SEPTA's Newsletter
The South River Advocate
January 2000, Vol 1, Issue 2
Welcome to the electronic version of the South River Advocate,
the newsletter of the Special Education PTA of South River.
This is distributed free of charge. Feel free to pass this
on to friends and relatives who might be interested.
What's in this issue:
President's Message
What's Happening
Executive Board, Meetings and Members
Legislative Update
Useful Internet Sites
Hello & Goodbye
HMO Horror Stories
For Sale
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE:
I hope everyone has settled into the new school year and has had fun,
relaxing joy filled holiday. I'd like to thank everyone who has come
to our meetings. The Ice Cream Social and Holiday Party were especially
well attended.
We have some interesting topics for our next two meetings.
In January, Dr Marino will talk about the programs, grants & the budget for
Student Personnel Services, (it is a lot more than just Special Ed.).
In February Barbara Selekoff will discuss how children learn and what skills
they can gain that will help them in school. This will be beneficial to
parents of elementary & middle school children who are learning disabled,
at risk or identified for compensatory education. This promises to be one
of our more interesting meetings.
Several parents have asked about a support group. So if there are enough
people who would like to get together and form a support group we will give
that a try. Please call (732) 432-6747 and let us know how often you'd like
to meet, what topics or problems you would like to discuss.
Don't forget to visit our web site for lots more information. If you don't
have a PC or access to the internet, just stop by the South River Library,
they have several PC with access to the internet for you to use:
http://www.geocities.com/septa_srnj.
Bill Sellar
What's Happening
SEPTA Calendar 1999/2000
Wed October, 20 Dawn Bladzinski from South River Library
Wed November 17 Video: FAT City What it is like to be Learning disabled
Wed December 15 Holiday Party Bring your favorite holiday desert to share.
Thur January 20 Dr. Marino: Student Personnel Services programs, grants and Budget
Wed February 23 Barbar Selekoff "Increasing School Successes
Through Skill Development."
Wed March 15 TBA.
Tue April 11 TBA
Mon May 8 TBA - Special Education Week!
South River Board of Education:
Mon January 24 Pre-meeting Board Conf Rm. 7:30
Thur January 27 Meeting HS Library 7:30
Tues April 18 School Board & Budget elections
Middlesex County
Special Child Health Services
Meetings are held at the East Brunswick Library at 7:30
and are free and open to the public
Tuesday January 18 TBA
New Jersey State
Bar Foundation
Seminars are held at the New Jersey Law Center One Constitution Square,
New Brunswick For directions call (732) 249-5000
To Register for a Seminar call 1 (800) FREE LAW
January 12, 7-9 pm Special Needs Trusts
February 26 7-9 pm Child Custody/ Grandparents Rights
March 9 1-3 pm Medicare/Medicaid Maze
Executive Board
Meetings
The Executive Board meets on the first Thursday of each monthly
during the school year all SEPTA members are welcome to attend.
Anyone with concerns, questions or interested in getting involved
is encouraged to attend or to contact any of the Board members.
As you can see, we still have several openings on the Board so
if you want to make a difference in your child's education please
consider getting involved.
Members
President Bill Sellar
Vice President George Borgstede
Secretary Debbie Angley
Treasurer Patty Borgstede
Proc & Bylaws Chair Open
Faculty Rep Open
Administration Rep Dr. Judy Marino
Membership Chair Open
Fundraising Chair Open
Legislative Chair Open
How to Contact SEPTA
There are several ways to contact SEPTA,
Mail: SEPTA of South River, 81 Johnson Place, South River, NJ 08882
E-Mail septa_srnj@geocities.com
Phone: Bill Sellar 613-5144
Or contact any of the Exec Board members
Legislative Update
Currently there is a bill in Trenton (S-1492)
"The Physician-Dentist Fellowship and Education Program to
Provide Health Care to Persons with Developmental Disabilities".
This bill would appropriate $2.5 million to establish a program
to provide physicians and dentists with graduate and continuing
medical and dental education to provide these services to persons
with developmental disabilities.
The bill was passed the New Jersey Senate and Assembly.
However, Governor Whitman has given it a condition veto.
Her changes have passed the Senate and are due before the
full Assembly on January 10th.
Useful Internet Sites:
New Jersey State PTAwww.njpta.org
Web site of the New Jersey State PTA. There is a variety of
useful information for all parents, not just PTA members
Reed Martin Special Ed Law www.reedmartin.com
Reed Martin is an attorney with 28 years of experience in
Special Ed Law. There is of information concerning Special
Ed law, including an n Advocacy Tip of the Week, Ask Reed Martin,
and a free on-line newsletter you can subscribe to.
Statewide Parents Advocacy Network of New Jersey
www.taalliance.org/ptis/nj
Statewide Parent Advocacy Network of New Jersey is a
non-profit web site, which provides parents, educators,
medical professionals and caretakers with information regarding
children with disABILITIES. They have links to hundreds of web
sites about Disabilities.
Hello & Goodbye
A SAD FAREWELL TO
Lisa Lucarelli, the school district's Ocupational Therapist
has resigning effective Nov 14. We all wish much success in the future.
Nancy Schon-Caralan will be joining her husband as
he attends medical school, out of state.
A WARM HELLO TO
Sangeeta Monga who has been hired to replace Lisa. Sangeeta
has over 18 years of experience, many of them working with children.
Dr. Mariana Pedro Medlin has been hired as a replacement
for Nancy Schon-Caralan. Beginning on February 1, 2000.
Dr. Pedro-Medlin received her doctorate form Rutgers University,
has had several years of experience working on a child study team
in a public school. She is fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
HMO HORROR STORIES ?
Unfortunately many Special Ed children require extra medical
In this age where HMO's are getting larger and more interested
in making a profit and less interested in providing QUALITY health
care to their subscribers your voice can be heard. The NJ Hospital
Association is compiling stories of medical claims that have been
denied and will be presenting these to our State legislators.
So if you have had a problem please
CALL: 888-FIX-HMOS
FOR SALE
The South River High School PTSA is selling RAM FLAGS for $15
Show your sprit and buy one to hang in from of your home.
Contact:
JoAnn Devlin 254-2895
or
Mary Graham 257-5669