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WISD PAC updates Milan board on special-education supports, upcoming events
Summary
A parent advisory council representative summarized Washtenaw Educational Options Consortium programs, statewide least-restrictive-environment monitoring coming in 2025, and local transition/guardianship resources for families of students with disabilities.
Miss Bennett, a parent advisory council representative, briefed the Milan Area Schools Board of Education on special-education programs and countywide supports during the board's Dec. 11 meeting.
The Washtenaw Intermediate School District Parent Advisory Council (WISD PAC) presentation highlighted programs in the Washtenaw Educational Options Consortium (WEEOC) and local events aimed at families of students with disabilities. "Monique Uzelak from Washtenaw Educational Options Consortium...shared the various programs that are available through WEEOC and the ways that staff at these programs are equipped to support students with special needs," Bennett said.
Bennett told the board that the programs within WEEOC — which she identified as the Early College Alliance, Washtenaw International High School, YHI and WAVE — offer distinct learning environments and supports and that families should contact their school guidance counselor or the WEEOC contact number for more information. She also described a series of WISD events focused on autism and inclusion, and said a parent/guardian survey about needs for students with autism will be distributed after the new year.
The PAC presentation also covered the state's new least restrictive environment (LRE) compliance monitoring. Bennett said Washtenaw County is scheduled to be in the second cohort for on-site LRE assessment beginning in fall 2025 and noted PAC's planned role to provide a parent/guardian perspective during monitoring.
Bennett summarized takeaways from a WISD transitions seminar for family members of students approaching adulthood, including job training, recreation and post-school education resources. She urged counselors and transition coordinators to inform junior- and senior-year students about those options and said a legal-transitions seminar on March 13 will cover guardianship and obtaining state IDs.
On district-level supports, Bennett recommended creating a short, practical handbook for newly hired paraprofessionals with immediate tips (for example, using "first/then" statements, visual timers and wait time strategies) to reduce early turnover and better equip midyear hires until they can attend more comprehensive training. She also praised several district staff for inclusive practices in athletics and social supports for students.
The PAC update closed with encouragement for families to attend the January 22 WISD parent event and with contact information for families to learn more about WEEOC offerings.
Ending: The board thanked Bennett; no formal action was taken. The WISD events and LRE monitoring timeline were presented as information for district staff and families to follow up on in 2025.
