Hopkinton CPAC outlines Project SHARP, events and seeks volunteers
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Summary
The Hopkinton Special Education Parent Advisory Council (CPAC) presented its board, mission and programs to the school committee, highlighted Project SHARP (teacher wish lists fulfilled by community donations), and asked community members to join CPAC and its upcoming events.
Jen Halliday, chair of Hopkinton’s Special Education Parent Advisory Council (CPAC), introduced the CPAC board and summarized the group’s mission and activities, urging broader community participation and describing Project SHARP, which matches teacher wish‑list items with community donors to support classroom needs.
Halliday said CPAC is a state‑mandated partner for families of students on IEPs and 504 plans and described a variety of in‑person and online events — coffee chats, caregiver nights, seasonal family events and educational seminars — designed to build peer support and provide resources. She listed district counts given in CPAC’s presentation: 260 students on 504 plans, 621 students on IEPs and 35 students placed out of district.
"What helped the most for me as a parent was making connections with other parents," Halliday said, urging residents to consider running for CPAC leadership and to attend the December Snowman Saturday event and other upcoming seminars. Vice chair Melissa Shear described programming, inclusive membership and upcoming educational sessions, and CPAC leaders discussed a proposed peer‑to‑peer mentorship pilot pairing high‑school and middle‑school students with similar diagnoses.
CPAC asked the committee and administration for continued partnership on information sessions and to promote volunteer recruitment; the group said it will post Project SHARP wish lists on Facebook and the CPAC website and coordinate with principals for district newsletters.