Mathews County Public Schools
Special Education Advisory Committee
Article I
Name:
The name of this body shall be the Mathews County Special Education Advisory Committee (Herein referred to
as SEAC).
Article II
Purpose:
The purpose of the SEAC is as addresses in the Regulations and Administrative Requirements of the
Operation of Special Education Programs in Virginia (1978 and as amended) are as follows:
1. Provide advice concerning unmet needs in the education of students with disabilities in Mathews
County, Virginia
2. Assist in the formulation and development of long range plans which will provide services needed for
students with disabilities in Mathews County, Virginia Public Schools and community.
3. Participate in the development of priorities and strategies for meeting the identified needs of students
with disabilities.
4. Submit periodic reports and recommendations regarding the education of students with disabilities to
the School Board through the Superintendent.
5. Assist in interpreting to the community, plans for meeting the needs of students with disabilities for
educational services.
6. Oversee the Mathews County Special Education Parent Resource Center at Mathews Memorial Library.
7. Review annually the updated Annual Special Education Plan and Application for Federal Flow-Through
Funds thirty (30) calendar days prior to submission by the Superintendent to the School Board.
Article III
Membership:
1. The SEAC shall have a maximum of twenty-five (25) members who will be residents of or be employed in
Mathews County, Virginia. Two-thirds of the members must be parents of children requiring special education.
2. Members of the Committee may include but are not limited to the following categories of persons; a
single member may represent more than one category
a. Persons requiring special education
b. Parents/guardians/caregivers of persons with disabilities
c. Community civic organizations
d. Business or industry
e. Public agencies concerned with the care of persons with disabilities
f. Other local advisory committees concerned with the education and training of students with disabilities.
Consultants:
The Special Education Director of Mathews County Public Schools or their designees shall serve as
consultants to the SEAC. Note: State regulations stipulate that the local school division personnel shall only
serve as consultants to the SEAC.
Term of Active Members:
The term of Members shall be three years with automatic renewal unless a written request to withdraw
membership is submitted.
Vacancies:
Should vacancies occur because of low application numbers or withdrawing of an active Committee Member,
the Membership Subcommittee shall present a slate of names to the Committee for approval. Nominees shall
be recommended to the Superintendent for appointment to the School Board no later than October 30.
Absences:
Members are required to attend all meetings in a school year with no more than three (3) unexcused
absences. With the fourth (4) unexcused absences, the person will no longer be a member of the Committee.
A record of attendance shall be kept by the Vice Chair of Membership who shall report periodically to the chair
of the Committee.
Article IV
Officers:
1. The officers if the Committee shall consist of a Chair, a Vice-Chair of Planning and Programs, a
Treasurer and a Secretary.
2. A nominating subcommittee, consisting of three (3) active members appointed by the Chair, will present
a slate of proposed offices at the April meeting with the consent of the nominees.
3. Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the Committee at the last meeting of the school year
(June) provided a quorum is present. Officers shall serve a term of two years
4. In the event an office becomes vacant, the chair shall appoint a replacement for the unexpired term.
Vacancy in the office of the Chair shall be filled by one of the Vice Chairs for the unexpired term.
5. The term of Officers begins in July if the year they are elected and ends at the end of June of the
following year.
6. The duties of the officers shall be as follows:
Chair
a. Serve as Chief executive of the Committee with the powers and duties usually belonging to such a
position;
b. Call and Preside at meetings of the Committee;
c. Serve as ex-officio member of all subcommittees;
d. Ensure that the annual report is submitted to the School Board;
e. Assure representation of the Committee at functions as requested by the Committee or others;
f. Participate in the orientation activities for new members;
g. Appoint Committee Chairs, and
Vice Chair of Planning and Programs
a. Shall chair the Planning subcommittee (goal setting and programs)
b. Serve in the place of, and with the authority of, the Chair in case of the Chair’s absence;
c. Discharge any duties delegated to him/her by the Chair.
Treasurer
a. Shall maintain financial records of the SEAC
b. Shall report on a monthly basis to the SEAC; and
c. Work with the Coordinator of the Parent Resource Center in creating a working budget
d. File tax returns yearly
Secretary
a. Keep minutes of the Committee meetings; and
b. See that the minutes are made available to the Committee members in a timely fashion.
c. Maintain an accurate attendance record of members who attend the monthly SEAC meetings
Article V
Subcommittees:
Subcommittees, standing or special, shall be appointed by the chair as deemed necessary to carry out the
work of the Committee.
Article VI
Meetings:
Unless otherwise ordered by the chair, the Committee shall meet on the first Tuesday of the month except for
the month of July. Meetings shall be held at The Brambles, Main Street, Mathews, Virginia starting 7 pm. A
calendar of events for the year shall be drawn up by the Vice Chair of Planning and be submitted to the
Director of Special Education by August 1 of each year. One (1) meeting per year shall be designated to
review the Annual Special Education Plan and Application for Federal Flow-Through Funds. The regular
meeting in June shall be known as the Annual Meeting and shall be for the purpose of electing officers,
recognition of rotating members, and approval of a slate of nominees by the Committee for referral to
Superintendent and School Board.
Notices of Regular Meetings:
Notice of regular meetings, along with minutes from the previous meeting and any information necessary for
member review before the meeting, shall be sent to each member at least one (1) week prior to the scheduled
meeting date except in unforeseen circumstances.
Open Meetings
All regular meetings of the Committee shall be open to the public. Notices will be posted via www.mathews.k12.
va.us and via school newsletters.
Public Comment
The first fifteen (15) minutes of every SEAC meeting will be set aside for a public forum. This public forum will
be designated to allow members of the community the opportunity to voice global concerns and matters of
interest before the Committee and staff members. In accordance with the Committee Guidelines, the Chair will
respond, verbally or in writing to persons making public comment. The Vice Chair of Planning will maintain a
list of issues raised during public comment periods for use in future panning activities.
Article VII
Quorum
A minimum of three (3) shall constitute a quorum.
Article VIII
Amendments
These Bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting by not less than two-thirds of the total active members
of the Committee. A copy of the proposed amendment(s) shall be submitted in writing at the previous regular
meeting of the Committee.
Article IX
Rules of Order
Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern the conduct of the Committee’s meetings and other procedural
matters, to the extent that such rules are applicable and not inconsistent with the provisions of these bylaws.
Adopted: ___________________________________
Chair: ______________________________________