By-Laws

Blackstone Millville Regional School District Special Education Parent Advisory Council By-Laws

Article 1: The name of this self-governed organization shall be the BMRSD Special Education Parent Advisory Council also known as the BMRSD SEPAC.

Article 2: Purpose of the SEPAC

The mission of the BMRSD 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

• Meets regularly with the Special Education Director to discuss planning, development and evaluation of the District's special education programs

• Advise the District regarding the education and safety of students with disabilities

• Promote communication and programs within the community to encourage understanding, acceptance and inclusion

• Provide informational forums to parents

Article 3: Terms of Membership

General membership shall be open to any resident of Blackstone or Millville or person affiliated with the Blackstone Millville Regional School District who has attended at least one meeting of the BMRSD Special Education Parent Advisory Council during the past 12 months. Voting membership is required to vote in annual officer elections and other business that comes before any BMRSD SEPAC meeting.

Voting membership shall be any general member who is a parent or guardian of a child with special needs from Blackstone or Millville with or without an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or is a parent or guardian of a child with special needs who attends BMRSD and who has attended at least one previous meeting of the BMRSD Special Education Parent Advisory Council during the past 12 months.

Meetings are defined as any BMRSD Special Education Parent Advisory Council meeting, activities, or committees at which attendance is taken.

Article 4: Officers of the Special Education Parent Advisory Council

Officers of the BMRSD Special Education Parent Advisory Council are elected by the voting membership and hold office for two years. If any office becomes vacant, an election for that office shall be held immediately, with term to expire at the May meeting.

Officer responsibilities of the BMRSD Parent Advisory Council for Special Education are:

Article 5: Elections

Elections shall be the first order of business during the May meeting. Elections shall be decided by a simple majority vote of the voting membership, subject to the presence of a quorum. New officers shall take office immediately following their election.

Blackstone-Millville Regional School District Parent Advisory Council for Special Education By-Laws

If the voting membership is less than 50, a quorum shall be at least 50% (rounding down of the voting membership). If the voting membership is greater than 50, a quorum shall be 30% (rounding down) of the voting membership.

Article 6: Meetings

General Meetings shall be held at least two times a year, from October through May. Notice of all general meeting dates and elections shall be published in the local press and school newsletters in advance, posted on the BMRSD website, and a notice sent to each voting member whenever possible.

Matters which require a vote to be taken of the voting membership include, but are not limited to the following items:

• a change in the By-Laws can only be voted on at a general meeting,

• a commitment of financial resources requires a simple majority of voting members present,

• elections require a vote as described in Article 5, Elections.

Article 7: Subcommittees

Subcommittees shall be created as needed.

Article 8: Amendments

These by-laws may be amended by a simple majority of the voting members at a general meeting, but by-laws changes may not be voted upon in the same meeting as they are proposed, unless a quorum (as described in Article 5) votes unanimously to approve the change.

Article 9: Robert's Rules of Order are the default procedures for this organization.