Bylaws of The School Advisory Council of Discovery Key Elementary School. Adopted September 30, 2015

Transcription

1 Bylaws of The School Advisory Council of Discovery Key Elementary School Adopted September 30, 2015 Article I General Section 1: The name of this organization shall be: The School Advisory Council of Discovery Key Elementary School. In these bylaws, the School Advisory Council of Discovery Key Elementary School may be referred to as the SAC. Section 2: The provisions of Florida law and rules of the Palm Beach County School Board, now existing or hereafter adopted, governing School Advisory Councils, are incorporated herein by reference. Section 3: To the extent that an inconsistency exists now or in the future between these guidelines and any rule or regulation of the Palm Beach County School Board or any Florida law concerning School Advisory Councils, such rule, regulation, or law shall control. Article II Purpose and Function Section 1: The SAC is a resource for Discovery Key Elementary School, its teachers, its education support employees, its parents and its principal. One of the purposes of the SAC is to develop and oversee the implementation of a School Improvement Plan (SIP) that will serve as a framework for school improvement. Section 2: The primary function of the SAC is to provide all of the stakeholders an opportunity to be active participants in the assessment of needs, development of priorities, and identification and use of resources based on an analysis of multiple sources of available school data. Specific tasks of the SAC include, but may not be limited to, the following: a. Develop and review the implementation of the School Improvement Plan. b. Assist in the preparation/review of the Annual School Budget per Fla. Stat (2) & Fla. Stat (1). c. Enlist, promote, and support greater interaction between Discovery Key Elementary and the community. d. Provide input in matters concerning disbursement of school improvement funds and other monies related to school improvement, and to ensure that such expenditures are consistent with the School Improvement Plan.

2 e. Consult with peripheral constituency groups when making decisions concerning educational practices within Discovery Key Elementary School (ex. PTA/PTO, CTA). f. Consult with people or departments needed to support the School Improvement Plan. Article III Representation and Membership Section 1: In accordance with Fla. Stat , the membership of SAC shall be representative of the student body and community served by Discovery Key Elementary School. The SAC shall have an appropriately balanced number of teachers, parents, support employees, students, business and community members. The Majority of the members of the SAC shall be non-school district employees. For purposes of these bylaws, the term Majority shall mean fifty percent (50%) plus 1. Section 2: In order to comply with Article III, Section 1 hereof, in the event that the SAC membership is not appropriately balanced and is not representative of the student body and community of Discovery Key Elementary School, the principal of Discovery Key Elementary School, on behalf of the Palm Beach County School Board, shall have the authority to appoint such additional SAC members as is necessary to comply with Article III, Section 1 hereof. Article IV Membership Selection Section 1: The SAC membership shall be constituted as follows: a. Parent members, teacher members, and education support employee members will be elected by their respective groups through an election. b. Teachers shall be elected by teachers. All instructional employees at Discovery Key Elementary shall be considered teachers. c. Education support employees shall be elected by education support employees. All school staff at Discovery Key Elementary other than teachers shall be considered education support employees. d. Parent members shall be elected by parents in general, with all parents having an opportunity to participate in voting for any parent on the ballot. e. Business and community members will be selected based on the procedures adopted by the Palm Beach County School Board. f. Replacement members shall be elected by appropriate constituencies. g. The principal of Discovery Key Elementary shall be a member of the SAC pursuant to Fla. Stat (1). 2

3 There shall be wide notice of SAC vacancies and elections provided through methods which may include the Discovery Key Elementary School marquee, Discovery Key Elementary School newsletter, PTA/PTO meetings, or announcements at Open House, etc. The names of parents willing to serve on the SAC shall be listed on a ballot which will be distributed to all parents who will vote on the nominees. Section 2: Elections shall be held within three (3) weeks of the start of the school year. Section 3: Each parent of a child attending Discovery Key Elementary School shall be given reasonable notice (seven (7) days notice is generally recommended) of SAC elections in accordance with Fla. Stat ( the Florida Sunshine Law ). Article V Tenure Section 1: The term of office for each member of the SAC shall be staggered to provide continuity from year-to-year. Section 2: SAC members, other than those designated to complete unexpired terms, shall be elected to a three (3) year term. Section 3: As required by Fla. Stat (1)(d)4, in the event of two (2) unexcused consecutive absences from a properly noticed SAC meeting, the person s membership will cease and if a replacement member is necessary in order to maintain the appropriate balance of the SAC membership in accordance with Article III hereof, a SAC chairperson shall arrange for the replacement of the member by election pursuant to Article IV hereof, and such individual shall fill the remainder of the term of the member being replaced. An absence from a SAC meeting shall be considered unexcused unless (a) the SAC member notifies a SAC chairperson in writing prior to the start of the meeting that such member will miss a meeting; and (b) the absence is due to either (i) an illness of the SAC member or his/her child, (ii) an emergency medical appointment of the SAC member or a family member, (iii) a death of a family member, (iv) a subpoena by a law enforcement officer, (v) an employment related commitment or (vi) other extenuating circumstances. Article VI Meetings Section 1: All SAC meetings shall be held in accordance with the Florida Sunshine Law which requires reasonable public notice and the meetings to be open to the general public in a location accessible to the public. Additionally, minutes of the meeting must be taken and made available for public inspection following the meeting. This public notice shall be in addition to the minimum three (3) days' advance written notice required by Fla. Stat (1)(d)2 to all SAC members regarding any matter scheduled to come before the SAC for a vote. Section 2: The first meeting of the SAC will be held within fourteen (14) days of the election for installation of new members. 3

4 Section 3: There shall be at least five (5) SAC meetings per year. The actual day and time of these meetings shall be determined by the SAC chairperson(s) and the Principal of Discovery Key Elementary at the first regular meeting of the year. As required by Fla. Stat (1)(d)3, SAC meetings must be scheduled when parents, teachers, businesspersons, and members of the community can attend. Section 4: All SAC members will receive an agenda, as well as the supporting necessary documentation for items placed on the agenda that are to be discussed and/or voted upon at the meeting three (3) days prior to the meeting via and/or hard copy. Such documentation will also be made available to the SAC members three (3) days prior to the meeting for their review on campus during regular school hours. Section 5: SAC meetings will follow the approved agenda. Each item on the agenda will be discussed to the satisfaction of the members present at the meeting. Discussions at SAC meetings will be restricted to topics on the agenda. If a SAC member wishes to discuss an item at the next meeting, they must give seven (7) days notice to have the item put on the agenda. Section 6: The public will be given the opportunity to comment on items on the agenda, provided however that each member of the public desiring to comment shall be limited to a total of two (2) minutes per agenda item that such member of the public desires to provide comment unless a SAC member provides an extension of time. If an item is to be voted upon by the SAC, public comments will be heard prior to the vote taking place. All other public comments on agenda items not requiring a vote will be heard during the portion of the meeting reserved for "Comments from the Floor" which will take place prior to meeting adjournment. Section 7: Special meetings of the SAC may be called by a SAC chairperson, or by notice of any three (3) members in writing to a SAC chairperson, after public notice of the meeting has been provided to the public. Section 8: Committees will meet as needed and in any event in accordance with Article VIII hereof. Article VII Duties of Officers and Other Members of the SAC Section 1: The officers of the SAC shall consist of a chairperson or two co-chairpersons, a secretary, and an historian. In the event of a vacancy in an office of the SAC during an existing term, the vacancy will be filled by election of the SAC members. All current members of the SAC shall be eligible to hold an officer position. Section 2: The SAC shall elect its own officers annually at the first meeting of the SAC each school year as set forth in Article VI, Section 2 hereof. Officers may serve a maximum of three (3) consecutive years in the same position as elected by the SAC membership unless no other SAC member is willing to serve as an officer. If two (2) or more SAC members run for an officer position, it will be put to a vote. SAC members are encouraged to serve in elected positions. 4

5 Section 3: Chairperson.-- The chairperson, or one of the co-chairpersons in the event there are two co-chairpersons, shall preside at all meetings of the SAC and shall be a de facto member of all committees. Section 4: Secretary.-- The secretary shall keep minutes of the SAC meetings by documenting those matters which are voted on by the SAC. The secretary shall also be responsible for such correspondence as is delegated to him/her by a SAC chairperson. The secretary shall also document activities, decisions, and attendance of the SAC and its committees for accountability. The secretary shall complete the minutes within seven (7) days of each SAC meeting. The minutes of each SAC meeting shall be available to the public pursuant to the Florida Sunshine Law. The Palm Beach County School Board will maintain a record of the minutes of all SAC meetings, as required by Fla. Stat (1)(d)5. Section 5: Historian.-- The historian shall document the past, present, and future progress of the SAC and its committees. The historian shall maintain the minutes of previous years, any anecdotal records, and the SAC archives. Section 7: Principal.-- The principal of Discovery Key Elementary School shall provide information regarding the school educational plan, including the school budget. The role of such principal includes the development, through positive actions, of feelings of trust and mutual regard among the SAC, the community, teachers and the education support employees at Discovery Key Elementary. The principal of Discovery Key Elementary School shall also arrange for presentations of interest to the SAC and encourage leadership from within the SAC. Section 8: Teacher Representatives - The members of the SAC who are teachers at Discovery Key Elementary (i.e. the teacher members of the SAC) shall represent the views and interests of all of the teachers at Discovery Key Elementary. They will act as resources for the SAC by making available specialized information about educational programs, innovative ideas, and available resources. These teacher SAC members serve as a communication link between the SAC and the teachers at Discovery Key Elementary, informing the teachers of actions and activities of the SAC. Section 9: Education Support Employee Representatives - The members of the SAC which are education support employees shall represent the views and interests of the education support employees. They will act as resources for the SAC by making available specialized information about innovative ideas, and available resources pertaining to their support roles at Discovery Key Elementary. These education support employee SAC members serve as a communication link between the SAC and the education support employees at Discovery Key Elementary, informing the education support employees of actions and activities of the SAC. Section 10: Parents - The parent members of the SAC shall represent the view of the parents of students at Discovery Key Elementary. They shall act as resource persons for the SAC in the areas of issues of concern to the parents pertaining to the school and its students. They shall serve as a communications link between the SAC and other parents. 5

6 Section 11: Business, and Community Representatives - The business and community members of the SAC shall represent the view of the citizens and the business and community organizations of the school community. They shall act as resource persons for the SAC in the areas of community-related issues that affect the school and its students. They shall serve as a communications link between the SAC and the business community and other community organizations. Article VIII Voting Body Section 1: All decisions, actions and implementation of ideas of the SAC must be approved by a vote of the members of the SAC in accordance with Article IX, Section 1 hereof. A quorum of the SAC Members is required for any formal action of the SAC to be taken, as required by Fla. Stat (1)(d)1. A quorum is a Majority of the SAC membership. As required by Fla. Stat (1)(d)2, all SAC members will receive at least three (3) days' notice, in writing, which notice shall include but not be limited to an agenda and any necessary documentation relevant to any item included on the agenda that is scheduled to come before the SAC for a vote as set forth in Article VI, Section 4 hereof. Section 2: The SAC will follow all Palm Beach County School District policies, Florida rules and statutes in conducting its business. Section 3: Committees of the SAC shall be formed to research and make recommendations regarding specific areas that affect the SAC organization. Committees may be constituted in several configurations. Except as hereinafter set forth, committee members shall be appointed by the SAC. Committee members who are SAC members shall remain on a committee through the end of their term on SAC unless they elect to resign from their committee membership at an earlier time. Non-committee members shall be appointed to a one (1) year term. a. Standing Committees: Standing committees are created for long-term, on-going functions and are expected to schedule regular meetings. The standing committees focus on "large" issues, such as school safety, curriculum, professional development or student needs. A SAC chairperson will appoint the chairperson of each standing committee. A standing committee will study issues and make recommendations to the SAC. The SAC shall confirm that each of the standing committees is still in compliance with the membership requirements at the first SAC meeting of the year. If not, additional members shall be appointed as necessary. At the first SAC meeting of the year, the SAC shall also consider the requests of any new SAC members or non-sac members who desire to participate on a committee. There shall always be three (3) standing committees of the Discovery Key Elementary SAC which shall include: 1. School Improvement Plan Writing Committee: The School Improvement Plan Writing Committee shall be comprised of at least two members, one (1) of which must be a teacher member of the SAC; and the 6

7 other one (1) of which must be the principal or an assistant principal of Discovery Key Elementary School. A. The School Improvement Plan Writing Committee shall be responsible for the development and creation of the School Improvement Plan to present to the SAC for review and approval. B. The School Improvement Plan Writing Committee shall be responsible for entering the approved and final School Improvement Plan into the Palm Beach County School District system by the due date. 2. A+ Recognition Funds Committee: The A+ Recognition Funds Committee shall be comprised of six persons, at least two of which shall not be SAC members. One (1) of the committee members must be a SAC chairperson; three (3) of the committee members must be teachers at Discovery Key Elementary and at least (1) of these teachers must not be a member of the SAC; and two (2) of the committee members must be education support employees at Discovery Key Elementary and at least (1) of these education support employees must not be a member of the SAC. A. The A+ Recognition Funds Committee shall be responsible for the creation of a ballot containing a minimum of three (3) options, including "none of the above", for the disbursement of school recognition funds as described in Article XI hereof. A preliminary draft of this ballot shall be presented by the A+ Recognition Funds Committee to the SAC for consideration at a SAC meeting and the SAC members shall review and provide any suggested revisions to this preliminary draft. The final version of the ballot shall then be presented by the A+ Recognition Funds Committee to the SAC at a subsequent meeting. The final version of the ballot shall be considered by the SAC in time to allow for the ballot to be used for a timely vote by the teachers and education support employees at Discovery Key Elementary prior to the submission deadline for the designation of the distribution of the school recognition funds as set forth by the State of Florida and the Palm Beach County School District. After the SAC has voted to accept the ballot, the ballot shall be distributed to all teachers and education support employees at Discovery Key Elementary who shall cast their vote in accordance with these bylaws, Florida Statutes and Palm Beach County School Board Policy. B. The A+ Recognition Funds Committee shall also be responsible for the review of the school budget and provide input and suggestions regarding the school budget. 3. Bylaws Review Committee: The Bylaws Review Committee shall be comprised of at least two (2) SAC members. 7

8 A. The Bylaws Review Committee shall be responsible for verifying that the bylaws remain current to Florida Statutes and Palm Beach County School Board Policy. B. The Bylaws Review Committee shall also be responsible for offering suggested revisions to the SAC from time to time. All standing committees shall have the right to appoint non SAC members (such as interested parents, teachers or education support employees at Discovery Key Elementary who are not on SAC) to assist in the functions of the committees as set forth above. b. Ad Hoc Committee - (Task Force): One or more ad hoc committee may be formed to deal with specific, short-term concerns that are not appropriately assigned to the standing committees. Examples of ad hoc committees may include, without limitation, a grant committee which may responsible for such items as the research of/for grant opportunities for Discovery Key Elementary School, as well as assisting any staff member with the application for grants or subsidies that will be utilized for student enrichment on the campus and working with the PTA, CTA and the A+ Recognition Funds Committee to identify needs areas and programs that would qualify for possible grant subsidy; a uniform committee; or a committee formed to deal with a bus problem. Article IX Rules of Order Section 1: All SAC decisions and actions shall require the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of the SAC present at the meeting in which a matter comes before the SAC. Section 2: The SAC will operate under Parliamentary Procedures such as Robert s Rules of Order. Section 3: If an action is not approved by the requisite vote as required pursuant to Article IX, Section 1 hereof, (i) if the matter is of the nature that the SAC is required to make a decision or take action pursuant to these bylaws (such as, for example, the approval of the School Improvement Plan or the approval of the ballot for the distribution of the school recognition funds) then the matter shall be included on the agenda for the next SAC meeting at which time the matter shall be further deliberated upon and a new vote undertaken; or (ii) if the matter is of the nature that the SAC is not required to make a decision or take action pursuant to these bylaws (such as, for example, implementation of school uniforms), then a SAC member may make a motion to reconsider the applicable matter at the next scheduled meeting of the SAC, and if such motion is approved then the matter shall be included on the agenda for the next SAC meeting at which time the matter shall be further deliberated upon and a new vote undertaken. Article X Additional Financial Controls Section 1: After the SAC has voted to approve an expenditure of school improvement funds by an entity or person, that person/entity has a period of time not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days to use those funds and seek payment from the SAC. If the SAC (or school 8

9 bookkeeper) has not been notified that the funds were expended by that deadline, then ten (10) days after a reminder notice is provided to the requestor, the funds will be considered as having reverted back to the general SAC funds as available for reallocation, absent extenuating circumstances as determined by vote of the SAC. Article XI School Recognition Funds Section 1: A portion of the Education Enhancement Trust Fund (lottery money) is distributed to Discovery Key Elementary School (through the Palm Beach County School District) for the SAC to use for programs and projects to enhance school performance through the implementation of the School Improvement Plan. Section 2: Pursuant to the General Appropriations Act, school recognition funds, aka accountability funds may not be used for capital improvements or for projects or programs with duration of more than one (1) year. The principal of Discovery Key Elementary may not override the selection of the use of these funds. Section 3: Pursuant to Article VIII, Section 3 a. 2. hereof, the SAC must vote to accept a ballot for the distribution of the school recognition funds for each school year. The SAC may vote for a ballot during the school year that the recognitions funds are to be distributed, or in advance of the school year that the recognition funds are to be distributed. After the SAC has voted to accept the ballot, the ballot shall be distributed to all teachers and education support employees at Discovery Key Elementary. The teachers and education support employees shall be notified of the place, date and time of the school recognition funds vote at which time the ballot shall be distributed. The ballot shall require that each voting individual rank the options by preference in numerical order. The option which receives a vote of the Majority of the teachers and education support employees present and voting shall be considered the winning choice. Should there be no Majority, instant runoff rules will be utilized and recalculations of the votes made until a Majority is determined. Under instant runoff rules, the option with the fewest votes is eliminated and the ballots which included the eliminated option as number one (1) shall be reviewed and the option voted as number two (2) shall be considered the option voted for by the applicable individual for purposes of determining whether a Majority has been reached. This same instant runoff procedure shall be utilized for any required subsequent recalculation of votes needed to achieve a Majority, with the option voted as number three (3) (or number four (4), as applicable) being considered the option voted for by the applicable individual. The school recognition funds will be distributed in accordance with the winning choice. Article XII Amendments Section 1: These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the SAC committee by approval of two-thirds of the members present and voting. Written notice of the proposed amendment shall be given to the members at least three (3) days prior to the meeting at which the proposed amendment is to be voted upon. A quorum is required at any meeting for action to be taken. 9

10 Section 2: The SAC and/or the Bylaw Review Committee shall review annually, and when appropriate, recommend revisions of the SAC bylaws. The adoption of revised bylaws shall follow the procedure for amendments. 10

11 First Amendment to the Bylaws of The School Advisory Council of Discovery Key Elementary School This First Amendment to the Bylaws of The School Advisory Council of Discovery Key Elementary School is made effective August 17, 2011, in accordance with Article XII, Section 1 of the Bylaws of The School Advisory Council of Discovery Key Elementary School adopted on March 23, Article VII, Section 1 is hereby amended by adding the following sentence after the first sentence thereof: In the event there is only one chairperson, then there shall also be a vicechairperson who shall serve as an officer of the SAC. 2. Article VII, Section 3 is hereby amended by adding the following additional sentences at the end thereof: In the event there is a vice-chairperson serving as an officer of the SAC because there is only one chairperson, then the vice-chairperson shall act as an aide to the chairperson and preside in the absence of the chairperson. In the case of a vacancy in the office of chairperson, the vice-chairperson shall become the chairperson for the remainder of the unexpired term. 11

12 Second Amendment to the Bylaws of The School Advisory Council of Discovery Key Elementary School This Second Amendment to the Bylaws of The School Advisory Council of Discovery Key Elementary School is made effective May 16, 2012, in accordance with Article XII, Section 1 of the Bylaws of The School Advisory Council of Discovery Key Elementary School adopted on March 23, 2011, as amended by the First Amendment to the Bylaws of The School Advisory Council of Discovery Key Elementary School effective August 17, Article VIII, Section 3a.2.A. is hereby amended by adding the following additional language at the end thereof: The voting shall be subject to the following rules. (i) Voting shall take place on one calendar day at a prescribed location within prescribed times. (ii) Early voting shall take place on two calendar days set for early voting, prior to the regular voting day, at a prescribed location and within prescribed times for those teachers and education support employees entitled to vote who have a scheduled TDE (Temporary Duty Elsewhere) or personal day on the regular voting day. (iii) Any teacher or education support employee who is unexpectedly absent or who is out on leave (but has worked during the school year) on the regular voting day will be able to vote on the regular voting day before the end of the prescribed time by calling or ing administration at Discovery Key Elementary School. Any vote called in to administration must be witnessed by a second party. (iv) Any teacher or education support employee who is on leave but has worked during the school year shall be entitled to vote on either one of the early voting days or the regular voting day at the prescribed location within the prescribed times. (v) One teacher and one education support employee shall monitor the voting process at all times at the prescribed voting location during the early voting prescribed times and the regular voting prescribed times. (vi) Each teacher and education support employee who votes must sign in on the sign in sheet located at the voting location. (vii) No votes by proxy will be accepted or permitted. (viii) The votes shall be tallied after voting has ended on the regular voting day. The principal or an assistant principal, together with one teacher and one education support employee, shall be present during the tallying of the votes. Instant runoff rules shall be followed. (ix) The vote shall be submitted to the SAC for approval at the next scheduled SAC meeting after the regular vote has taken place. 12