COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the organization shall be the Community Advisory Committee for North Santa Cruz County Special Education Coordinating Agency.
PHILOSOPHY
It is the Community Advisory Committee's intent to take an active, aggressive interest in all matters concerning the Local Plan and the children and families which it serves. We wish to be directly involved in both planning and implementation being done on their behalf. In order to accomplish this, we will not only gather information but will make recommendations and will often take a stance of advocacy after due review by the committee.
ARTICLE II
FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The function and responsibilities of the Community Advisory Committee are to serve in an advisory capacity and shall include but not be limited to:
A. Program and Quality Review
1. Advising the policy and administrative entity of the Local Plan Area (LPA) regarding the development and review of the Local Plan. The Special Education Coordinating Agency (SECA) Governing Council and the Special Education Council (SEC) shall review and consider comments from the Community Advisory Committee (CAC).
2. Recommending annual priorities to be addressed by the plan.
3. Reviewing budget revisions annually and reporting to the SECA Governing Council the results of their review.
4. Reviewing and commenting upon policies under consideration by the Governing Council.
5. Reviewing and commenting upon programs and class allocation charts.
6. Conducting an annual self-evaluation of its effectiveness.
7. Reviewing the staff development program on an annual basis and make recommendations for staff development.
8. Assisting in the evaluation/quality review of the effectiveness of programs on an annual basis.
9. Reviewing all laws and regulations pertaining to the Local Plan for Special Education.
B. Community Involvement/Education
10. Assisting in parent education, including parent awareness of the importance of school attendance.
11. Assisting in the recruitment of parents and other volunteers who may contribute to the implementation of the plan.
12. Encouraging community involvement in the development and review of the Local Plan.
13. Supporting activities on behalf of individuals with exceptional needs.
14. Providing general forum for presentation1 discussion, and response to general complaints, concerns, or suggestions for special education.
C. Special Ad Hoc Tasks
15. Providing on-going input relative to innovation programs.
16. Reporting to the administrators or designating a representative to report on the plan, community opinions and suggestions as they exist, and when appropriate, to the legislature-
17. Carrying out any responsibilities listed in the Local Plan and not herein stated.
ARTICLE III
COMPOSITION OF MEMBERSHIP
The Community Advisory Committee shall be composed of:
A. Parents of individuals with exceptional needs enrolled in public or private schools.
B. Parents of other pupils enrolled in school.
C. Handicapped pupils and adults.
D. Regular education teachers.
E. Special education teachers and other school personnel.
F. Representatives of other public and private agencies.
G. Persons concerned with the needs of individuals with exceptional needs.
At least the majority of such committee shall be composed of parents of pupils enrolled in schools participating in the Local Plan, and at least a majority of such parents shall be parents of individuals with exceptional needs (Ed. Code 56192-56l93).
A liaison from the SEC (a non-voting member) will attend Community Advisory Committee meetings.
Every effort should be made to reflect the ethnic and socio-economic makeup of communities in the plan.
NUMBER OF MEMBERS
Each Local Education Agency (LEA) will appoint two members to the Community Advisory Committee and Santa Cruz City, which will appoint four. There may be three members from the community-at-large.
FURTHER RESPONSIBILITY OF COMMUNITY ADVISORY MEMBERS
By being appointed to the Community Advisory Committee, each member accepts the following responsibilities:
A. To report back to their local board.
B. To bring concerns of the local school area/local plan area to the committee.
ARTICLE IV
MEMBERSHIP SELECTION PROCEDURES/TERM OF OFFICE
The members of the Community Advisory Committee shall be appointed by, and responsible to, the Governing Board of each participating district or county office, or any combination thereof, participating in the Local Plan. Appointment will be in accordance with a locally determined selection procedure. Such procedure shall provide that terms of appointment are for at least two years and are annually staggered to ensure that no more than one half of the membership serves the first year of the term in any one year (Ed. Code 56l91).
TERM OF OFFICE
All committee members shall be appointed for two years with no restriction on renewal of membership. The term of office shall commence on January 1 of the school year of appointment. Service on the Committee for less than one year shall not be counted in determining length of service.
TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the Community Advisory Committee may be terminated if:
A. The member resigns.
B. The member is inactive for three consecutive school months unless approved by the consensus of the Community Advisory Committee.
C. The member moves from the Local Plan Area.
VACANCIES
When the Committee is aware of a vacancy, the Chairperson shall direct the SELPA Director to notify the Local Education Agency's special education administrator and local board of such vacancy and request a replacement as soon as possible.
VOTING RIGHTS
Each Committee member shall have the right to cast one vote on issues considered by the Committee, to hold office, and to serve on subcommittees as appointed by the Chairperson.
QUORUM
A quorum shall consist of those Community Advisory Committee members present at the meeting. A minimum of four LEAs must be represented.
ARTICLE V
COMMITTEE OFFICERS
Officers of the committee will be elected annually by the members present at the February meeting, and these officers will serve for a term of one year. The Chairperson will be a parent, unless no parent wishes to accept the nomination. Election will be by majority vote of those present at the February meeting.
DUTIES OF OFFICERS
A. CHAIRPERSON - The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Committee when present. Chairperson will keep roster and attendance verification as well as date of appointment of Committee members. Chairperson will be responsible for a yearly Committee self-evaluation written report. Chairperson will also report at least annually to the Special Education Coordinating Agency Governing Council concerning their activities. This report may be written or verbal.
B. VICE CHAIRPERSON - The Vice Chairperson shall preside at all meetings in the absence of the Chairperson and carry out the Chairperson's duties as indicated above.
C. SELPA DIRECTOR - This position is not elected or appointed but is one of the duties as assigned by the Special Education Coordinating Agency (SECA).
D. SECRETARY - The Secretary to the SELPA Director will act as committee secretary.
E. GOVERNING COUNCIL LIAISON(S) - The SECA Governing Council Liaison(s) will attend all Governing Council meetings and report on the activities of the CAC. He/she shall also report to the CAC on the actions of the Governing Council.
ARTICLE VI
MEETINGS
A. MEETING NOTICES - All meetings shall receive prior public notice (responsibility of SELPA Director). Community Advisory Committee Members shall receive written notification of scheduled meetings at least seven (7) calendar days in advance of each Community Advisory Committee meeting. Notices shall include the location, date, and hour of Community Advisory Committee meetings.
B. SPECIAL MEETINGS - Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson or SELPA Director. Two Community Advisory Committee members may request the Chairperson to call a special meeting, with a 7-day notice. Parties requesting the special meeting must put his/her request in writing to the Chairperson.
C. PROCEDURES OF MEETINGS - All regular and special meetings of the Community Advisory Committee shall be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order or an adaptation thereof. A review of Robert's Rules of Order will be made by the Chairperson.
D. COMMITTEE ACTIONS - Committee actions will be communicated to the Special Education Council through liaison and minutes, to the Special Education Coordinating Agency Governing Council through the SELPA Director, liaison and minutes of their meetings.
ARTICLE VII
EFFECTIVE DATE/AMENDMENTS
A. EFFECTIVE DATES - These bylaws shall become effective immediately upon their adoption by the majority of the LEAs.