DISTRICT ADVISORY COUNCIL BYLAWS
(amended 2008)
Article 1: Name
The name of this organization is the Duval County Public SchoolsDistrict Advisory Council.
Article II: Purpose
Section 1: The functions of the District Advisory Council are:
a. To bring information, concerns and solutions communicated by the School Advisory Councils and /or the Area Advisory Councils to county-wide attention.
b. To provide a conduit through which county leadership may share information, express concerns, offer solutions and request assistance from the Area Advisory Councils and through them to the School Advisory Councils.
Section 2: Other broad functions of the District Advisory Council are to:
a. participate in the development and growth of desegregation programs among the schools;
b. initiate activities or programs that generate greater cooperation between the community and the area schools;
c. assist in the development of coordinated educational goals and objectives when requested by the superintendent;
d. review and provide input on curriculum issues which provide a continuum across grade levels;
e. recommend various support services among the schools;
f. review the impact of property development and zoning changes as they relate to the safety, welfare and educational opportunities of the students;
g. perform such functions as are prescribed by the policies of the school board;
h. seek ways to adjust school enrollments in schools where over enrollment or under enrollment in one or more schools strain facilities, budgets or affect the quality of instruction or student achievement;
i. assist in the preparation of reports regarding the performance of students and education programs as required by Florida Statutes and the school board;
j. perform other functions as requested by the superintendent and/or School Board and,
k. provide input on School Advisory Council procedures and training.
Article III: Membership
Section 1: The Chair of each Area Advisory Council, or their designee, shall serve as a member of the District Advisory Council. If an Area Advisory Council has co-chairs, both persons may serve on the District Advisory Council, however each area or entity shall have only one vote.
Section 2: The Vice Chair of each Area SAC shall serve as an alternate to the District Advisory Council.
Section 3: The President of the Duval County Council of PTAs shall serve on the District Advisory Council.
Section 4: The Chair of the Magnet Advisory Council shall serve on the District Advisory Council.
Section 5: Each representative shall serve for a one year term or until such time that a new representative is appointed by the Area SAC in accordance with their specific Area SAC bylaws.
Section 6: The Superintendent or adesignee shall serve on the District Advisory Council.
Section 7: The DCPS School Board chair shall appoint a school board member to serve as an ex-officio member on the District Advisory Council.
Section 8: A Community Representative may be appointed to serve on the DAC by the superintendent.
Article IV: Responsibilities
Section 1: The District Advisory Council is a resource to the superintendent and /or the School Board. The term “advisory” is intended to mean a) inquiring, b) informing, c) suggesting, d) recommending, and e) evaluating.
Section 2: The District Advisory Council, since it is advisory only, has some limitations: a) it may not dictate School Board or local school center policy; and b) it must deal with issues rather than particular persons, whether they are administrators, teachers, students, citizens or parents.
Article V: Election of Officers
The District Advisory Council members shall, in the month of October each year, elect a chair, a vice-chairand a secretary from the current DAC membership to serve as representatives of the District Advisory Council. Each term shall be for one year.
Article VI: Structure
Section 1: The District Advisory Council Chair shall chair the meetings.
Section 2: Minutes of the meetings shall be recorded.
Article VII: Roles of District Advisory Council Members
Section 1: The Superintendent or designee
a. maintains order and sees that the meeting is properly adjourned,
b. sees that business is ordered, considered and disposed of properly,
c. serves as an impartial, conscientious arbiter of discussion and debate, and insists on fairness in the actions and debate of the members,
d. acts as an active resource.
Section 2: The Chair
a. shall be responsible for preparing an agenda, with input from area representatives and the superintendent, in time to notify the community of the purpose of each meeting,
b. shall serve as an advisor to the superintendent,
c. shall formally represent the District Advisory Council at meetings of the Duval County School Board on issues as directed by the District Advisory Council,
d. shall serve for a period of one year,
e. shall facilitate training for School Advisory Councils and Area Advisory Councils as requested.
Section 3: The Vice-Chair
a. shall assist the chair in carrying out his/her duties,
b. shall carry out the duties of the chair in the event of his/her absence,
c. shall serve for a period of one year.
Section 4: The Secretary
a. shall keep accurate, complete minutes and send them to the Chair for distribution,
b. shall keep accurate records of council attendance, duties and special assignments.
Section 5: Area Representatives:
a. act as a council member by understanding their school community and making suggestions and recommendations representative of the views of their school community,
b. participate regularly in DAC meetings and carry out council assignments,
c. understand the personnel and material resources of the school and community and the school’s educational programs,
d. act as resource persons for the superintendent, in community-related issues,
e. assist in obtaining community resources to aid the schools’ educational programs.
f. serve as a communication link between the Area Advisory Councils, the School Advisory Councils and the district staff,
g. participate in activities aimed at obtaining parent and community support and assistance for school related programs,
h. understand School Advisory Council procedures, rules of operation, County SAC Handbook and applicable Florida Statutes,
i. serve as a resource for School Advisory Council Chair.
Article VII: Committees
The District Advisory Council may create committees as necessary to carry on the work of the council. These committees will be termed “special” committees and will be dissolved at the completion of their task. The committee chair shall be a current member of the DAC. A non-member of the DAC may serve as a member of a special committee.
Article VIII: Meetings
Section 1: The District Advisory Council shall meet as often as necessary to perform its duties but no less than six times per year.
Section 2: A majority of the established membership shall constitute a quorum. A quorum must be present to vote on any issue.
Section 3: Non-members shall be given an opportunity to address the District Advisory Council during its regular meetings only at designated times. Remarks shall be limited to three (3) minutes.
Article IX: Amendments to Bylaws
Section 1: Proposed amendment/s to these bylaws can be presented at any regular meeting, discussed and endorsed for consideration at the next scheduled meeting by a majority vote of the members present. The proposed amendment/s shall be published in the meeting minutes and voted on during the next scheduled meeting.
Section 2: Proposed amendment/s to these bylaws are not effective until a quorum is established and approved by a majority vote of the members presentat the next scheduled meeting.
Article X: Ratification of Bylaws
The bylaws of the DAC will be ratified by a majority vote of its members present.
Article XI: Parliamentary Authority
Section 1: The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the association in all cases where they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws.
Section 2: The Chair has the option to appoint a parliamentarian at any meeting.
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