Please join us at our next meeting, tomorrow, Friday, January 3, at Fort River Elementary School.  We will discuss the results of the Special Education Parent Satisfaction Survey that was conducted by PCG (Public Consulting Group) last spring. Also, we will hear from and provide feedback to Superintendent Morris about the progress of the Grade Span Advisory Group who is looking at the feasibility of moving sixth graders to the middle school.

At our last meeting, we heard about progress to make our school buildings more accessible to those with mobility impairments. The courtyard tiles at Crocker Farm were relaid last summer.  The district is working with Amherst’s Department of Public Works to provide accessible routes into school buildings and playgrounds.  A request for proposals for design services will go out this month that will help the district address more complicated projects like providing accessible routes and bathrooms within buildings. Also in the works is a plan to improve the playing fields in the district, which will include making them more accessible.

Our other major topic on our agenda was hearing about our district’s Special Education Budget and budget processes. We heard comparisons of our spending to similar districts in our region and about different sources of state funding and how they will change under the new Student Opportunity Act. SEPAC requested that the new Adaptive PE program at the high school be provided with a sustained budget going forward as it has proven to be successful and has been desired for some time.

Please see our agendas and meeting reports on our website when they are posted for additional details.