Volunteer

Many of our current board members have served for three or more years and will be stepping aside at the end of their term to make room for new volunteers. We invite you to join a community of parents working together to ensure understanding, respect, support, and the appropriate education of all students on an IEP.  Volunteering is a great way to get to know the administration, teachers, and staff in our districts. You’ll also learn more about special education and the many opportunities and resources available for your child. Please consider volunteering for one of the upcoming open positions.

Open Volunteer Positions 2021-2022

  • Publicity Chair
  • Secretary
Every SEPAC shapes their board differently. Below is a description of the current roles and duties for the Concord/Concord-Carlisle SEPAC. For more information on how other SEPACs shape their board visit our External Resource page.

President/Co-President

  • Preside at all meetings of the SEPAC and attend PTG Presidents Meeting
  • Draft the agenda for each general meeting
  • Recommend the creation of and monitor the function of sub-committees
  • Monitor and facilitate the activities of other Officers
  • Monitor compliance with the Bylaws and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Regulations
  • Act as liaison with the district and school officials and representatives, including the Special Education Administrator, the School Committee, the Superintendent, the Principals, and the Educators
  • Lead efforts to advise the district on matters that pertain to the education and safety of students with disabilities
  • Coordinate regular meetings with school officials to participate in the planning, development, and evaluation of the school district’s special education programs.
  • Report to the Special Education Administrator regarding SEPAC activities and needs
  • Identify and pursue ways to collaborate on common goals
  • Funnel parent/guardian feedback to the Concord SEPAC Board and the Special Education Administrator
  • Act as liaison between parents/guardians of students with disabilities or suspected disabilities and the Administrator of Special Education.
  • Transition knowledge and expertise to the next Chair upon the end of term

Events Chair

  • Lead and coordinate event logistics (book location, speakers, date and time, refreshments if needed, etc.)
  • Maintain an accurate attendance log of all events
  • Share details with Publicity Chair and Communications Chair for distribution
  • Coordinate event planning sub-committee

Publicity Chair

  • Publicize events and meetings to the schools and general public
  • Post the meeting minutes to the Town Clerks of Concord and Carlisle, according to the regulations of Massachusetts Open Meeting Law

Technology Chair

  • Oversee, maintain, and/or improve website and social media
  • Post links to SEPAC newsletters, meeting agendas, and minutes on the website and social media
  • Post articles, resources, events, and other items of interest on the SEPAC Facebook page, Twitter, and/or Instagram

Communications Chair

  • Create a newsletter to be distributed to families of students on an IEP through the Special Education Office
  • Newsletters can be distributed monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly

Non-Board Positions-roles and responsibilities

  • School PTG/Parent Liaison
    • The role of the SEPAC liaison is to represent the SEPAC at various events, help connect parents to the resources SEPAC offers, stay abreast of school happenings, and share information about their school to the SEPAC Board.

The Liaison will:

  • Attend school meetings and events such as PTG meetings, Special Education coffees, informational sessions, back-to-school nights, and other school meetings and events.
  • Organize a table and represent SEPAC at back-to-school night for their school
  • Listen to any parent concern, suggestion, or question brought to the attention of the liaison and then bring that information to the SEPAC board always keeping the source of that information confidential
  • Attend SEPAC meetings when possible and update the board on an as-needed basis.

Other volunteer positions include but aren’t limited to are:

  • Events Committee-assist the Event Chair in organizing SEPAC sponsored events. Duties may include but not limited to:
    • Reserving space
    • Organizing refreshments
    • Set up and break down of events
  • Publicity Committee– assist the Publicity Chair with publicizing events and meetings and help with the composition of press releases.
  • Fundraising Committee-assist Fundraising Chair in organizing fundraising events
  • Newsletter Contributor-contribute current and relevant special education information for the monthly newsletter that is distributed to SEPAC parents/guardians and SEPAC members.

Please contact us if you are interested in volunteering. There are many rewarding volunteer opportunities where we can utilize your interests and skills.