School Advisory Council (SAC)

School Advisory Council Bylaws 

Article 1: Name of Organization

Article II: Purpose

Article III: Duties

Duties of SAC members shall include:

• Advise in developing the school’s vision
• Use state and district goals as a guide for assessing the school’s needs
• Determine and prioritize the goals of the school based on appropriate needs assessments and other data
• Develop measurable objectives and strategies for addressing the goals that have been prioritized
• Assist in the preparation and evaluation of the school improvement plan
• Identify the appropriate use of school improvement dollars for implementing the approved school improvement plan
• Operate in compliance with Florida Law

Article IV: Representation and Elections

1. The SAC representation will be comprised of the school principal and an appropriately balanced number of teachers, education support employees, parents, and other business and community citizens who are representative of the ethnic, racial, and economic community served by the school.
2. The SAC shall be composed of voting members with the following representation:
   • The school principal
   • Teachers
   • Education support employees
   • Parents
   • Business/Community members
3. The principal and previous school year’s SAC chair shall identify the number of vacancies and review the SAC’s ethnic and racial composition based on district-provided information within two weeks of the election date. The principal shall review the SAC’s economic composition. In the event the SAC is not representative of the ethnic, racial and economic community served by the school, additional members shall be appointed to achieve this balance. These appointments shall be made in accordance with school board procedures.
4. The majority of SAC members shall be non-school employees.

Election of members shall take place after the school year begins. SAC members representing teachers, education support employees, and parents shall be elected by their respective peer groups.

Election of Members

1. Information about SAC and identified vacancies are sent to all parents, school-based employees, and Partners in Education.
2. Candidates notify principal or previous school year’s SAC chair of their interest in serving on SAC and complete a brief information statement.
3. Statements are compiled and sent to respective groups with ballots. Ballots for parent members shall be distributed one ballot per family.
4. Ballots are returned to school office.
5. The SAC chair and principal shall open and count ballots at an advertised place and time.

Selection of Business/Community Members

Business/community members shall be approved by the SAC. If more than two business/community members wish to serve, SAC members shall vote to select the two representatives.

Article V: Voting Procedures

1. A quorum shall be 51% of the total SAC membership.
2. Decisions shall be made by consensus whenever possible. Votes may only be taken if a quorum is present.
3. There shall be no voting by proxy.
4. There shall be no secret ballots.

Article VI: Tenure

1. Elected SAC members shall serve for a period of one year. They shall assume their duties upon election and serve until their seats are filled in a subsequent election.
2. Appointed SAC members shall serve for a period of one year or until the next election, whichever comes first.
3. There shall be no limit on the number of terms a member may serve.
4. SAC membership is limited to two members per family.
5. Members who have 2 or more consecutive unexcused absences, or any 3 unexcused absences from regularly scheduled meetings, will be removed from the SAC with a majority vote from the quorum and a vacancy shall exist.
6. Parent members must have a child enrolled at Columbia Elementary School. If the child leaves Columbia during the parent’s term of office, then the parent shall vacate his or her seat and a vacancy shall exist.
7. Vacancies of elected members shall be filled by appointment to the position by the principal. This appointment must meet the composition requirements of the vacancy and must be approved by a simple majority vote from the SAC.
8. Vacancies of business/community representatives shall be filled by a member’s recommendation and approval by a simple majority vote of SAC members.

Article VII: Meetings

1. Meetings shall be held beginning in August and continuing monthly throughout the school year. Dates and meeting times shall be determined at the September meeting and shall be held at a time convenient to a majority of the members.
2. Emergency meetings shall only be called if jointly agreed upon by the SAC Chair and the principal.
3. Meetings of the SAC or its subcommittees shall be held in accordance with the Florida Government in the Sunshine Law and Florida Public Schools law.
4. Meetings shall be noticed as follows:
   • The notice shall contain the time and place of the meeting and an agenda.
   • The notice shall be prominently displayed in the area set aside for that purpose.
   • Emergency meetings should be afforded the most appropriate and effective notice under the circumstances and should have at least 24 hours reasonable notice to the public.
5. Items to come before the SAC for a vote will be posted at least 3 days prior to the meeting in the agenda.
6. Minutes of SAC meetings shall be recorded and made available for public inspection.

Article VIII: Duties of Officers

1. The SAC shall have three officers: the Chair, the Vice-Chair, and the Secretary. They shall be elected by the October meeting by simple majority vote.
2. The duties of the Chair shall include:
   • Preside at meetings
   • Develop last-minute or emergency agenda items with the principal
   • Appoint subcommittee chairs
   • Notify all members of upcoming meeting dates
   • Inform SAC of relevant training
   • Assist principal with presentation of school improvement plan to the community
3. The duties of the Vice-Chair shall include:
   • Assume the duties of the Chair if the Chair is absent or vacates the position
   • Assist principal with annual survey
4. The duties of the Secretary shall include:
   • Record minutes
   • Keep annual attendance records
   • Track expenditures from school improvement funds and maintain SAC financial records
   • SAC correspondence
   • Send minutes to members with the next month’s agenda
   • Provide public notice of all SAC meetings
5. If a vacancy occurs in the office of Vice-Chair or Secretary, the SAC shall fill the vacancy by simple majority vote.
6. An officer may be removed from office by a 2/3 majority vote of the full SAC.

Article IX: Amendments

1. The bylaws shall be reviewed at the April and September meetings.
2. Amendment recommendations shall be advertised for 3 calendar days.
3. Approval of bylaws amendments shall require a 2/3 vote of members in attendance.