Special-education parents form CPAC, tell board high staff turnover and busing problems hamper services

Kennedy, speaking for the newly formed Special Education Parent Advisory Council (CPAC), told the Vashon Island School District board on May 23 that the parent group was created to “build community, empower families and advocate for students with disabilities.” She said parents organized beginning in September, established a mission and five priorities, and asked the board for continued collaboration and a fuller report by August.

Kennedy and fellow presenter Anna said two of CPAC’s earliest priorities were busing and parent resources. On busing, parents complained that special‑education routes that used to run at 4:00 p.m. were compressed into 2:00 p.m. runs, producing long, crowded rides that increase overstimulation for some students. CPAC said members worked with district staff on mitigations such as visual schedules and early family outreach to identify problems at the start of the year.

The parents also described plans to distribute a resource binder to IEP families next fall and to host educational speaker events and parent-only meetings to help families navigate the IEP process. Kennedy said CPAC worked with district staff to clarify a district feedback form and have agreed to receive anonymized results annually so the group and district can “close the loop” on concerns.

CPAC reported that staff turnover is an urgent local problem. The presenters said their subcommittee interviewed 11 departed staff members and found recurring themes: unclear program vision and policies, high caseloads (especially under the district’s inclusive elementary model), insufficient training for new hires, and inconsistent administrator support. They said turnover at one elementary school this year was “about 60%,” and noted that turnover in a small district can dramatically affect service continuity when only a few special‑education teachers serve a school.

Board members praised CPAC’s grassroots work, asked about outreach to middle‑ and high‑school families and the group’s involvement in recent hires, and urged the CPAC presenters to return with a fuller synthesis and recommended actions by August. The board’s discussion included thanks for CPAC’s collaborative tone and an acknowledgment that the group’s findings could help shape staffing, training and communication improvements going forward.

CPAC requested the board’s input on priorities and said it would continue interviewing current and former staff to refine its recommendations; the presenters also offered to help with outreach to Latinx and older‑student families. The presenters emphasized they sought to work in partnership with the district rather than in opposition.

The board did not take any formal action at the time of the presentation; CPAC’s materials were added to the meeting packet and the group was invited to return with a more comprehensive report.