The name of this self-governed organization shall be the Somerset Parent Advisory

Council on Special Education, also known as Somerset PACE.

The Council is formed pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of Chapter 71B of the

Massachusetts General Laws.

The mission of the Somerset Parent Advisory Council on Special Education 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.

• Meet regularly to advise the Director of Special Education and School

Committee on operations and development of special education programs

and parent and teacher training needs, and help to develop policy on matters

that pertain to educational and safety issues of students with disabilities.

• Promote communication between PACE 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.

1. Qualifications:

Any person who is a Somerset resident and is:

◦ the parent or legal guardian of a person with special needs between

the ages of zero (0) and twenty two(22); or

◦ a person not less than fourteen (14) years of age who is eligible to

receive special education services from the Town of Somerset shall

be eligible for membership in the Council. Any such qualified person

may become a member by communicating orally or in writing to any

Officer of the Council such person's desire to become a member.

◦ voting members must have attended at least one (1) PACE meeting

during the academic year.

2. Duties:

◦ All members shall endeavor to cause the Council to further the

purposes stated in Article III of these By-Laws.

◦ All members shall endeavor to attend all regular meetings of the

Council.

◦ All members who wish to receive notices or other communications

from the Council shall deliver all of the necessary information required

to receive such notices and other information in the form in which

such notices or information is delivered.

◦ Meetings are defined as any Somerset Parent Advisory Council on

Special Education meeting, activities, or committees at which

attendance is taken.

Officers of the Somerset Parent Advisory Council on Special Education are elected

by the voting membership and hold office for at least one year. If any office becomes

vacant, an election for that office shall be held immediately, with term to expire at the

last meeting of the academic year. Office and officer responsibilities of the Somerset

Parent Advisory Council on Special Education are: president, vice president(s),

secretar(y/ies), and treasurer(s). Any member who wishes to become an officer must

have attended at least one (1) PACE meeting during the academic year and meet all

other criteria for membership.

President

• Set the agenda for each general meeting.

• Preside at all meetings of the Somerset PACE.

• Recommend the organization and monitor the function of subcommittees.

• Act as liaison with the Director of Special Education. Coordinate

communication between the Somerset PACE and its members.

• Prepare periodic reports for the Special Education Administration regarding

Somerset PACE activities and needs, with officer(s).

Vice President(s)

• Preside at meetings in the absence of, or at the request of, the President.

• Coordinate other public communications, not including those that are the

Secretar(y/ies).

• Assist the President as appropriate and perform responsibilities of the

President at his/her request.

Secretar(y/ies)

• Record and file minutes of the Somerset PACE meetings and its

subcommittees.

• Maintain website(s).

• Post meeting minutes to web site.

• Collect and review all correspondence of the Somerset Parent Advisory

Council on Special Education.

Treasurer

• Coordinate efforts to apply for grants, donations, reimbursements or any

other funds for which the Somerset Parent Advisory Council on Special

Education may be eligible.

• Manage and account for funds collected, donated, and spent for Somerset

PACE. Brief reports to Town wide PTO on expenses and annual funding

request.

• Coordinate fund raising activities

Elections shall be the first order of business during the Spring meeting. Elections

shall be decided by a simple majority vote of the voting membership, subject to the

presence of at least 6 members. New officers shall take office immediately following

their election.

Nominations will be made by ballot. Nomination ballots will be made available to

voting members at an Somerset Parent Advisory Council on Special Education

meeting at least two weeks prior to elections. All voting members are eligible to make

nominations.

General Meetings shall be held at least 4 times per year, from September through

June. Meetings postponed due to weather may or may not be rescheduled, at the

discretion of the President and logistical consideration and availability speakers and

locations.

Notice of all general meeting dates and elections shall be published in the local press

in advance, posted at Town Hall, distributed to the schools, available via the internet,

and a notice sent to each voting member whenever possible via annual calendar or

by special mailings.

During the Spring meeting, the Chairperson shall take recommendations for the

calendar of meetings for the following academic year. The calendar shall include

dates and times of the meetings and projected activities for the year. The calendar

will be mailed to all Somerset PACE members and distributed to public officials and

school administrators at the beginning of each academic year.

Matters that 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 input of voting members

present during at least one general meeting during the academic school year.

• Elections require a vote as described in Article VI, Elections.

Minutes of all Somerset Parent Advisory Council on Special Education meetings shall

be recorded on the PACE website and retained for public record.

Subcommittees shall be created as needed and shall report on activities to the

Chairperson(s) and members at regular meetings.

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 majority (as described in article VI) votes unanimously to

approve the change.

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