FORESTLAKESELEMENTARY SCHOOL
SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL
BYLAWS
ARTICLE I - Establishment
The name of the organization shall be the Forest Lakes ElementarySchool Advisory Council (FLE SAC).
ARTICLE II - Purpose/Duties/Objectives
Section A: Purpose
The purpose of the FLE SAC, in common with the objectives of the district school board, and by following the Florida statutes, is to provide parents, students, staff, and community members the opportunity to actively participate in assessing and addressing the needs of FLE with the goal of increasing student achievement in a safe learning environment. Further, FLE SAC will work to improve school, home, and community involvement in education for the benefit of FLE students.
Section B: - Duties
The FLE SAC shall carry out the following duties:
1. The FLE SAC shall be a resource to FLE and its principal, as an advisory body.
2.The FLE SAC shall assist in the preparation and evaluation of the School Improvement Plan.
3.The FLE SAC shall assist the principal in preparing the FLE budgets for School Improvement funds and Florida School Recognition Program (A+ Money) received from the state of Florida.
4.The FLE SAC shall be the sole body responsible for final decision making at the school, relating to the implantation of the School Improvement Plan (SIP) and budgets.
5.The FLE SAC shall receive annual SAC and collaborative partnership training, as needed.
6.The FLE SAC shall maintain and make available to the public the FLE SAC minutes and agendas.
7.The FLE SAC shall carry out any additional duties deemed necessary, with the understanding that the FLE SAC members shall not have any of the powers and duties now reserved by law tothe school board.
Section C: Objectives
The objectives of the SAC are promoted, in cooperation with the districtschool board and Florida statutes, bythe principal, parents, teachers, and the general public; are developed through conferences, school improvement teams, projects, and programs; and are governed and qualified by the FLE SAC Bylaws.
ARTICLE III – BASIC POLICIES
The following are basic policies of the FLE SAC:
A. The FLE SAC shall be noncommercial, nonsectarian, and nonpartisan.
B. The name of the FLE SAC or the names of any members in their official capacities shall not be used in any connection with a commercial concern or with any partisan interest or for any purpose not appropriately related to the objectives of the FLE SAC.
C. The FLE SAC shall not directly or indirectly participate or intervene (in any way, including the publishing or distributing of statements) in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, a candidate for public office.
D. The FLE SAC shall work with the school to provide quality education for all children and shall seek to participate in the decision making process establishing school policy, recognizing that the legal responsibilities to make decisions has been delegated by the people to boards of education and through them to the principals.
ARTICLE IV – ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION
The FLE SAC exists as an unincorporated association of its members. Its “articles of organization” comprise these bylaws, as from time to time amended, and its articles of association, if any. In the absence of separate articles of association, the bylaws shall be deemed to be the articles of association. In the event of any conflict between these bylaws and the articles of association, these bylaws shall govern.
ARTICLE V – MEMBERSHIP
Section A: SAC members shall reflect the diversity of the school community. Consideration must be given to economic level, race, ethnic background, gender, and residence. More than 50% of the members shall be non-district employees. Membership of the FLE SAC shall be comprised of the following groups:
1. The principal of FLE
2. District employees who are teachers or education support employees
3. Parents of full-time FLE students(Each parent may not be a district employee,
or a spouse of a district employee. If a child permanently leaves the school at
any time, the parent member’s seat is automatically vacated and becomes an
open seat.)
4. Community members
Section B: SAC members representing district employees and parents shall be elected by their respective peer groups in a fair and equitable manner as follows:
1. District employees shall be elected by district employees.
2. Parents shall be elected by parents.
Section C: The selection of community representatives shall be by recruitment by the principal and chairperson. Their appointment shall be confirmed by election by the FLE SAC.
Section D: Only members of the FLE SAC shall be eligible to vote in the business meetings, or to serve in any of its elective positions.
Section E: Non-district employees shall represent more than 50% of FLE SAC members in the case of a vote. Members who are district employees shall be randomly chosen to refrain from voting if a situation warrants an adjustment in voters to comply with the stated ratio.
Section F: Members are elected by ballot annually during the meeting prior to the last meeting of the school year, for the following school year. (Officers are elected during the last meeting of the school year (Article VI, Section B), for the following school year.) New members assume voting status upon election. District employees, parents, and community members serve a one year term, with the end of the term being the end of the school year. All members may serve more than one term.
Section G: Members shall strive to attend all meetings. The FLE SAC needs regular participation of its voting members in order to effectively serve the needs of FLE. If a member is not able to attend a meeting, he/she must notify the principal or the chairperson of his/her absence prior to that meeting. Any member missing two meetings without reasonable cause during his/her term will be relieved of his/her membership. An election will be held to replace this member (see Section I).
Section H: FLE SAC members who must resign from the FLE SAC will do so in writing. The resignation letter will be addressed to the FLE SAC chairperson.
Section I: The principal and chairperson, and any FLE SAC members, will recruit and nominate candidates from the appropriate member group to complete the term of any member who resigns from the FLE SAC. The elected member’s term is the remainder of that school year.
ARTICLE VI – OFFICERS AND THEIR ELECTION
Section A: Officers of the FLE SAC shall include:
1. Chairperson: elected from the parent members
2. Vice-Chairperson: elected from the district employee members
3. Secretary: elected from parent members
Section B: The chairperson and secretary shall be elected by ballot (or by voice vote if there is only one nominee) annually during the last regular meeting of the school year. The chairperson and secretary shall assume their official duties after elected. The vice-chairperson shall be elected at the first FLE SAC meeting of the school year. Each officer shall server for a term of one year or until his/her successor is elected. An officer shall not be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office.
Section C: If necessary, a nominating committee representing more than one member group shall be formed in order to facilitate the officer election process. The committee shall present a slate of officers (or officer), who are eligible FLE SAC members, at the appropriate meeting. Additional nominations may be made from the floor. Only those persons who have consented to serve if elected shall be nominated for election to such office. Elected officers shall assume their official duties immediately.
Section D: Vacancies occurring in any office shall be filled for the remaining term by an FLE SAC member elected according to ARTICLE V, Section B.
ARTICLE VII – DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section A: Chairperson shall 1) meet with principal to develop the meeting agenda, 2) preside at all meetings following Robert’s Rules of Order, 3) work in close coordination with the principal, and community leaders, 4) regularly coordinate with the PTO, and 5) maintain the purpose and function of the FLE SAC, 6) distribute minutes, meeting agendas, and other FLE SAC business items, 7) keep parents and the community informed of FLE SAC news and information.
Section B: Vice-Chairperson shall 1) perform the duties of the chairperson in his/her absence, 2) function in the capacity of district liaison, and 3) shall aid in coordinating the work of the FLE SAC.
Section C: Secretary shall 1) record the minutes of all SAC meetings, 2) maintain a record book of all meetings agendas and minutes, 3) take attendance at SAC meetings, 4) maintain attendance records, 5) notify any member who has been absent once without reasonable cause during his/her term that another absence will result in revocation of voting rights, and 6) notify any member who has been absent twice without reasonable cause during his/her term that he/she is relieved of member status.
Section D: The principal shall bring matters before the FLE SAC and relate policies and procedures originating from the district that affect the FLE SAC.
ARTICLE VIII – MEETINGS
Section A: Regular meetings of the FLE SAC shall be heldat least four times during the school year, unless otherwise authorized by the FLE SAC. Three school days notice shall be given of change of meeting date.
Section B: The last regular meeting of the school year will be known as the Annual Meeting.
Section C: Regular meetings of the FLE SAC shall be open for observation and comment to any parent, district employee, or community member.
Section D: A quorum is necessary to take a vote. A quorum shall exist when the majority of voting members are present. (See ARTICLE VI, Section C for district/non-district representation.)
Section E: The principal and chairperson will distribute the proposed agenda to all FLE SAC members three school days prior to the scheduled meeting.
ARTICLE IX – SUBCOMITTEES
Section A: The chairperson or vice-chairperson may create subcommittees to address concerns, issues, and/or projects of the FLE SAC.
Section B: Each subcommittee shall have a chairperson who will 1) conduct the group discussions, 2) develop, prioritize, and schedule tasks and assignments, 3) ensure that assignments are properly completed in a timely manner, and 4) document and report the results to the FLE SAC.
Section C: Subcommittee members shall not be limited to voting FLE SAC members.
Section D: Officers are ex-officio voting members of all subcommittees.
ARTICLE X – AMENDMENTS
Section A: These bylaws may be revised by amendments as needed. The amendments may be added, when necessary, at an FLE SAC meeting, via member vote.