2025-2026 Morning Meetings and Coffee & Conversation - Open to All

The SEPAC plays an important advisory role for Wellesley Public Schools on matters regarding special education. SEPAC officers meet regularly with district administrators, as well as participate in the planning, development, and evaluation of special education. We need your help to shape special education in the district. SEPAC meetings are open to parents of students on IEPs, 504 Plans, and all other interested parties. 

After the formal meeting concludes, we invite you to stay to meet other parents in the community who can answer questions and offer support when it comes to navigating this complicated and sometimes isolating world of IEPs and 504s! We have a mix of daytime and evening, in-person and virtual meetings. We hope you can join us!  

Scheduled Meetings:

• Friday, September 5, 2025 from 9 to 10 am at WPS Central Office (40 Kingsbury St, enter from D'Auria Dr) - Meet the SEPAC Leadership and WPS Student Services Team; Coffee & Conversation led by Assistant Superintendent for Student Services Dr. Midge Connolly

• Tuesday, September 30 from 10 to 11 am via Zoom

• Monday, October 27 in the evening (exact timing TBD) in person (location TBD)

We will announce the rest of the 2025-2026 meetings shortly, so please check back soon!

WPS School Wellness Advisory Committee (SWAC)

The SEPAC has a representative on the WPS SWAC. Massachusetts law requires that each school district establish a SWAC comprised of school staff and concerned community representatives to recommend, review, and help implement school district policies addressing school nutrition, nutrition education, physical education, physical activity, and related issues that affect student health. Read more about the SWAC here. 

The SWAC meets at least 4 times per year. This years' meetings are in the process of being scheduled. 

If you would like to share any thoughts with the SEPAC SWAC representative, please contact Kayla Sheets and copy pacwellesley@gmail.com. 

Central Council

During the school year, the District hosts monthly meetings with the representatives from each school's PTO/PTSO, School Committee, senior administration (including the Superintendent), and community groups, including SEPAC, Wellesley Education Foundation (WEF), Wellesley Green Schools, Friends of METCO, and others. The format is meant for a smaller group of the WPS to come together to discuss various issues and exchange information. This group is known as the Central Council of the PTOs or simply Central Council.  These meetings allow Central Council members to 

• • • Stay informed about District efforts so that we can keep our constituencies up to date;

    • Discuss concerns and challenges;

    • Share best practices;

    • Collaborate on all aspects of PTO programming; and 

    • Work to make WPS the best it can be. 

SEPAC leadership attends these meetings on behalf of the SEPAC. 

Central Council is scheduled to meet this year on the following dates and times:

• • • Monday, September 22, 9-10:30 am

    • Monday, October 20, 9-10:30 am

    • Thursday, November 20, 7-8:30 pm

    • Friday, January 16, 9-10:30 am

    • Tuesday, February 10, 9-10:30 am

    • Wednesday, March 11, 7-8:30 pm

    • Monday, April 6, 9-10:30 am

    • Wednesday, May 6, 7-8:30 pm

    • Tuesday, June 2, 9-10:30 am

The SEPAC shares brief Central Council updates with its membership via the Google Group and other media. If you have any feedback for the Central Council, please email pacwellesley@gmail.com. 

Meetings with Special Education Administrators

As part of its legal charge, the SEPAC executive board meets regularly with the school district to advise on matters affecting the education and safety of disabled students and participate in the planning, development, and evaluation of special education programs. 

The SEPAC meets with the Assistant Superintendent of Student Services who oversees special education and serves as the 504 Coordinator for the district along with other members of the WPS Student Services team, such as the Assistant Directors of Special Education. Other district officials may also attend these meetings, including the the Director of Community Engagement, and, occasionally, the Superintendent. 

The meetings between the SEPAC and WPS administrators occurred on the following dates:

• Monday, July 7

• Monday, July 14

• Friday, August 15

• Thursday, August 28

Additional meetings for the 2025-2026 school year are in the process of being scheduled.

If there is any feedback that you would like us to consider raising with the administration during these meetings, please email pacwellesley@gmail.com. 

Other Events and Volunteer Opportunities

If you have an idea for an event or program, please let us know! If you are looking for ways to get involved, please consider volunteering with us. 

Please email pacwellesley@gmail.com to get in touch.

Academic Calendar Task Force

WPS assembled a 25-person task force charged with developing a report and recommendation to the School Committee for the academic calendar task force. Unfortunately, the SEPAC was not invited to participate in the process. We, nevertheless, have heard the concerns from our community and spoken and written to the School Committee and Academic Calendar Task Force on behalf of our community. 

You may read a copy of our open letter to the School Committee here. 

We encourage families to also write individually to the School Committee to raise your concerns by emailing School_Committee@wellesleyps.org.