Island Parents Advisory Council (IPAC)
IPAC By-Laws
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BY-LAWS FOR THE ISLAND PARENTS

ADVISORY COUNCIL ON SPECIAL EDUCATION

ARTICLE 1

NAME

The name of this organization shall be called the Island Parents Advisory Council on Special Education (IPAC).

ARTICLE II

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of IPAC shall be as follows:

  1. To exchange information and ideas of mutual interest, particularly information pertaining to administration of Federal and State laws pertaining to children with special needs.
  2. To provide support for special education to meet the needs of Martha’s Vineyard’s students with special needs.
  3. To provide a support vehicle to enable parents to learn about the special education programs.
  4. To provide a channel of communication for parental input into special education.
  5. To support parents in their efforts to obtain quality education for their children.
  6. To share with teachers our experiences and knowledge as parents of children with special needs.
  7. To assist in providing information to parents regarding the availability of Special Education programs and procedures to obtain them.
  8. To improve the relations among the providers of special education, the schools, and the community by fostering better lines of communication.
  9. To have in-put and advise the Administrator of Special Education and School Committee regarding planning, implementation, and evaluation of various Special Education programs.

 

ARTICLE III

BASIC PURPOSES

  1. IPAC shall consult with and/or advise the providers of special education, the School Committee, School Administrators, and any other groups and/or state agencies.
  2. IPAC shall be granted access to Special Education programs and to information about such programs.
  3. IPAC shall actively work to acquaint the towns with the objectives of Chapter 766 and the advantages inherent in such a program to the general public.

ARTICLE IV

MEMBERSHIP

  1. Voting membership in the IPAC shall be open to parents and/or legal guardians of children receiving special education services. The Director of Support Services is a non-voting member. Meetings are open to the community.

ARTICLE V

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

  1. An Executive Committee of seven voting members shall be elected at the annual meeting by the voting membership to serve a term of two years. The original Executive Committee shall stagger terms with four members for 2 years, and three members for 1 year.
  2. Each school shall be represented by at least one member on the Executive Committee providing that each school has at least one person willing to serve on the committee.
  3. No member on the Executive Committee shall be eligible to serve more than three consecutive terms on the committee.
  4. The Administrator of Special Needs shall be a non-voting member of the Executive Committee.
  5. The function of the Executive Committee shall be to define the program for the general membership and meet the objectives as defined in the by-laws.

ARTICLE VI

DUTIES OF OFFICERS

  1. The officers of the IPAC shall be elected by the Executive Committee and serve a term of one year.
  2. The officers of the Committee shall be Chairperson, Co-Chairperson, Recording Secretary and Corresponding Secretary.
  3. No officer shall be eligible for the same office more than two (2) consecutive terms.

ARTICLE VII

DUTIES OF OFFICERS

  1. The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of IPAC and of the Executive Committee; be an ex-officio member of all committees, except the Committee of Nominations; appoint with the Co-chairperson necessary committee chairpersons; appoint with the concurrence of the Co-chairperson any vacancy on the Executive Committee or officer within 30 days after the vacancy occurs. If the vacancy is the Chairperson or Co-chairperson then the Executive Committee shall fill the position by a majority vote.
  2. The Co-chairperson shall act as an aide to the Chairperson; shall perform the duties of the Chairperson in the absence or inability of that officer to serve; shall assist in the appointment of chairperson of necessary committees; shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Committee on Nominations.
  3. The Recording Secretary shall keep an accurate record of all meetings of IPAC and of the Executive Committee. The Recording Secretary shall post meetings according to the Open Meeting Law.
  4. The Corresponding Secretary shall perform such other duties as delegated by the Chairperson and Co-Chairperson.
  5. All officers shall deliver to their successors all official materials immediately upon completion of their term of office.

ARTICLE VIII

MEETINGS

  1. All meetings shall be held in accordance with the Open Meeting Law.
  2. Meetings shall be held as determined by IPAC with May designated as the Annual Meeting. At this meeting annual reports shall be received and the election of officers will be held. At the annual meeting there will be a tentative schedule of meetings submitted for the following school year.
  3. The location of meetings shall be designated by the Chairperson. Meetings shall be open to the public, but the privileges of making motions, and voting shall be limited to the members. The Director of Special Education or his designee shall attend each of these meetings.
  4. Written notice of all meetings shall be given to members at least seven days before the date of the meeting. This is the duty of the Corresponding Secretary.
  5. Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson, Co-Chairperson, the Executive Committee or by written request of five members. The call for special meetings must state the business to be transacted and no other business shall be transacted at this time.
  6. A quorum shall be seven voting members for Council meetings. The quorum for Executive Committee meetings shall be five members.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS

  1. These by-laws may be amended at any regular meeting of IPAC by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting, provided notice of the proposed amendment shall have been given at the previous meeting.

ARTICLE X

SCHOOL COMMITTEES CERTIFICATION

  1. The School Committees will annually certify the members of the IPAC and the members of the Executive Committee.