School board approves Special Education Advisory Committee membership list

Ashley Burks presented the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) membership list and explained the committee’s role advocating for students with disabilities, facilitating family engagement events and coordinating with school staff. Burks said the committee includes parent representatives from every school and that staff and supervisors listed on the form are facilitators rather than official voting members. “They help facilitate whatever they need throughout the school year,” Burks said.

Burks told the board the list and annual meeting dates must be presented to the school board “per mandate of regulation.” Board members asked whether the item required a vote; staff said it was up to the board. A motion to approve the list carried; the roll call recorded votes in favor by Mister Baron, Mister Ali, Missus Lawrie, Mister Connor, Mister Jalil, Doctor Farmer and Mister Poe. The board approved the membership list and noted one vacancy at Darrington Elementary that staff will continue to recruit for, because smaller schools may have smaller special education populations.

Burks said SEAC members are expected to serve as broad advocates rather than advocates for individual IEP cases and that the committee meets quarterly. The board’s approval formalizes the committee membership and meeting schedule as required by district regulations.