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Parent urges overhaul of IEP process; constituent voices support trustee Elkins
Summary
During public comment, a parent urged the board to examine IEP practice and transparency across Richland School District 2, while another speaker publicly supported board member Monica Elkins and praised her leadership and service.
Two community members addressed the board during the public-comment period on May 12, raising contrasting but civic-focused concerns.
Bianca Shelton, speaking as a parent and advocate for her 4K child, told trustees she toured multiple special-education settings across the district and concluded that the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process often feels predetermined. "Too often parents feel recommendations are predetermined before meetings are even held rather than developed collaboratively," Shelton said, and urged the board to "closely examine how families experience the IEP process across the district." She asked for transparency on placement recommendations, evaluation metrics and promotion criteria and said parents should not have to seek legal counsel to obtain equitable services.
Stephanie Jacobs, a community nonprofit founder and parent, used her time to praise Monica Elkins for her service on the board and urged trustees to maintain transparent and responsive leadership. Jacobs recounted Elkins' assistance with a family IEP question and said that when leadership is accountable and communicative "everyone benefits."
The board did not take action on the IEP concerns at this meeting; public comment accompanies the board’s agenda items and provides input that trustees and staff can refer to in later policy or administrative reviews.
