Watertown, MA SEPAC

09/24/2026

After much consideration, all members of the SEPAC board have decided to step down and officially submitted our resignation today.

We volunteered to served on the SEPAC board because we care deeply about Watertown’s special education students and families and wanted to contribute our time and energy toward supporting families, sharing resources, strengthening communication, and building community. However, the environment surrounding SEPAC has become increasingly adversarial and personal. As parents and volunteers, this is not the kind of environment in which we believe we can continue to serve effectively. Rather than participating in further conflict or division within the parent community, we have collectively decided that stepping down is the best path forward for us.

While we are stepping down from our formal roles, we are not stepping away from the special education community. We remain available as fellow parents to share resources, make connections, support families where we can, and continue advocating for strong special education services in Watertown. Our commitment to this community was never limited to holding a Board position, and it will continue after our terms end.

We appreciate everyone who has contributed their time, perspectives, and support during our tenure and wish the next SEPAC Board success moving forward.

09/14/2026

Come join us for our first general meeting!

This Wednesday at the Lowell School. Come learn about SEPAC, ways you can participate and get involved, and also have a chance to meet our new interim director Kristen Beaupre.

*Update. Thank you all for raising these concerns. We hear the feedback about both communication and accessibility. Unfortunately have not been able to secure a virtual option for tonight.

Tonight’s meeting was planned as an in-person gathering, and we understand that this format does not work for every family. Our calendar includes both in-person and virtual meetings this year, and we are also working to create another virtual opportunity to meet Kristen as soon as possible.

We appreciate the feedback and will continue working with the district to improve how and when SEPAC information reaches families.

09/05/2026

We hope everyone is enjoying the final weekend of the summer break. As we prepare for the new school year, we'd like to share a welcome letter from the SEPAC board and our calendar of events for the year. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-Qw4ZaP5Qqie52GnjiIVFuess0pMrql1/view?usp=sharing

08/15/2026

SEPAC Update!

The SEPAC Board has been busy over the summer planning for the upcoming school year. We’ll send a full welcome newsletter via ParentSquare before school starts, but in the meantime, here are a few highlights:

Save the date: September 16, 2026 for our first meeting of the year. The meeting will be held in person (location TBD) and will include an opportunity to meet Kristen Beaupre, Interim Head of Student Services.
Our 2026–27 calendar will include monthly events, including general meetings, trainings, and social events, with both in-person and virtual events.
Board elections: We will hold a special election this fall to fill our open board seats. Please stay tuned for details about serving on the Board and other ways to support SEPAC.
Listening sessions: We’ve been working with Dr. Galdston to offer listening sessions in both the fall and spring.

We’re looking forward to connecting with everyone and kicking off a great year together!

08/03/2026

We are putting together a meeting calendar for the 26-27 school year that will include a mixture of in-person and remote meetings, trainings, general meetings and opportunities to meet with the interim director of student services. We plan to have Basic Rights training presented by FCSN in the fall, but we would like to include 2-3 additional trainings during the school year. Please let us know topics that would be especially interesting to you - ideas so far are: working with an advocate, executive function skills, anxiety in school aged children.

07/26/2026

Tonight at 7:00 PM!

School Committee Meeting tomorrow evening!
Zoom Link: https://watertown-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/88144843914
Agenda: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IxMT7JaDmmVFhiroR8vJnFcjYLVMPp3F/view

07/26/2026

📚 Summer Book Club Registration is NOW

Looking for meaningful professional learning this summer? Join the Chris Walsh Center for Educators and Families at Framingham State University for our Summer Book Club Series!

Together, we'll explore two outstanding books that offer practical strategies for supporting neurodivergent individuals and creating more inclusive communities.

📖 Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults* by Caroline Maguire
🗓️ Sessions: August 3, 10 & 17 | 6:00 PM

*The material discussed in the book is relevant to young adults navigating friendships also.

📖 Neurodiversity Affirming Schools by Emily Kircher-Morris & Amanda Morin
🗓️ Sessions: August 10 & 17 | 10:30–11:30 AM

✨ Open to educators, caregivers, clinicians, and community members.

Register: https://forms.gle/Ke6tiWsE8BwNEGJf7

If you need a copy of the book. A limited number of books are available for registered participants on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last for those who need them.

Spend your summer learning, connecting, and growing with a community committed to inclusion and belonging.

07/24/2026

This may be a helpful training for parents who are new to the IEP process/those who feel overwhelmed by the process.

Join FCSN's 2026 Asynchronous Parent Consultant Training Institute - an intensive program designed to help families and professionals understand special education laws, navigate the IEP process with confidence, and advocate effectively for students.

Program Dates: Monday, July 27 – Monday, October 2

Flexible Online Format: Watch recorded presentations and complete online assignments on your own schedule. The 8-week course includes a short break (August 24 - September 7), plus optional weekly Zoom discussion sessions.

Cost to Attend
Parents/Caregivers/Students (ages 14-22): $295
Professionals: $350

https://fcsn.org/event/2026-asynchronous-pcti/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign&utm_content=ap_jsptrijcim

06/25/2026

This evening, Superintendent Galdston announced that Kathleen Desmarais, the Director of Student Services for the Watertown district, has moved up her timeline for leaving the district. Kathy will now leave at the end of the summer once an interim director has been appointed. The goal is that an interim director will provide steady leadership during the search for a permanent director, which is scheduled to begin in the fall.

06/22/2026

The Watertown School Committee is meeting this evening at 7pm in the Lowell school and on Zoom. The agenda includes a presentation of the draft proposal for the Special Education action plan. The SEPAC is continuing to meet with the Superintendent and School Committee as they shape this plan. Please consider attending tonight's meeting and sharing your feedback on the action plan.

Zoom link: https://watertown-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/82862029259
Meeting agenda: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1y4HncblnkFAxIyLe8YXk7dyAWFj75R6k/view