To the Editor:

At the January 7 Winchendon School Committee meeting, the public comment period was met with parents' concerns regarding contract for Ms. Suzanne Michel, the Director of Pupil Services and the Director of the Preschool, which is not being renewed at the end of June.

I am Pam Smith, the co-chair of our Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC). In addition, I was on the hiring committee for the Director position when Ms. Michel was hired, a temporary member of the school committee, part of the WPS reopening team this summer and a parent of a child with special needs.

As co-chair of the SEPAC, I have worked closely with Ms. Michel through SEPAC meetings and trainings we have attended together. For these reasons as well as those noted previously, I am aware of Ms. Michel's contributions to the WPS.

As Director of pupil services, she handles most of the special education services, including early intervention students, required state indicators for students on IEPs who graduated, all the plans for students in special education transitioning to adults, and she is responsible for all 504 plans, which give students who have conditions that limit their daily activities in a major way the supports they need in school without being discriminated against. She can alleviate parent's concerns and talk them off the cliff which will in turn can stop out of district placements and mediation or potential law suits.

But in addition to her duties noted, some contributions that Ms. Michel has made as follows.