About Us
The Tri-Town Special Education Parents Advisory Council, TTSEPAC, is an organization of parent volunteers serving the towns of Boxford, Middleton and Topsfield, working in partnership with the schools to promote an innovative educational environment where all children have equal access to educational opportunities and are encouraged to reach their full potential. Below you will find Frequently Asked Questions as well as our By Laws.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Parent Advisory Council (PAC)?
What Is Our Purpose?
When Do We Meet?
When and how can I join?
Who Can You Contact?
- What is a Parent Advisory Council (PAC)?
Massachusetts State Special Education Law requires each district's school committee to establish a Special Education Parent Advisory Council.
Membership is open to all parents/guardians of children with special needs as well as other interested parties (i.e. parents who may just be learning about the special education process.) This includes, but is not limited to, parents/guardians of children who may have an Individual Education Program (IEP), Section 504 Accommodation. - What Is Our Purpose?
Our mission is to provide information, support and assistance to parents / guardians of children with special needs in Boxford, Middleton and Topsfield.
Specifically, we
1) provide informational and educational forums for parent/guardians, families, and professionals involved with children with special needs.
2) provide “parent-to-parent” forums where parents/guardians of children with special needs can share information and discuss matters of interest.
3) advise the Special Education Administrator and the school committees on program operation and development.
4) promote communication and programs within the Tri-Town to encourage understanding, acceptance and inclusion of children with special needs. - When Do We Meet?
The Tri-Town Special Education PAC meets 7-8 times over the course of the school year. Meeting notices are published in school newsletters and local papers.
- When and how can I join?
We welcome new members all year round. Join us by visiting our membership page. - Who Can You Contact?
All officers are available to help answer questions and direct you to appropriate resources. Please see our contact page.
TTSEPAC By Laws
Article I – Name of the Organization
Article II- Purpose of the PAC
Article III – Terms of Membership
Article IV- Members of Executive Committee
Article V- Election of Officers
Article VI – Officers- Composition of the Parent Advisory Council
Article VII - Subcommittees
Article VIII – Meetings
Article IX- Amendments
Article I – Name of the Organization
The name of this organization shall be the Tri-Town Special Education Parents Advisory Council, also known as TTSEPAC comprising the elementary schools of the three towns of Boxford, Middleton and Topsfield.
Article II- Purpose of the PAC
The mission of the Tri-Town Special Education Parents Advisory Council is to provide information, support and assistance to parents of children with special needs in the communities of Boxford, Middleton and Topsfield. To that end, the TRI-TOWN SEAC will:
1. Promote a network of parents/guardians of children with special needs and provide “parent to parent” forums to share information and discuss matters of concern and interest for parents/guardians of children with special needs.
2. Advise the Special Education Administrator and the School Committee of the operation and development of special education programs, parent, family and teacher training needs.
3. Provide informational and educational forums for parents/guardians, families, and professionals involved with children with special needs.
4. Promote communication and programs within the communities to encourage understanding, acceptance and inclusion of children with special needs.
Article III – Terms of Membership
General membership shall be open to:
1) any parent or guardian who has a child receiving special education services or who has a child for whom an evaluation has been requested, or is a parent or guardian of a child with special needs with or without and individual education program (IEP) or;
2) providers, who, or whose agencies, serving children under state and federal laws and other interested parties who are not employees of the tri-town school systems or members of the tri-town school committees unless they are also parents of children with special needs.
Voting membership is required to vote in annual officer elections and other business that comes before any TRI-TOWN SEAC meeting.
Voting membership is determined when a general member is a parent or a guardian of a child with special needs residing in the Tri-Town, with or without an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or is a parent or guardian of a child with special need who attends the Towns’ public schools and has attended at least one previous meetings of the Tri-Town Special Education Parent Advisory Council during the last twelve (12) months, or has requested voting status in writing to the Secretary at least one month prior to elections.
The Executive Committee of the Tri-Town Special Education Parents Advisory Council shall determine clarification of membership.
Article IV- Members of Executive Committee
The Tri-Town Special Education Parents Advisory Council recognizes the uniqueness of the TTSEPAC in that there are three towns that make up the Tri-Town schools, each with their own school committees, but all sharing the same school administrators, namely a superintendent and Director of Special Education. To ensure that each town is equally represented, a president from each town will serve on the “Executive Committee”. In this capacity, all members of the Executive committee will be elected at the May Council meeting. Terms begin July 1st and end June 30th of the following year.
The Director of Special Education, Superintendent and MASSPAC will be informed of the annual elections with the names, addresses and phone numbers of the new board in June of each year.
The executive committee will approve all fundraising activities and all expenditure of funds.
In the event that either:
1) no president is elected from a town at the May Council Meeting, or
(2) a duly elected president is unable to complete their term, or
3) the current president does not seek re-election or
4) no one runs for the president’s position in one of the towns, then, the other town presidents will make executive board decisions until such time as a president can either be appointed for the remainder of said term or until a president is duly elected.
The description of each officer’s duties is outlined in these by-laws.
Article V- Election of Officers
A. Election of co-presidents, secretary and the treasurer will be the first order of business during the May meeting. It will be by secret ballot at said meeting.
B. The co-presidents, treasurer and secretary are elected by a simple majority of those present at the Council Meeting.
C. A co-president may only serve in a particular office for two consecutive years unless agreed to otherwise by a simple majority vote of those present at the May Council Meeting. If an individual volunteers to either serve or continue as a president, and there is no other person seeking election to that position; then, by a simple majority vote of those present at the May Council Meeting to fill a seat, that person any continue serving in their present capacity.
D. In the Event that two or more persons are running for election to the co-president for one town, then the elections rules as outlined herein should be followed.
Article VI – Officers- Composition of the Parent Advisory Council
The officers of the TTSEPAC consist of the three co-presidents and a secretary and a treasurer. Duties of officers shall be as follows:
A. Co-President (3) – One From Each Town of Boxford, Middleton and Topsfield
1. Preside at all meetings of the Council
2. Call meetings and set up the Agenda.
3. Sign on behalf of the Council all documents reasonably necessary for its proper conduct.
4. Co-Presidents or their designated representatives shall act as a liaison between the Special Needs Administrator and School Committee and shall report to them at least annually and attend those meetings as needed.
5. Recommend the organization and monitor the function of sub-committees.
6. No Council Member may transact business as a representative of the council or a subcommittee, except the co-presidents as outlined above.
B. Treasurer
1. Preside at meetings in the absence of the co-presidents, or at the request of the president.
2. Assist in managing projects a determined jointly with the Executive Committee.
3. Have the custody and be responsible for all funds of the Council.
4. Collect and deposit all Council funds in its name in such bank, as the Council shall designate.
5. Sign all checks and other instruments for payment of money as may be in the best interest of the Council and pay out and dispose of same and receipts thereof.
6. Render a statement of the condition of the finances of the Council at such times as shall be required by the Council and a full financial report at the May Council meeting.
C. Secretary
1. Keep minutes of the Council Meetings, including a current membership list.
2. Record and maintain attendance at each meeting.
3. Notify Council of changes of meeting dates and agenda.
4. Coordinate the recording and filing of minutes of the TTSEPAC and its sub-committees.
5. Collect and review all correspondence received by the TTSEPAC and report on such at each meeting.
6. Coordinate public communications with the Tri-Town Schools and local newspapers.
Article VII - Subcommittees
Subcommittees shall be created by the Executive Committee as needed and may be either an ad-hoc committee or, if needed, a standing committee. The Subcommittee Chair shall be a volunteer or will be a nominee accepted by a simple majority of the members present. Each subcommittee will (can) report back to a designated officer of the Executive committee at the business meetings of the TTSEPAC or by mail, email or telephone depending on the timeliness of the communication. Committees can include, but are not limited to, fundraising, public relations, nominating and outreach.
Article VIII – Meetings
Meetings are defined as any Tri-Town Special Education Parent Advisory Council sponsored meeting, activity, or committees at which attendance is taken.
Business meetings of the TTSEPAC will be held monthly from September through June with the exception of December at a place to be determined. Specific dates will be set at the beginning of the school year.
Parent-to-Parent Forums will be held bi-monthly with the schedule to be determined at the beginning of the school year.
Educational/Informational Meetings will be held throughout the Tri-Town School year. Dates will be set at the beginning of the school year.
Notice of meetings shall be published in all of the tri-town elementary school newsletters and whenever possible, the local Tri-Town newspapers and by notice to the general membership via email. All business meetings will be posted at each of the Town halls in Boxford, Middleton and Topsfield.
Roberts Rule of Order shall cover all meetings.
Article IX- Amendments
These by-laws may be amended by a simple majority of the voting members at a general meeting or a special meeting provided that written notice has been given prior to said meeting.