Harvard
Special Education Parent Advisory Council
The name of this self-governed organization shall be the Harvard Special Education Parent Advisory Council, also known as the Harvard SEPAC.
The mission of the Harvard Special Education Parent Advisory Council is to work for understanding of, respect for, and support of all children with special needs in the community. To that end, they will work to:
· Promote a network of parents of children with special needs, and provide a forum to share information.
· Advise the Special Education Director, School Committee and Harvard town and school officials on the development and operation of special education programs, parent and teacher training needs, and help to develop policy.
· Promote communication between SEPAC members, local, state and national organizations, councils and groups.
· Promote communication and programs within the community to encourage understanding, acceptance and inclusion.
· Provide informational forums to parents, educators, students and professionals.
Article III: Terms of
Membership
Membership shall be open to any resident of Harvard or person affiliated with the Harvard Public Schools. A voting member shall be any general member who is a parent or guardian of a child with special needs residing in Harvard, with or without an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan, who has attended at least one meeting of the Harvard Special Education Parent Advisory Council during the past 12 months. A request to the Chair in writing can be made to vote in lieu of attendance at one meeting.
Meetings are defined as any Harvard Special Education Parent Advisory Council meeting, activity, or committee meeting at which attendance is taken.
Officers of the Harvard Special Education Parent Advisory Council are nominated by the Steering Committee and hold office for one year. Those present at the annual meeting elect them. If any office becomes vacant, nomination and appointment can be made by the Steering Committee to fill the vacancy.
The Steering Committee of the Harvard Special Education Parent Advisory Council consists of:
Chair
· Set the agenda for each general meeting.
· Preside at all meetings of the Harvard Special Education Parent Advisory Council.
· Recommend the organization and monitor the function of sub-committees.
· Act as a primary Liaison to the Special Education Director and School Committee
Co-Chair
· Preside at meetings in the absence of the Chair, or at the request of the Chair.
· Assist the Chair as appropriate and perform those responsibilities of the Chair at his/her request.
· Write minutes of SEPAC business meetings
· Disseminate educational materials to the SEPAC
· Coordinate public communications (if needed), not including those communications that are the Chair's.
·
Empty SEPAC mailbox and
handle SEPAC correspondence
Treasurer
· Coordinate efforts to apply for grants, donations, reimbursements or any other funds for which the Harvard Special Education Parent Advisory Council may be eligible. (This can be a collaborative effort, not just the Treasurer).
· Manage and account for funds collected, donated, and spent for the Harvard Special Education Parent Advisory Council.
· Coordinate fund raising activities. (Fundraising can be done by anyone).
In addition to the officers described above, the SEPAC Steering Committee shall include general members, or liaisons These liaisons shall consist of at least one representative from each major student grouping (pre-school, elementary school, middle school, high school, out-of-district). The liaisons will have primary responsibility for addressing issues within their respective student groups, and for interfacing with parents and school officials at all levels as necessary.
Officers can also serve as liaisons to the various school groups.
Sharing of Positions
Members
can share positions as desired— secretary, treasurer, schools liaisons
Elections shall be the first order of business during the last meeting of the school year, also called the Annual Meeting. Elections shall be decided by a simple majority vote of the voting membership present at this meeting. The Steering Committee for the following school year will be elected at this meeting. Changes to the Bylaws can be voted on at any specifically announced general meeting during the year.
The Department of Education will be informed of the annual elections. With the names, addresses and phone numbers of the new Steering Committee by July 1 of each year.
Article VI: Meetings
General Meetings shall be held at least three times during a calendar year. General meetings can be held in conjunction with SEPAC workshops, or separately. . Notice of all general meeting dates and elections shall posted in public venues such as the SEPAC website or local newspapers. A calendar of meetings for the following school year will begin to be developed during the Annual Meeting.
Minutes of all Harvard Special Education Parent Advisory Council meetings shall be recorded and retained for public record.
Subcommittees shall be created as needed.
The Steering Committee can, by a
vote of its majority, take position(s) on topics relevant to its membership.
Article VIII:
Amendments to Bylaws
These
bylaws may be amended by a simple majority of the voting members at the spring
general meeting or at other publicly posted general meetings during the
year. Proposed amendments to the bylaws
must be discussed at a publicly posted meeting. A vote on the bylaw changes can take place after a two-week
public posting of proposed changes.
Article IX:
Expenditure of Funds
Expenditure of funds in excess of $50 requires approval of a majority of the Steering Committee. Expenditures less than $50 are reimbursable by submitting receipts to the Treasurer.
Article X:
Dissolution of SEPAC
The SEPAC can be dissolved by a unanimous vote of the Steering Committee.
Roberts Rules of Order are the default procedures for this organization.