Parents of Special Education Students Encouraged to Join Committee

Next Parent Advisory Committee meeting scheduled for Sept. 17.

September 4, 2012

The Albuquerque Public Schools Special Education Department invites parents of students with special needs to its next Parent Advisory Committee meeting from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 17, at the APS Administration Building at 6400 Uptown Blvd. NE, Room 200 West. 

The group is seeking additional committee members. It currently focuses on communication with the district and providing input on the department’s budget. It also works with a number of other local parent advocacy groups. A separate APS group exists for parents of gifted students. 

The group meets on the third Monday of each month with department staff members who “are there to support parents in any way we can,” instructional manager Lori Bachman said. 

Communication between the department and the committee includes daily email and education about the budget process. Many of the parent recommendations are being implemented in the budget and the department keeps parents up to date on progress. 

Parents are working with APS Transportation Services to improve bus travel to and from school and also are working on improving the Individual Education Plan process. With the completion of this year’s 12,500 IEPs, a parent satisfaction survey will be distributed. 

Future projects include parent membership recruitment, parent training and emergency medical training for APS staff. 

“Parents who feel like they have something to add are welcome to join the committee,” Bachman said. 

For more information about the committee, please contact the department’s family liaisons:  Diane Mizusawa at 855-9919 or mizusawa@aps.edu, or Arleen Martinez at 855-9912 or martinez_arl@aps.edu.