roles, bylaws, ESY hours and family resources; respite care and online hubs highlighted

CLAC members used the meeting to review organizational tasks, service updates and family resources. Key items included updated ESY hours, a preschool move and the need to recruit new members and student representatives as the committee restructures roles and revises bylaws.

Operations and ESY: Committee members said ESY (Extended School Year) hours were adjusted for the elementary program to 9 a.m. to noon to ease busing, and that the high-school ESY hours were approximately 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; members said families would receive confirmation letters. A staff member said the preschool program will relocate to Hamilton for the coming year and that detailed start-times and busing logistics remain to be finalized.

CLAC governance and recruitment: Members discussed the need to refresh leadership and assign discrete responsibilities — for example, someone to assemble the agenda (which must be submitted one week before meetings to satisfy the Rhode Island Open Meetings Act) and another to take minutes and post them online. The group noted one required role is a school committee member (Erin has been the most consistent attendee), and members said they currently lack a student representative; they suggested inviting students who participated in the recent inclusion video as potential student representatives.

Bylaws, training and statewide links: Members said the CLAC bylaws should be reviewed and updated; the group discussed statewide supports available through Riipen (the Rhode Island parent and training resource referenced in the meeting) and noted online webinars and guides for local advisory committees. A member said SEAN (Special Education Advisory Network) and other statewide groups provide networking and technical assistance; the group discussed seeking training opportunities and sharing those notices via the CLAC Facebook page and school newsletters.

Family-facing resources and outreach: Members described two central resources: (1) a Facebook page for the CLAC (NKCLAC/MKC Live) that posts flyers and links; (2) a staff-created North Kingstown student services hub (for staff) and a planned, smaller parent-facing hub that will contain referral forms, training links, newsletters, and resource lists. Committee members said they will circulate a brief Google survey over the summer to collect parent input about topics and meeting schedules for the coming year.

Respite and events: Members flagged a respite-care event (presented by Chris McGrain’s group) scheduled for June 25–27 that will offer caregiver respite, massages and sensory-friendly haircuts; members said they posted event flyers and linked details in CLAC social posts and district flyers.

Facilities and programs: Members described inclusion and “positive pathways” programs that have been moved to school buildings (including Fishing Cove and Hamilton) and said natural supports and peer partners are increasing opportunities for students to participate in general-education settings. Members noted two teaching assistants are retiring and will be replaced by TA/job-coach hires to support community-based placements.

Next steps: The committee agreed to solicit volunteers to fill specific roles over the summer, prepare a short parent survey for fall programming and to continue to post flyers and resources on the CLAC Facebook page and district communication channels.