| East Providence
Local Advisory Committee for Special Education (EPLAC) |
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2008 Schedule of Meetings
Location: Room 308 East
Providence City Hall
September 26, 2007 (Agenda /
Minutes)
October 24, 2007 (Agenda
/ No Meeting)
November 28, 2007 (Agenda
/ Minutes)
January 30, 2008 (Agenda
/ Minutes)
February 27, 2008 (Agenda
/ Minutes)
March 26, 2008 (Agenda
/ Minutes)
April 30, 2008 (Agenda / Minutes)
May 28, 2008 (Agenda / Minutes)
August 27, 2008 (Agenda / Minutes)
September 24, 2008 (Agenda / Minutes)
October 29, 2008 (Agenda / Minutes)
November 26, 2008 (Agenda / Minutes)
All meeting take place on Wednesdays from 7:00 PM
- 8:30 PM. The Public Is Invited To All Meetings
Who are we?
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The majority of this committee is made up of parents
of children with disabilities along with
administrators, teachers, and others with a concern
for our children.
What do we do?
-
We advise the district on matters concerning the
needs of students with disabilities.
-
We comment on improvement plans including school
support plans.
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We advise the district on local compliance with
state and federal laws pertaining to the education
of students with disabilities.
-
We comment on applications for federal and state
funds.
-
We serve as advocates in partnership with parents
for students with disabilities to ensure that they
receive the entitlement provided to them under state
and federal laws.
When and where do we meet?
-
We meet in Room 308 at the City Hall, 145 Taunton
Avenue, East Providence, Rhode Island at 7 p.m., on
the last Wednesday of each month, excluding June,
July, and December.
Our goals are:
- To enable parents of special
education children to be more effective in their
advocacy efforts.
- To jointly advocate for all
children with special needs.
- To aid the East Providence School
Department in its efforts to provide quality
education for all students.
- To provide each other with a
strong network of support.
Contact
Information:
Need the
support of an advocate?
- Paula Paiva, a retired special
education teacher, has many years of experience and
chairs our Advocacy Committee. For assistance,
please contact Ms. Paiva at 258-7198 or
papaiva16@aol.com.
By-Laws
Article 1: Name of Committee
The name of the Committee shall be East Providence Local
Advisory Committee for Special Education (EPLAC).
Article 2: Functions and Responsibilities (In
accordance with Section 300.150, Regulations of the
Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education,
Revised December 14, 2000)
The Committee shall advise the East Providence School
District on matters concerning the needs of students,
including:
1. Serve as an advocate, in partnership with parents,
for students with disabilities to ensure that they
receive the entitlements provided to them under state
and federal laws;
2. Comment on improvement plans, including school
support plans resulting from Part B compliance reports;
3. Comment publicly on the East Providence school
district’s compliance with State and Federal laws
pertaining to the education of students with
disabilities;
4. Comment on applications for federal and state funds.
5. Present an annual report of activities and
recommendations to the East Providence School Committee.
Article 3: Membership
A. The advisory committee shall be composed of
individuals involved in or concerned with the education
of children with disabilities. Parents of students with
disabilities shall make up at least 50% of the committee
membership. To the extent feasible, the Committee shall
be composed of the following people:
1. An individual with a disability
2. A special education teacher
3. A general education teacher
4. A public school administrator
5. Other members of the community at the discretion of
the Committee and the East Providence School Committee.
B. Committee members shall be appointed by the East
Providence School Committee for three-year terms. At a
scheduled November meeting, the Committee shall approve
a list of recommended members, and shall forward that
list to the School Committee for consideration and
appointments. The appointments shall be effective on the
first day of January of the following year, for a period
of three calendar years. The Committee may recommend the
appointment of new or replacement members at any time it
sees the requirement to do so.
C. The Committee shall recommend the replacement of any
appointed member who misses three (3) consecutively
scheduled meetings, or misses three (3) out of any five
(5) meetings.
D. If a member is unable to attend a scheduled meeting,
she/he shall notify one of the Committee
Co-Chairpersons.
E. Committee members shall serve without compensation,
but may be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary
expenses for performing duties, subject to approval by
the Committee.
Article 4: Officers and Their Duties
A. The Officers of the Committee shall consist of two
Co-Chairpersons and a Secretary.
B. The Officers shall be elected by the Committee from
its membership to serve a term of two (2) calendar years
in the elected position. The regular election of
Officers for a term shall occur at a scheduled November
meeting during the second year of the preceding term.
All members shall be notified of the election at least
three weeks prior to the election.
C. Duties
1. Co-Chairperson. The Co-Chairpersons shall develop an
agenda for each Committee meeting. One of the
Co-Chairpersons shall preside over the meeting.
2. Secretary. The Secretary shall record attendance and
minutes of all meetings. The Secretary shall ensure that
all minutes that are approved by the Committee are
delivered to the East Providence School Department for
filing and availability for public viewing.
D. Term of Office. Officers elected in November shall
hold office for the next two full calendar years.
E. Vacancies. Any vacancy among the Officers may be
filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by any
member elected at a scheduled meeting, providing that
the membership has received at least a three week’s
notice of the approaching election.
Article 5: Meetings:
1. The advisory committee shall meet as often as
necessary to conduct its business, but at least 4 times
annually.
2. Official minutes shall be kept of all committee
meetings and be available for public review.
3. All committee meetings and agendas shall be publicly
announced prior to any meeting.
4. All meetings shall be open to the public.
5. Quorum. A quorum shall consist of fifty percent (50%)
of the Committee membership.
Article 6: Amendments:
Amendments to these By-Laws may be proposed to the East
Providence School Committee at any meeting of the
Committee by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present.
However, notice of intention to amend these By-Laws must
be given to the Committee membership at least ten (10)
days prior to the meeting at which the vote is to be
taken.
Recommended by the East Providence Local Advisory
Committee for Special Education on May 31, 2007:
Approved by the East Providence School Committee on June
12, 2007.
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