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Draft of By-Laws

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Draft of By-Laws

Draft – January 2, 2013

Please note: CALA is currently an informal parent group. Our goal is to grow the group into an offical Parent Advisory Council. This is a sample of prospective CALA by-laws , if you have any questions, concerns, or feedback, feel free to contact us.

Article I. Name of Organization

The name of this self-governed organization is Cambridge Advanced Learning Association, also known as CALA.

Article II. Purpose of CALA

CALA’s mission is to support the academic, social, and emotional needs of students of every race, ethnicity and socio-economic background in need of advanced learning, at the same time as we support the needs of all students in Cambridge.

To this end, CALA will work to:

  • Build a diverse and representative network of parents of children who are in need of advanced learning in one or more subjects at any given time
  • Share information, resources, and support among the community of parents of students with advanced learning needs
  • Advise the Cambridge School Committee and the Academic Challenge and Enrichment Support Program Manager on the development, operations, evaluation, and monitoring of education programs for students with advanced learning needs, long-range planning and budget for advanced learning, and district-wide policy decisions.
  • Support education and advocacy for advanced learning in the Cambridge community.
  • Promote communication among CALA members, and between CALA and local, state and national organizations, councils and groups.
  • Promote communication and programs within the community to encourage understanding, acceptance and inclusion of children with advanced learning needs.

Article III. Terms of Membership

General membership in CALA is open to any resident of Cambridge, MA, or any person affiliated with the Cambridge Public Schools. A voting member is any general member who is a parent, guardian, or caretaker of a child with advanced learning needs residing in Cambridge or attending the Cambridge Public Schools.

Article IV. Officers of CALA

Officers of CALA are elected by the voting membership and hold office for one year. Officers consist of one chair or two co-chairs, a coordinator, and a treasurer.

Officer responsibilities are:

Chair or Co-Chairs

  • Set the agenda for each general meeting of CALA
  • Preside at all meetings of CALA
  • Monitor the function of sub-committees

Coordinator

Treasurer

  • Coordinate efforts to apply for grants, donations, reimbursements or any other funds for which CALA may be eligible
  • Manage and account for funds collected, donated, and spent for CALA

Article V. Elections

Elections shall be held every year at the spring meeting. Elections shall be decided by a simple majority vote of the voting membership present plus any absentee ballots from members, submitted by the time of the meeting. Acting officers can be appointed by the remaining officers if an office is vacated.

Nominations will be solicited in advance of the meeting by the CALA coordinator. All voting members are eligible to make nominations. The coordinator will prepare ballots for the election.

Article VI. Meetings

General meetings shall be held at least twice a year. Notice of all general meetings shall be mailed to all parents in the district and to other members. Election of officers and amendments to these by-laws require that a vote be taken at a general meeting. General meetings will adhere to the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law.

Article VII. Subcommittees

Subcommittees shall be created as needed.

Article VIII. Amendments

These by-laws may be amended by a simple majority of the voting membership at a general meeting but by-laws changes may not be voted upon in the same meeting as thy are proposed unless the change is unanimously approved.

Article IX. Procedures

When CALA establishes its governance, members will decide whether to conduct meetings using consensus or Robert’s Rules of Order.