Parent Advisory Committee (PAC)

Parent Advisory Committee

The Parent Advisory Committee is made up of parents from each of the six traditional local school districts as well as those who attend Clinton County Regional Educational Service Agency’s programs and those who attend the online school. These schools include:

Bath Community Schools
DeWitt Public Schools
Fowler Public Schools
Michigan International Prep School
Ovid-Elsie Area Schools
Pewamo-Westphalia Community Schools
St. Johns Public Schools
Clinton County RESA

What is the Parent Advisory Committee?

Michigan law requires that each Intermediate School District (ISD) have a Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (PAC). In Clinton County, the PAC includes at least one parent representative from each of the local school districts. Some districts may choose to appoint additional representatives to broaden participation. PAC members are parents of students with disabilities who currently receive special education services. Voting members are appointed by their local district’s Board of Education.

The PAC serves in an advisory capacity to the CCRESA Special Education Administration, sharing family perspectives to help inform district and countywide planning. Parent representatives act as connectors, bringing forward the collective voice of families and sharing information and resources from PAC meetings with their local parent communities.

The PAC meets regularly each school year, and meetings are open to all parents and community members interested in special education within Clinton County.

If you have questions about special education programs, services, or district-level processes, you are encouraged to reach out to your local PAC representative for information and support.

Mission & Responsibilities:

The mission of the PAC is: To empower families of students with disabilities by building partnerships among parents and district leaders that inform programs, provide mutual support, and strengthen outcomes for all learners.

The PAC does this through:

Enhancing understanding of special education through participation in meetings, training, and shared learning experiences.
Serving as a communication bridge by sharing information, resources, and updates from PAC meetings with the broader parent community, and by bringing collective family perspectives back to district discussions.
Providing meaningful parent feedback to inform local and county-level program development and improvement efforts.
Supporting and mentoring fellow parents by fostering connection, understanding, and confidence in navigating special education processes.
Collaborating with district and CCRESA leadership in the review and ongoing development of the Special Education Plan to ensure services reflect family perspectives and student needs.

How does a parent join the PAC?

All parent representatives must have a child or children with an IEP who are currently receiving Special Education services. If you are interested in becoming involved with the PAC, contact Renee Thelen at 989-224-6831 or rthelen1@ccresa.org.

2026-2027 Meeting Schedule

Date	Time	Location/Format	Topic(s)
November 17, 2026	6:00-7:30	Clinton County RESA 1013 S. US 27 St. Johns, MI 48879	Navigating Parent Resources PAC Recruitment Special Education Vision Guest Speaker - Special Education Mediation Services presents: Communicating with Challenging Personalities
January - date TBD	TBD	Clinton County RESA 1013 S. US 27 St. Johns, MI 48879	Supporting behavioral & communication needs at home
February 22, 2027	6:00-7:30	Virtual	Guest Speaker - Michigan Alliance for Families presents: Michigan Special Education Basics
March 8, 2027	5:30-7:00	Clinton County RESA 1013 S. US 27 St. Johns, MI 48879	District & Program Updates with Countywide Special Education Leaders