Disappointing - meetings must be in person this year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know if this would include IEP meetings? As a special education teacher I am more than happy to accommodate parents who want to come in. However I have had 100% attendance of parents since Covid because of the opportunity to attend virtually. Getting the school team together in person is doable but if the parent stays virtual, the logistics don’t make sense and it is more difficult.

I was told IEP meetings are in person only, but I had a meeting for non-IEP supports that was over the phone last week. So I'm optimistic there's some flexibility.

A teacher strongly recommended contacting the school board to voice our concerns because this is going to really limit participation. It's so hard to arrange for childcare, especially when there's not a lot of notice of what time your conference is. If it's virtual, my husband and I can take the call at work. If it is in person, only one of us realistically will get to go and no one will be going to the PTA meetings.

[Anonymous]

Parents always have the option to attend IEP meetings but phone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know if this would include IEP meetings? As a special education teacher I am more than happy to accommodate parents who want to come in. However I have had 100% attendance of parents since Covid because of the opportunity to attend virtually. Getting the school team together in person is doable but if the parent stays virtual, the logistics don’t make sense and it is more difficult.

No, IEP meetings are not meetings of public bodies. This impacts School Boards, teacher-parent commissions of which APS has many, and potentially PTAs if that's deemed a public body affiliated with the school. I think it's a stretch but some principals or PTA presidents may insist on in-person only which would really cut back on parental involvement or at least awareness.