WSEPAC Leadership

Front row seated: Susan Saulnier, Donna Donovan, back row: Amy DiMatteo, Marina Lanni-Cucchi, Susan Sutherland

2010-2012 Executive Board

President: Susan Sutherland
Vice Presidents: Marina Lanni-Cucchi
Secretary: Amy DiMatteo
Treasurer: Lisa Simmons
General Board: Donna Donovan, Rose Martin, Christine Sicuso, and Stacey Tempesta

Waltham Special Education Parent Advisory
Council By-laws

Article I: Name of Organization

The name of this self-governed organization shall be the Waltham Special Education Parent Advisory Council, also known as WSEPAC. For financial purposes, please note the bank statements are defined as; “Friends of Special Education – Waltham.”

Article II: Purpose of the PAC

The mission of the Waltham 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, & provide the forum to share information.
• Advise the Director of Student Services and School Committee on operations and development of special education programs, parent & 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

General membership shall be open to any resident of Waltham or person affiliated with the Waltham Public Schools who has attended at least one meeting of the Waltham 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 WSEPAC meeting.

Voting membership shall be any general member...who is a parent or guardian of a child with special needs residing in Waltham, with or without an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or is a parent or guardian of a child with special needs who attends Waltham Public Schools and who has attended at least one previous meeting of the Waltham Special Education Parent Advisory Council during the past 12 months or has requested voting status in writing to the Secretary at least one month prior to officer elections.

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

Article IV: Officers of the Special Education Parent Advisory Council

Officers of the Waltham 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.

Office and officer responsibilities of the Waltham Special Education Parent Advisory Council are:

President

• Set the agenda for each general meeting.
• Preside at all meetings of the Waltham Special Education Parent Advisory Council.
• Recommend the organization and monitor the function of sub-committees.
• Act as liaison with the Director of Special Education.

Vice-President

• Preside at meetings in the absence of the President, or at the request of the President.
• Coordinate public communications (if needed), not including those communications that are the Secretary’s.
• Assist the President as appropriate and perform those responsibilities of the President at his/her request.

Secretary

• Coordinate all communication between the Waltham Special Education Parent Advisory Council and its membership.
• Coordinate the recording and filing of minutes of the Waltham Special Education Parent Advisory Council and its sub-committees.
• Collect and review all correspondence of the Waltham Special Education Parent Advisory Council.
• Prepare periodic reports for the Special Education Administration regarding PAC activities and needs.

Treasurer

• Coordinate efforts to apply for grants, donations, reimbursements or any other funds for which the Waltham Special Education Parent Advisory Council may be eligible.
• Manage and account for funds collected, donated, and spent for Waltham Special Education Parent Advisory Council.
• Coordinate fund raising activities.

Article V: 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.

• 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.

The Department of Education will be informed of the annual elections. The Department of Education will be provided with the names, addresses and phone numbers of the new board by June 1 of each year.

Nominations will be made by ballot. Nomination ballots will be made available to voting members at a Waltham Special Education Parent Advisory Council meeting at least two weeks prior to elections. All voting members are eligible to make nominations.

Article VI: Meetings

General Meetings shall be held at least monthly, from September through June. Notice of all general meeting dates and elections shall be published in the local press in advance, posted at City Hall, and internet. During the June meeting, the President shall take recommendations for the calendar of meetings for the following school year. The calendar shall include dates and times of the meetings and projected activities for the year.

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 V, Elections.

Minutes of all Waltham Special Education Parent Advisory Council meetings shall be recorded and retained for public record.

Audio taping, filming, videotaping, for the sole purpose of promoting the PAC, will be addressed on an as needed basis, with full disclosure to the public.

Article VII: Subcommittees

Subcommittees shall be created as needed.

Article VIII: 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 V) votes unanimously to approve the change.

Article IX

Roberts Rules of Order as the default procedures for this organization.

Publications

Guidance for Special Education Parent Advisory Councils (2010)

Making it Happen: Question and Answer Guide for Special Education Parent Advisory Councils (1992)

Click here to join the PAC!