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SEAC chair outlines special‑education staffing, participation gaps and priorities
Summary
Susan Hager, chair of the Special Education Advisory Committee, told the board that SEAC struggles with family participation and is raising concerns about paraprofessional pay, turnover in specialist roles and uneven staffing across schools; the committee updated the board on 2023–24 activities and outreach efforts.
Susan Hager, chair of the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC), presented the committee's 2023–24 annual report to the Prince George County School Board on Feb. 10, describing SEAC's advisory role and calling attention to areas of concern in services for students with disabilities.
Hager said SEAC is an all‑volunteer group that advises the superintendent and school board on priorities for educating children with disabilities, participates in policy reviews and submits recommendations. She described SEAC activities last year, including a meet‑and‑greet, an "ABC of behavior" workshop conducted with PEATC and participation in IEP University training.
Hager and cochair Kim Lee said one persistent challenge is limited family participation and engagement; SEAC has boosted virtual options to improve accessibility but still seeks broader community input. The committee also highlighted areas for board attention: the need for increased paraprofessional pay, turnover in roles such as learning specialists and related therapists, and uneven distribution of open special‑education positions across schools.
"Currently we have 7 community members... and 7 school representatives," Hager said, explaining the committee's structure and volunteer nature. SEAC asked for board ideas to increase participation and said it will continue outreach and provide information on the division website.
Board members thanked SEAC for the report and noted the district's recent decision to increase paraprofessional pay; the board pledged to continue hearing from committees going forward.
