Currently, there are no vacancies on the committee. When vacancies occur or terms expire, interested special education stakeholders can apply by completing an electronic form available on the district website and posted to district social media.

Link to Handbook: 25-26 Grant Parish School District SEAC Handbook

Introduction

The purpose of this handbook is to provide operational guidance for the Grant school district’s local Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC or Council) regarding its statutory purpose and related functions. Louisiana law requires each local public school superintendent and the administrative head of each charter school or other public school to create a SEAC not later than January 1, 2020.

Vision

• All learners, including students with disabilities, are respected and provided equitable opportunities to meet challenging educational expectations.

Statement of Purpose

• To provide advice and feedback regarding special education policies, procedures, and resources and engage in outreach to the community at large to increase the level of knowledge, support, and collaboration with respect to special education. The intent of the SEAC is to provide thoughtful insight in support of students with disabilities.

Focus

• Promote communication, collaboration, and trust among educational service providers, students, parents, and school district administrators.
• Serve as a connection to the community at large regarding the role of public schools in addressing the needs of students with disabilities.
• Assist with development of an annual report to the Superintendent in May of each year regarding SEAC activities.

How SEAC Functions

The responsibility of the SEAC members is to advise and provide feedback to the Superintendent, not to advocate for an individual position or agenda. Advice may be defined as opinion about what could be done about a situation or problem, or feedback regarding an appropriate course of action.

• Advisory groups provide input rather than governance.
• Advisory groups do not have any formal authority to issue directives. They do not set policy but may make suggestions for consideration by school district administrators.

SEAC functions to provide advice and feedback based on information and good judgment. The following are possible duties and responsibilities of the SEAC:

• Advise and provide feedback on special education topics and goals at the district level, including the needs and priorities of students with disabilities.
• Advise and provide feedback on development and implementation of educational programs.
• Serve as a source of information between the school district and families.
• Provide a forum for the sharing of parent and staff ideas.
• Inform members of proposed initiatives affecting special education.
• Participate in the annual report to the Superintendent.
• Engage in the community at large by promoting increased knowledge, awareness, and collaboration regarding special education.

Membership

SEAC members are unpaid volunteers appointed by the Superintendent. The membership will consist of eight persons. Fifty percent of the SEAC (4 people) must be parents of students with disabilities residing in the Grant Parish school district and receiving special education services provided by the Grant Parish School district under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) and Louisiana Department of Education Bulletin 1706. To the extent practicable, selected parent members will represent different student age levels and disabilities. The remaining SEAC members will be selected from positions that must include one high school student (1 person), one teacher, principal, or paraprofessional employed by the district (1 person), one representative of an entity that serves students with disabilities or families of students with disabilities and who is not an employee of the district (1 person), and one other special education stakeholder (1 person). Members must be at least 18 years of age (with the exception of the high school student). No member of the Grant Parish school board shall be a member of the SEAC.

Chairperson

The Superintendent shall designate the Chairperson of the SEAC. The Chairperson shall be responsible for calling the Council’s meetings, presiding over the meetings, and establishing the agendas for the meetings. The Superintendent has designated the Special Education Supervisor as Chairperson of the SEAC.

Terms of Membership Service

SEAC members shall be appointed to an initial two-year term. Members in good standing may be reappointed for a second term at the discretion of the Superintendent. Terms begin on the first Monday in June and end on the last Friday in May. All members must meet SEAC attendance and other requirements outlined in this Handbook. The Superintendent shall be responsible for selecting a new applicant in the event of a vacancy. A member may be removed and the member’s seat declared vacant if absent from two of the three scheduled meetings without reasonable notice to the Chairperson; if the parent representative and his/her child are no longer residents in the boundaries of the school district; or if the member is no longer employed by the organization or agency he/she was appointed to represent. The Superintendent also reserves the right to remove a member who exhibits repeated disregard for the SEAC ethical standards, other procedures established in the SEAC Handbook, or any other behavior which the Superintendent deems contrary to the safety or well-being of SEAC members or those who attend the SEAC meetings.

Membership Qualifications

No special skills are required to be a SEAC member. However, each SEAC member must agree to the following:

• Put children first. A qualified SEAC member should believe that every student deserves an equal, quality education and should have a true commitment to the successful future of all students in the district.
• No personal or political agenda. SEAC members may not promote their own personal or political agendas. SEAC members must have a passion for public education and believe that all students with disabilities are entitled to a quality education.
• Provide leadership. A SEAC member must be committed to engaging in respectful dialogue, building consensus, and working collaboratively with other SEAC members.
• Appreciate diversity. A SEAC member respects the diversity of cultures and abilities across the district and demonstrates a willingness to address the needs of all children and their families.
• Follow applicable policies, laws, and regulations. A SEAC member must agree to follow federal, state, and local school district requirements, including confidentiality rules and district safety policies.
• Demonstrate integrity. A SEAC member must be a person who demonstrates honesty, integrity, and trustworthiness and adheres to SEAC ethical standards.
• Engage in community outreach. A SEAC member understands the importance of sharing information regarding special education and engaging the community at large in educational discussions and planning for special education students in the district.

Application

The district will solicit SEAC applicants via the school district website, local newspapers, social media and school letters, or similar means. All applicants must complete the designated SEAC application form by the identified deadline in order to be considered for membership. Late or incomplete application forms will not be considered. SEAC application forms may be obtained from the district website or school board office. Assistance is available for applicants who may be unable to complete the application form in writing due to disability. Please call 318-627-3274 for assistance.

The Superintendent will select from among timely submitted applications, giving consideration to required percentages of the membership categories and making an effort to incorporate the desired range of age/grade levels. Where numerous applications are available for consideration, the Superintendent may employ a random selection/lottery to determine the membership appointments. The selected applicants will be notified of their appointment verbally and in writing within ten (10) business days of the deadline for applications.

If the solicitation for SEAC membership fails to produce a sufficient number of applicants, the school district will repeat the solicitation notice at least one additional time using a different means of advertisement, where practicable. If the repeated solicitation is unsuccessful, the Superintendent may authorize the SEAC to operate with a reduced number of members, fifty percent of whom must be a parent of a student with a disability.

Attendance

In order to promote cohesiveness and to enable an informed advisory process, members are encouraged to attend each SEAC meeting. If a member is unable to attend a scheduled SEAC meeting, it is expected that the member will contact the SEAC Chairperson as soon as the member knows s/he will be unable to attend but not later than 1:00 pm on the day of the meeting. In the case of a member missing two consecutive meetings without notice, a member may be removed from SEAC at the discretion of the Superintendent. In cases when a SEAC meeting must be canceled, every effort will be made to notify members of the cancellation via phone call, text, and/or email. Members also may contact the SEAC Chairperson to check the status of the meeting. Where practicable, notice of a SEAC meeting cancellation will also be posted on the district website.

Process for Resigning

A member who is unable or unwilling to continue his/her role as a selected SEAC member may resign the seat by sending written notice to the Superintendent, with a copy simultaneously sent to the SEAC Chairperson. Such notice is requested at least thirty (30) days prior to the next regularly scheduled SEAC meeting in order to provide a reasonable opportunity for the Superintendent to fill the vacancy. Unanticipated resignations shall be submitted as soon as practicable following the member’s determination that he/she will no longer be able to fulfill his/her responsibilities.

Replacing a Member

A SEAC vacancy will be filled by the Superintendent for the remainder of the departing member’s term. Interim appointees may reapply for the position following completion of the interim appointment.

Meetings

The SEAC will meet three (3) times per year on dates and times determined by the SEAC membership at the last meeting in May. All meetings occur from 3:30 to 4:30 at Grant Parish School Board office at 512 Main Street, Colfax, unless otherwise noted.

Meeting agendas will be emailed to SEAC members prior to the meeting. Minutes of each meeting will be recorded by a school district staff person. Meeting discussions must respect different perspectives, provide members the opportunity to speak, and conform to the SEAC Ethical Standards. Members are expected to be present, listen carefully during meetings, actively participate in discussions, and request clarification when needed.

Ground Rules for Discussion

The Chairperson will call the meeting to order, guide discussion, and adjourn the meeting. Only one member may speak at a time. Member requests for the floor must be made by raising one’s hand and awaiting acknowledgement and permission to speak by the Chairperson. Extended discussion may be carried over to the next meeting. Only items listed on the current agenda will be addressed at the meeting. Topics not on the current agenda may be placed in the “parking lot” for future consideration.

Stakeholder Input

Members of the community, including parents of students with disabilities enrolled in Grant Parish school district, are encouraged to communicate with SEAC members to share information and topics of general interest for SEAC consideration.

Confidentiality

All SEAC members are bound by strict confidentiality requirements. Members will be instructed regarding FERPA and state law requirements relating to prohibitions on the disclosure of personally identifiable information. When appropriate and necessary, documents shared with SEAC may be redacted to protect sensitive information.

SEAC members are not authorized to release, share, publicize, or otherwise disclose SEAC-related documents, reports, and other information to the public through any means (verbal, video, written communication, electronic transmission, social media, etc.) without the express written consent of the Superintendent or Superintendent’s designee.

Decision Making

The SEAC membership serves in an advisory capacity. SEAC is not a decision-making body and has no voting authority. Accordingly, advice, suggestions, and other information considered by SEAC members will be shared with the Superintendent in its annual report. Decisions regarding special education programs and services will be made by school district officials, consistent with IDEA and other applicable requirements.

Staff Participation

A staff person may be assigned to type agendas and record minutes of all SEAC meetings and arrange for meeting space or other meeting accommodations as needed. Staff assistance may only be secured for SEAC meetings at the direction of the Superintendent.

Grant SEAC Member Job Description

This is a volunteer position to serve as a member of the Special Education Advisory Council of Grant Parish Schools for a two-year term.

Description of Major Responsibilities

This position has primary responsibility for working with other SEAC members to fulfill the following functions outlined in ACT 274 (SB 158) Governing Special Education Advisory Councils:

• Advise the local school district of needs in the education of children with disabilities.
• Participate in the development of priorities and strategies for meeting the identified needs of children with disabilities.
• Submit periodic reports and recommendations regarding the education of children with disabilities to the district superintendent for transmission to the local school board.
• Assist the local school district in interpreting plans to the community for meeting the special needs of children with disabilities for educational services.
• Review the policies and procedures for the provision of special education and related services prior to submission to the local school board.
• Participate in the review of the local school division’s annual plan.

Individuals in this position work closely with the local school board’s Supervisor of Special Education Services.

Other Responsibilities

• Review and abide by SEAC operating procedures established by the school district.
• Attend regularly scheduled local SEAC meetings (3 annually).
• Maintain an ongoing knowledge of special education law.
• Be informed of activities of the committee and familiar with current school district plans for students with exceptionalities.
• Read the minutes of each meeting; advise the chair of any corrections or additions.
• Listen to others respectfully and value the input of others.
• Participate in community activities to increase awareness and collaboration regarding services for exceptional students.
• Focus on systems change, not personal grievances or individual advocacy.
• Work collaboratively with other SEAC members and school district leadership and personnel.
• Understand all members are bound by strict confidentiality requirements (FERPA and state law requirements).

Ethics for SEAC Members

• A member shall be guided by the vision and purpose of SEAC and abide by procedures outlined in the SEAC Handbook.
• A member shall strive to be familiar with school district policies and operating practices and shall act in accordance with such policies and practices.
• A member shall recognize and respect the personal integrity of each member of SEAC and the school community.
• A member shall practice the highest standards of honesty, accuracy, integrity, and truth.
• A member shall encourage a positive atmosphere where individual contributions are encouraged and valued.
• A member shall apply democratic principles.
• A member shall consider the best interests of all students.
• A member shall not use his/her position on SEAC as a forum for personal grievances or advocacy on behalf of an individual.
• A member shall not disclose confidential information.
• A member shall honor the communication protocol for dissemination of information by SEAC and may not surreptitiously disclose to others via web-posting or otherwise, SEAC-related information and reports.
• A member shall limit discussions at SEAC meetings to Agenda items and matters of concern to the school community as a whole.
• A member shall use the appropriate communication channels when questions or concerns arise.
• A member shall promote high standards of ethical practice within the school community.
• A member shall accept accountability for decisions.
• A member shall declare any conflict of interest.
• A member shall accept no payment for SEAC activities.

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