SEPAC SOMA MEETINGS & UPDATES
NOVEMBER
CUP CHAT: FAMILY PLAYDATE
Come to the Maplecrest Inclusive Playground Grand Opening celebration, stay for a SEPAC Cup Chat & playdate. Join us after the Department of Community Service’s Grand Opening of the Inclusive Playground for a Cup Chat and family playdate. A tour of the new playground will be provided.
Our Cup Chats are informal gatherings and a great opportunity to connect with other parents who understand the joys and challenges of raising children with disabilities. This month it’s BYOCC (bring your own cup & children).
Sunday, 11/1 @ 12:00pm
◉ Maplecrest Park Inclusive Playground
237 Oakland Rd, Maplewood
OCTOBER
OPPORTUNITY: NJ DOE TASK FORCE
The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) Office of Special Education is pleased to announce public comment opportunities as part of the Special Education Transportation TaskForce. Members of the public, including families of students with disabilities, advocates, educators, and other interested parties, are invited to register to provide oral or written comments at these meetings.
MORE INFO & REGISTRATION:
▣ NJ DOE Special Education Task Force
October 26, 2026 from 6:00PM to 7:00PM
October 29, 2026 from 10:00AM to 11:00AM
November 3, 2026 from 12:00PM to 1:00PM
OCTOBER
SEPAC SOMA 2026 BOE CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE
Each year SEPAC SOMA invites SOMSD Board of Education candidates to respond to several questions about issues related to Special Education in our district. We are pleased to share with you the 2026 BOE Candidate Responses to our questionnaire. We thank all the candidates for taking the time to share their perspectives.
SEPAC is not a political organization and does not endorse candidates in any election. This presentation is intended solely to assist voters by presenting candidate views on issues related to special education. The views expressed are the candidates’ own.
SEPTEMBER
SURVEY: PARAPROFESSIONAL TRANSITION FEEDBACK
We’ve created a community tool to collect feedback on the paraprofessional transition from ESS to Delta-T in SOMSD. If your child has a para, please share positive and negative experiences so that we can share an anonymous compilation with district administration, the Board of Education, and the community. You can fill out this form as often as you’d like.
Access the form here:
►Delta-T Paraprofessional Transition Feedback Form
Questions? Please email info@sepacsoma.org or connect with your school liaision.
2026-2027 EXECUTIVE BOARD
President: Verna Holcomb
VP, Policy Initiatives: Scott Ingles
VP, Family Engagement: Ifeoma Nwigwe
VP, Community Outreach: Lark Losardo
Programming Director: Juli Fairaizl
Communications Director: Amanda Durett Cercone
Ex Officio: Nicole Josey
info@sepacsoma.org
RESOURCE FAIR GUIDE
What a joy it was to see our SEPAC SOMA community making connections! Huge thanks to the families who stopped by, to the local providers, groups, and organizations who shared a Saturday afternoon with us, and to Together We Bloom, Beloved Bath, Lindsey Stone Homes, and the South Mountain YMCA for partnering with us. We’re already thinking about the 4th Annual Resource Fair next spring!
What is SEPAC SOMA?
The Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC) is a parent-led, state-mandated group focused on policies, programs, and practices within the South Orange & Maplewood School District. SEPAC provides parents with tools and information to work collaboratively with the school district and to be more effective advocates for their children with special educational needs. Families and caregivers of students with learning needs or students eligible for or receiving services under an IEP or 504 plan are encouraged to attend SEPAC Meetings. (Español / Kreyòl Ayisyen)
SEPAC Meetings
SEPAC hosts meetings throughout the school year to provide parents and caregivers support, resources and information relevant to students with special education programming. Our meetings consist of featured conversations and presentations, as well as support, resource sharing, and the ability to connect with other members of the special education community. Meetings with featured topics are our attempt to get those with similar concerns in the same room at the same time but all are always welcome!
At every meeting, we learn from one another, support each other, share resources and connect with others.
Connect with SEPAC SOMA
Stay informed about Special Education updates, advocacy efforts and upcoming meetings by subscribing to our mailing list.
SEPAC SOMA Advocacy
SEPAC SOMA works hard to support and advocate for Special Education families by identifying trending issues and elevating those concerns to district administration and the Board of Education. If you’re feeling stuck, please let us know by reaching out to your school’s SEPAC Liaison or emailing us at info@sepacsoma.org.
