SAC Bylaws (Revision – 12/18/08)
Article I: Central Middle School
The name of the organization shall be the Central Middle School, School Advisory Council, hereinafter referred to as the “SAC.”
Article II: Purpose
The purpose of the SAC is to assist in the preparation, implementation, and evaluation of the school improvement plan required pursuant to Florida Law. It shall perform such functions as are prescribed by the regulations of the school board; however, it shall not have any of the powers and duties reserved by the law to the school board.
Article III: Duties
Duties of SAC members shall include:
1. Advise in developing the school’s vision.
2. Use state and district goals as a guide for assessing the school’s needs.
3. Determine and prioritize the goals of the school based on appropriate needs assessments and other data.
4. Develop measurable objectives and strategies for addressing the goals that have been prioritized.
5. Assist in the preparation, implementation, and evaluation of the school improvement plan.
6. Identify the appropriate use of school improvement dollars for implementing the approved school improvement plan.
7. Operate in compliance with Florida Law.
8. Shall assist principal in preparation of school’s annual budget.
9. Shall not have any powers and duties preserved by law for the School Board.
Article IV: Representation and Elections
Representation:
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. There shall be members elected to the council from each of the following constituent groups. A majority (51%) of the members of this school advisory council must be persons who are not employees of the district.
a. Teachers elected by the teachers and Support Staff elected by the staff prior to the students first day of school.
b. Parents / Guardians elected by the parents/guardians
c. Community members nominated by the principal or council member and appointed by the principal. Those nominated by the principal as needed to comply with the State statute.
d. Students willing to serve on SAC is optional not mandatory and are approved and voted in by SAC members.
e. In the absence of the principal, the assistant principal would serve and vote for the principal.
Elections:
Elections of members shall take place after the school year begins and prior to the September SAC meeting. SAC members representing teachers, education support employees, and parents shall be elected by their representative peer groups in the same time frame.
Election of Members:
1. Information about SAC and identified vacancies are announced by March of each year.
2. Candidates notify the principal or previous year’s SAC chair of their interest in serving on SAC and complete a brief information statement prior to Open House.
3. Statements are compiled and sent to all respective groups with ballots. Ballots for parent members shall be distributed and completed at Open House.
4. A minimum of two SAC members shall open and count ballots at an advertised place and time.
5. Once a person becomes a member, a vote for SAC officers will be taken at the next meeting. All SAC officers must be voted in regardless of the number of nominees.
Article V: Voting Procedures
1. A quorum shall be 51% of the total SAC membership. Votes may only be taken if a quorum is present.
2. Decisions shall be made by consensus whenever possible. In the event a vote is taken, passage will require a simple majority (51%) of quorum.
3. There shall be no voting by proxy.
4. There shall be no secret ballots.
5. All voting shall take place at an open meeting (not by phone, email, or any other non public way) in compliance with the Sunshine Law.
6. In compliance with Sunshine Laws, there shall be no private discussions between SAC members outside of official meetings on topics that will be voted on.
Article VI: Tenure
1. Elected SAC members may assume their duties upon 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. SAC members may serve until they choose to resign, their children no longer attend CMS, or they are removed due to absences.
4. SAC membership is limited to one member per family.
5. Absences may be excused by a majority vote of the quorum.
6. Any SAC member that is going to miss a regularly scheduled meeting should make every effort to notify the Chair or Vice Chair prior to the meeting.
7. Members who have 2 unexcused consecutive absences, or any 3 unexcused absences from regularly scheduled meetings, will be notified of possible removal from SAC Removal from the council will take place at the next scheduled meeting with a majority vote from the quorum.
8. Parent members must have a child enrolled at Central Middle School. If the child leaves Central Middle School during the parent’s term of office, then the parent shall vacate his or her seat and a vacancy shall exist. If they wish to remain in SAC, a parent member may request to become a community member and be appointed by the principal.
9. Vacancies of members shall be filled from those who unsuccessfully ran for SAC and meet the composition requirements of the vacancy. If there are no candidates who meet these criteria, the SAC shall fill the vacancy by simple majority vote.
10. Vacancies of officer positions shall be filled from those who successfully ran for SAC, meet the composition requirements of the vacancy, and had the highest number of votes. If there are no candidates who meet these criteria, the SAC shall fill the vacancy by simple majority vote.
11. Vacancies of business / community representatives shall be filled by a member’s recommendation and appointed by the principal.
Article VII: Meetings
1. The first meeting of the school year shall be held no later than September and continuing monthly throughout the school year. Dates and meeting times shall be determined at the September meeting. However, all meetings will be held at times most convenient to 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:
a. The notice shall contain the time and place of the meeting and an agenda. The agenda will include items scheduled to come before the SAC for a vote. The agenda will be sent no less than 3 days prior to the scheduled SAC meeting.
b. The notice and agenda shall be prominently displayed in the area set aside for that purpose.
c. 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.
Article VIII: Duties of Officers
1. The SAC shall have four officers: the Chair, the Vice-Chair, the Secretary,
and the Treasurer. They shall be elected at the first meeting after elections by simple majority vote. At least one of the officers shall be a non-school employee.
2. The duties of the Chair shall include:
a. Preside at meetings according to “Robert’s Rules of Order Revised.”
b. Develop all meeting agenda items with the principal’s approval at least 3 days prior to the regularly scheduled meeting.
c. Appoint subcommittee chairs. The subcommittee reports back to SAC for approval.
d. Notify all members of upcoming meeting dates.
e. Inform SAC of relevant training.
f. Assist principal with presentation of school improvement plan to the community.
3. The duties of Vice Chair shall include:
a. Assumes the duties of the Chair if the Chair is absent or vacates the position.
b. Assist principal with annual survey.
4. The duties of Secretary shall include:
a. Record minutes.
b. Keep records of meeting attendance.
- SAC correspondence.
d. Send minutes to members with the next month’s agenda.
e. Provide public notice of all SAC meetings.
5. Duties of Treasurer shall include:
a. Track expenditures from school improvement funds and maintain SAC financial records.
b. Report to SAC on a monthly basis.
6. An officer may be removed from office by 2/3 majority vote of the full SAC.
Article IX: Parliamentary Procedures
The SAC Chair will refer to “Robert’s Rules of Order Revised” when conducting the SAC meetings.
Article X: Amendments
1. The bylaws shall be reviewed at the April and September meetings.
2. Amendment recommendations shall be advertised for 30 calendar days.
3. Approval of bylaw amendments shall require a 2/3 vote of quorum.
Article XI: Appointment of Subcommittee for A+ Money Fund
1. SAC will form a subcommittee in April consisting of appropriate members as required by state law.
02/01/2010