ACK - SEPAC

WELCOME LETTER 2025-2026

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Welcome to ACK-SEPAC, your special education advisory council. We are a group of parents, educators, school administrators and community members who work together for the respect and support of all children and youth with special needs in the Nantucket community.

Our role as a council is to collaborate with and advise the school district by sharing information and engaging in the discussion of common concerns. We offer speaker events, trainings and workshops and programs for families and their children at all four building levels. (NES, NIS, CPS, NHS).

As parents ourselves of children and youth with special needs, we have found that the best resources are other parents with lived experience. It can feel overwhelming and isolating to receive that initial diagnosis, but you are not alone, and many parents are available to share what they have learned and direct you to services within the school and our community that may help your family as well.

On the 3rd Wednesday of every month, we will be alternating between an informational meeting and Uncommon Parents, our parent support group.

Informational meetings are held in the NHS Conference Room at 6pm. A virtual option is also available as well as simultaneous translation in Spanish.

Uncommon Parents will be held at either the Culinary Center at 22 Federal or Pip & Anchor on Amelia Drive at 6 or 6:30pm. This is a judgment free zone and a safe space for parents to share concerns and resources with parents who have shared experiences.

The meeting schedule is as follows:
September 17 th – Informational Meeting
October 15 th – Uncommon Parents -Culinary Arts Center 2 nd floor. 6pm
November 19 th – Virtual meeting only- Parents’ Basic Rights Workshop
December 17 th – Uncommon Parents -location and time to be confirmed
January 21 st – Informational meeting
February 18 th - Uncommon Parents
March 18 th – Informational meeting
April -no meeting
May 20 th - Informational meeting
June 17 th – Uncommon Parents

Throughout the school year we offer trainings and programs on a variety of topics and welcome your input if there is a particular topic you would like to learn more about. SEPAC Office Hours, an opportunity to call and speak with one of our officers, a former special educator and certified by Mass Families. Have insurance questions? Need help finding social opportunities for your child? Looking for resources? This is your opportunity to speak with a live person.

You can also leave us an email or follow us on Facebook at Nantucket’s Special Needs Advisory Council-SNAC.
Laura Steele & Suzanne Fronzuto, Co-chairs

ACK - SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) is Nantucket's Parent Advisory Council (PAC) for parents and interested parties focused on the needs of special education students. The PAC helps guide special education services provided to all eligible students in a school system.  In Massachusetts, each school system is required by state law to have a PAC, whose purpose is to allow parents of students with disabilities the opportunity to talk about common areas of interest and to advise the school committee and Director of Special Education about the education and well-being of students with disabilities.

ACK - SEPAC is an organization of families, teachers, and community members which supports and promotes the quality of education for students with diverse learning needs and challenges.

For further information about ACK - SEPAC or the parent support group-Uncommon Parents, please call: Debra Gately, Director of Special Services, (508) 228-7285 ext. 1153, or ACK - SEPAC Chairperson, Laura Steele, laura@bartlettsfarm.com

All meetings are open to the public. Please consult the Agendas & Minutes SEPAC tab and/or the District Calendar for SEPAC and related parent group meetings.

Coming soon!