SEAC Minutes
Date: 2-13-14
Time: 5:30 pm- 8:00 pm
Location: 360 Colborne St: Admin. Room A (child care room J & K)
* Note location
Attendees: Elizabeth Keenan, Jackie Kelly, Sara Janssen, Lynn Shellenberger, Michaele Caron, Nici Giusti,
Norma Crumble, Pa Nyia Vang, Stave Adams, Deequ Hussein, Michele Silvester, Trisha Wilette, Michelle
Hodurski, Jeantette Jones, Carmen Sisson, Heather Kilgore, Tina Zillhart
5:30
Dinner
Child care check in
6:00
Introductions
6:05
Review minutes and agenda
 Nici: update for DPAC, reword the update. Propose later high school
class start. “The MPLS South Washington” used for model. Change
wording: more steps towards it, not what they are going to be
proposing, exactly. Need more info how it will affect the spec ed kids.
In MPLS: outsourced some transportation to MetroTransit, but
more difficult for spec ed.
6:10
Special Education Update- Elizabeth Keenan
Just had SCF. There was no change in programs, sticking to Strong
Schools, Strong Communities. Some glitches where parents were
misinformed about areas that they are in. There are designated
programs in the areas. If they wanted to look at programs outside
area, they will look at availability-parents won’t get transportation.
If students are not designated to a special program, can go to any
school in their area.
Looking at transition in spec ed. Now they know the path that a
student will be going in each of the programs. Show them the schools,
meet up with staff, a set them up with a mentor.
Trouble finding the SEAC booth at the SCF. Focus Beyond should be
with Bridgeview. SEAC should have its own booth with volunteers to
share info with the families.
Family liaisons at the schools know about SEAC. Heather will
communicate to family liaisons about communicating these
opportunities to families.
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6:25
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Teacher Union Negotiation Update- Heather Kilgore
In the event that there is a strike, there will no school; most staff will
not be working; no after school programs. There is a website
(spps.org/workingtogether) that gives the most recent updates and
serves as a place for engaging in discussion. Can contact anyone at
the OFECP about it.
Special ed teachers are part of the regular Teachers Union. The
school will have to decide how to make up that days that were missed
(extended school year).
Before the teachers strike, teachers must give 10 days to give
warning. They have some period of time after the vote to strike (all of
the info about this is on the spps.org/workingtogether website.)
(LIZ) Class size: made sure this year that all students were assigned
homerooms so that the limit in the class size wouldn’t get pushed up.
6:25
SEAC Leadership Training- recap
 Any feedback, please share.
6:30
Special Education Family Groups Update
 Families filled out surveys, which are available to look at.
 Next event is March 7, The Family Resource Fair. If there are any
suggestions for resources, share them.
6:45
Committee work
Communications and Outreach:
Member binders and website
Members: Joy, Nici, Norma, Sara, Deeqa, Jen
Diversity and Representation:
Special Education at a Glance for SPPS’ Parents
Members: Angelia, Sai, Jim, Ali, Jolene, Pa Nyia, Lelise
Governance and Operations:
Group agreements and membership process
Members: Lynn, Steve, Michaele, Jackie
7:05
Committee reports
 Communications and Outreach: How to increase SEAC visability.
During IEP meetings, making sure teachers are handing out flyers
with info, sending info home with kids from school, recording a
message to send out to all spec ed families; designating a parent
ambassador to all schools that would be the advocate on site to tell
people about SEAC; spread the word to other PAC’s; rebranding
SEAC; Getting the word out at parades (i.e. Rondo days); elevator
speech to speak to what SEAC is about; Non-personalized SEAC
business card; Facebook page. Join the SPPS parade! Name tags.
 Diversity and Representation: Special education at a glance
pamphlet. It is ready to go, want it ready by the next resource fair (at
least the English one, the Spanish one should be ready soon as well).
Places to have it available to parents: Open houses, people of first
contact, social workers, SCF, doctors offices, mental health offices, in
welcome packets to families.
 Governance and Operations: Go over/clean up bylaws. Have
something in writing by the next meeting. Defined housekeeping
items. Things that need to be discussed will be written out.
7:45
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8:00
Advisory Council Updates and Announcements
Special Education Parent Academy: Piloting it by attendance areas
starting in the spring sessions. Need some help recruiting for the
program so that the curriculum in the fall is very well vetted. Don’t
know the sites yet. It will be co-located with the regular Parent
Academy sites. Dates TBA, should be known by the next meeting.
MN Department of Human Services looking for a Medicaid Advisory
Council: If you are interested in joining the committee, sign up.
There are 3 PACER workshops coming out:
Disability matters at the Capitol: March 18.
YOGA Calm for kids: Katie Thune. Sunday Evenings March 2-16, 67pm.
Family voices: Ways to Measure quality to health services. Looking
for people to interview with a $45 stipend. The monthly one is for a
committee that meets on a monthly base, over the phone. There is
two parts to it: one, how was the process of discharging your child
from the hospital ($100 stipend).
MN Epilepsy Catalogue.
Summer Camps (will be at the resource fair)
Sharing the disability they represent on the member list to show the
diversity.
Adjourn