Board confirms slate for Special Education advisory committee after heated exchange over representation

The San Francisco Board of Education voted to appoint a 12‑member slate to the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for Special Education beginning July 1, 2014, after a lengthy discussion about representation and recruitment.

Assistant Superintendent for Special Education Liz Blanco presented the recommended slate and the CAC’s demographic materials. Commissioners pressed for more detail about the ethnic composition of the parent members, the disabilities represented among their children, and whether recruitment efforts had targeted underrepresented groups.

Commissioner Mendoza McDonald asked for an adult‑member demographic breakdown to ensure the CAC reflects students with the highest representation in special education. Prospective CAC member Kimberly Webb raised concerns about disclosure of confidential IEP information and asked what specific data the board expected families to provide. Joan Selby, outgoing CAC second chair, described outreach efforts including robo‑calls and said recruiting steady parent attendance is challenging.

Several board members acknowledged a difficult history around appointments and emphasized the need for transparency and improved outreach. Commissioner Haney proposed bringing the matter to the Rules Committee to clarify appointment procedures and any interactions with federal SELPA requirements.

The board confirmed the slate by roll call (vote recorded as 6 ayes). Commissioners asked staff to provide a clearer breakdown of parent vs. child demographics and to document outreach efforts to address gaps in representation.