Parents launch special education advisory group to work with Stafford Township School District

Parents convened the first official meeting of a special education parent advisory group to coordinate with Stafford Township School District administrators on supports for students with disabilities, a presenter said.

"So this is our first official meeting as a special education parent advisory group," the presenter said, and added that the organizers "wanted to invite other parents to come be a part of this." The meeting was described as a forum for parents to bring ideas both for their own children and for students with disabilities across Stafford.

Organizers said district staff were present to hear parents’ concerns and ideas. The presenter named Mr. Riley, identified in the meeting as director of special services; Mr. GBM, introduced as superintendent; Tiffany; and Stephanie Bush, identified as director of curriculum instruction for Stafford, as administration participants who have been working with the group.

According to the presenter, the group has met with administration staff to "give them some ideas and some things that we thought about for our own children as well as for children with disabilities in Stafford in general." The stated aim is to expand participation so more families can shape supports and services. "So we wanted to bring more hands into that conversation," the presenter said.

The meeting paused briefly when participants noted a technical issue with a setting that displayed the meeting as "private." The presenter asked attendees to wait while the issue was resolved.

The group did not record formal motions or votes in the transcript provided. Organizers and district staff were presented as collaborators; next steps mentioned were outreach to recruit additional parents and continuing discussions with district administrators about ideas raised at the meeting.