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Norwood committee hears CPAC year‑end review and low turnout for LPAC/ELPAC outreach; members ask for closer liaison
Summary
Parent‑led CPAC summarized its year of advocacy and outreach; the district reported low attendance at LPAC/ELPAC multilingual family events and said family liaisons will broaden outreach. CPAC asked for more direct communication with the School Committee, including a possible liaison.
Kristen Jenkins, representing the Committee for Parents of Children with Disabilities (CPAC), updated the Norwood School Committee on CPAC’s work and requested closer communication with the committee.
CPAC’s year and requests
Jenkins said CPAC, a parent‑led body required by Massachusetts law to support families of students with disabilities, revised its board structure this year and ran workshops including Basic Rights and an "Ask the Advocate" session. She said one of CPAC’s priorities — consolidating the PACS program at a single elementary school — was achieved.
CPAC asked the committee to consider creating a direct communication link, such as a school committee liaison to CPAC. "This is only our second year as the board," Jenkins said; CPAC members told the committee they would welcome regular, structured engagement.
LPAC/ELPAC family engagement and multilingual updates
District staff reported that LPAC/ELPAC (language program advisory groups for English Learners) events have had declining in‑person attendance. The administration said a spring LPAC meeting had approximately 25 families invited but only a few attendees; access and comfort with in‑person events were cited as barriers. District leaders said they plan to increase virtual offerings, leverage family liaisons (six district liaisons were named) and use targeted outreach to ensure families receive translated communications via ParentSquare and other channels.
Why it matters
CPAC serves as a bridge between families and the district for special education policy and parent education; stronger ties to the school committee could improve responsiveness to family concerns. The LPAC/ELPAC update underscores challenges many districts face in translating outreach into attendance, particularly in a more virtual environment and under changing immigration concerns.
Next steps
Committee members expressed support for a liaison and said they will discuss how to formalize contact. The administration said it would continue virtual engagement, have family liaisons increase outreach, and work with CPAC to raise participation.
